Vol. 43 No. 4, 2004
Response of Two Pieris (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) Species to Fertilization of a Host Plant
Ying-Zhi Chen, Li Lin, Chih-Wei Wang, Chin-Chang Yeh, and Shaw-Yhi Hwang*
Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan 402
Ying-Zhi Chen, Li Lin, Chih-Wei Wang, Chin-Chang Yeh, and Shaw-Yhi Hwang (2004)
In this study, we explored relationships among plant fertilization,
plant phytochemical compositions, and the performance of Pieris
butterfly larvae. Cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata
L.) were grown under 2 levels of nutrients, and their foliar chemistry
(water, nitrogen, and total glucosinolates) was measured. Two species
of cabbage white butterflies, Pieris rapae crucivora and P. canidia canidia, were reared on foliage from each of the 2 treatments to measure insect performance. Oviposition responses of P. rapae crucivora and P. canidia canidia
to fertilized vs. unfertilized host plants were compared using choice
tests. Foliar water and nitrogen contents increased with increased
nutrient availability. Concentrations of total glucosinolates, however,
decreased with increased nutrient availability. For the most part,
insect performance varied significantly between the 2 nutrient
treatments. Both insect species performed well on the fertilized
treatments which contained high water and nitrogen, but low
glucosinolate contents. Ovipositional female butterflies of both
species were also found to prefer fertilized plants. Finally, our
results also indicate that P. rapae crucivora performed relatively better on high-nutrient plants.
Key words: Brassica oleracea, Pieris, Plant chemistry, Feeding trials, Oviposition preference.
*Correspondence: E-mail: oleander@dragon.nchu.edu.tw

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