The influence of extrafloral nectaries on parasitism of an insect herbivore

Abstract

The extrafloral nectaries of many plants promote ant defense against insect herbivores. We examined the influence of extrafloral nectaries on the levels of parasitism of a generalist insect herbivore, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.). Larvae and pupae of the moth were collected from trees with and without extrafloral nectaries growing in the same forests in South Korea and reared to evaluate parasitism. More parasitism occurred on plants with extrafloral nectaries in seven of the nine season‐long collections at the six sites and in four out of five collecting periods. Parasitism was higher on the four main genera of plants with extrafloral nectaries than on any of five main genera of plants without extrafloral nectaries. There was no difference in parasitoid richness; nine species occurred in each group, eight of which were the same. There was a positive and almost significant correlation between the abundance of plants with extrafloral nectaries and the parasitism of gypsy moth at the sites. Extrafloral nectaries may reduce herbivory by inducing more parasitism of the insect herbivores that attack plants bearing the glands.