%0 Journal Article %J Experimentalis et Applicata Entomologia %D 2013 %T Dietary selection and nutritional regulation in a common mixed-feeding insect herbivore %A Jonas, J.L. %A Anthony Joern %K acrididae %K carbohydrate %K geometric framework %K homeostasis %K Melanoplus bivittatus %K nutritional ecology %K Orthoptera %K protein %X

The geometric framework provides a way for understanding the multi-dimensional nutritional relationships between consumers and their food. We use this approach to further our understanding of the feeding and nutritional ecology of a ubiquitous mixed-feeding insect herbivore that consumes a variety of host plants spanning a wide range of nutritional composition. Our overall objective was to examine feeding decisions, resulting performance, and post-ingestive consequences in a common mixed-feeding insect herbivore, Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), when presented with paired diets differing in protein:carbohydrate (p:c) ratio. Intake p:c of M. bivittatus differed among all but two treatments and in many cases was farther than expected from the previously identified p:c intake target for this species. Despite this variability in intake of protein and carbohydrate, we found few effects of the diet treatments on performance or post-ingestive processing. However, our results suggest that when feeding on high-quality diets, nutrients consumed in excess may be stored rather than excreted.

%B Experimentalis et Applicata Entomologia %V 148 %P 20 -26 %G eng %U https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eea.12065 %M KNZ001618 %R 10.1111/eea.12065