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Phototaxis, Host Cues, and Host-Plant Finding in a Monophagous Weevil, Rhinoncomimus latipes

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Abstract

Rhinoncomimus latipes is a monophagous weevil used as a biological control agent for Persicaria perfoliata in the eastern United States. Density of adult R. latipes and resulting feeding damage has been shown to be higher in the sun than in the shade. This study aimed to determine whether phototaxis, sensitivity to enhanced host cues from healthier sun-grown plants, or a combination is driving this behavior by the weevil. A series of greenhouse choice tests between various combinations of plant and light conditions showed that R. latipes is positively phototactic, responsive to host cues, and preferentially attracted to sun-grown plants over shade-grown plants. From our experiments, we hypothesize two phases of dispersal and host finding in R. latipes. The initial stage is controlled primarily by phototaxis, whereas the later stage is controlled jointly by host cues and light conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank White Clay Creek State Park for allowing us to collect weevils and seeds from their land. Additionally, we thank Kaity Handley and Connie Gatlin for helping to set up and monitor experiments as well as Bill Bartz and Rodney Dempsey for their expertise and help with designing greenhouse protocols. Funding was provided by the USDA Forest Service.

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Correspondence to Judith Hough-Goldstein.

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Smith, J.R., Hough-Goldstein, J. Phototaxis, Host Cues, and Host-Plant Finding in a Monophagous Weevil, Rhinoncomimus latipes . J Insect Behav 26, 109–119 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-012-9343-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-012-9343-7

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