Exposure to wind alters insect herbivore behaviour in larvae of Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera: Nolidae)

Abstract

AbstractWind is a pervasive environmental stress that may directly alter the behaviour of insect herbivores, thus limiting the ability to find and assimilate food and avoid natural enemies. We investigated the direct effects of wind on larvae of gum leaf skeletoniser Uraba lugens Walker by investigating their movement patterns and plant micro‐site selection. We allocated individuals to Eucalyptus tereticornis plants and exposed them to zero (control) or moderate wind speeds (3 m/s) for 2 h and quantified their movement patterns. When exposed to wind, individuals dropped from plants, and a greater proportion of individuals were found on petioles, branches, the underside of leaves and the leeward side of plants. The dramatic effects of wind on larval behaviour, even at relatively moderate intensities, reveal the significant potential of wind to influence plant–insect interactions.