Are Caterpillars Evolving Through Feeding Behavior in Response to Parasitoids?

Cabbage loopers ( Trichoplusia ni ) are herbivores that commonly preyed upon by many different species of parasitoid wasps. These wasps reproduce injecting its gestated eggs into 2-3 rd instar caterpillars. After injection wasp eggs, studies have shown some caterpillars will shift behavior in reaction to the injection. The result hatching is termination caterpillar. I specifically look at this feeding caterpillar after injection, using phytochemically active plant show there a conscious attempt self-medication from This extremely important as trophic effect on local competition, especially between native and non-native species, which create domino entire ecosystem survival. We use two species: Nasturtium officinale, rich plant, Mimulus guttatus, benign plant. then measured percent consumed given leaf, before silica bead 4-5 th cabbage loopers, type groups totaling 65 each assigned one specific individual it feed for duration experiment. For leaf consumed, was not significantly different. Caterpillars were stabbed but injected (SN) than those stabbed. Plant with an interaction term tissue consumed. Suggesting no preference diet, or respective change.