Interactions Between Western Tent Caterpillars and Wild Rose: A Test of Some General Plant Herbivore Hypotheses

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Abstract
Tent caterpillars which hatch from eggs early in April are less successful than those which hatch late in April; those fed on developing leaves grew more slowly than those fed on mature leaves. Early emergence of caterpillars does not seem to be associated with better food quality early in the season. Parasitization of late developing larvae seems to exert a stronger selection pressure for early emergence from eggs. To determine if tent caterpillars induce deterioration of food plant quality by defoliation in the previous year, the survival of caterpillars feeding on previously defoliated vegetation was compared with that on protected plants. Caterpillars on rose bushes which had been protected from caterpillar feeding 1-3 yr before, survived no better than those on plants which had been defoliated the previous spring or subjected to control feeding levels. Low rainfall at the time of egg hatching in April correlates with caterpillar population trends, but drought stress, which might decrease secondary compound levels of rose bushes or increase N availability in leaves, is not a necessary prerequisite for population increase. Tent caterpillar defoliation decreases seed production in wild rose.

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