Milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) plant detection using mobile cameras

Coexistence of three specialist aphids on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.

Coexistence of host-specific herbivores on plants is believed to be governed by interspecific interactions, but few empirical studies have systematically unraveled these dynamics. We investigated the role of several factors in promoting coexistence among the aphids Aphis nerii, Aphis asclepiadis, and Myzocallis asclepiadis that all specialize on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Competitive ...

Plant-Derived Smoke Enhances Germination of the Invasive Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.)

Tests of the coupled expression of latex and cardenolide plant defense in common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

The coexpression of plant resistance traits suggests the hypothesis that they may have complementary functions in defense against herbivory. To address the extent to which defensive traits are necessarily coupled in plants grown under various conditions, we focused on latex and cardenolides, two potent defenses of milkweeds. We measured defenses across ontogenetic stages, different biotic and a...

Specificity of induced plant responses to specialist herbivores of the common milkweed Asclepias syriaca

Induced plant responses to herbivory appear to be universal, yet the degree to which they are specific to sets of herbivores is poorly understood. The generalist/specialist hypothesis predicts that generalist herbivores are more often negatively affected by host plant defenses, wheras specialists may be either unaffected by or attracted to these same ‘‘plant defenses’’. Therefore, specialists s...

Community-wide Impacts of Herbivore-induced Plant Responses in Milkweed (asclepias Syriaca)

The effects of early-season herbivory and subsequent induced plant responses have the potential to affect the diversity of herbivorous insect communities. We investigated the seasonal development of the herbivore fauna on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) to understand the effect of early-season herbivory by different species on insect growth, natural colonization, and community composition. ...