- Calcagno V, Bonhomme V, Thomas Y, Singer MC & Bourguet D (2010) Divergence in behaviour between the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, and its sibling species Ostrinia scapulalis: adaptation to human harvesting? Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B (published online)
This paper describes a behavioral difference between two sibling species of moths (
Ostrinia nubilalis and
Ostrinia scapulalis). During larval periods, these insects live inside the stalks of their host plants. When they develop to the final stage of larva, they undergo diapause. The position in which
O. nubilalis undergo diapause is closer to the ground compared to
O. scapulalis. What generated such difference?
O. nubilalis feeds only on maize while
O. scapulalis feeds on various plants including maize. The authors also showed that, in the two moth species, the selective force of maize harvesting by humans is so strong that diapausing position in maize stalks is a crucial factor for their survival. Based on these results, the authors hypothesize that human harvesting on maize triggered the evolution of geotactic behavior in
O. nubilalis. Very interesting!
