Can a General Hypothesis Explain Population Cycles of Forest Lepidoptera?

Abstract

Publisher Summary In this chapter, the characteristics of population cycles of forest Lepidoptera is described and mechanisms proposed to explain them are evaluated. Evidence for population cycles in forest lepidoptera is also discussed in the chapter. Characteristics of cyclic populations of forest lepidoptera is reviewed, wherein, characteristics of cyclic species, patterns of population change, the beginning of the decline, insect fecundity and population fluctuations, parasitoids and population fluctuations, cyclic and non-cyclic populations, and the impact of forest defoliators on the forests are described. The chapter then turns to the discussion of hypotheses to explain population cycles, wherein, it has described variation in insect quality, climatic release hypothesis, and variation in plant quality, disease susceptibility, and mathematical models. Evaluation of hypotheses is also done in the chapter. Population cycles of other organisms are also summarized in the chapter. Finally, the chapter closes with conclusions and speculations.