Female Malacosoma americanum selection of oviposition sites

General EcologySelection of an appropriate oviposition site is critical in the life cycle of semelparous organisms because larvae rely entirely on their host without the benefit of parental care. To maximize fitness, females may demonstrate preference for a suitable host when ovipositing. Malacosoma americanum females oviposit mostly on Prunus serotina. In order to test whether preferences exists between trees, and identify which variables might influence this choice, data was gathered on the relative number of egg masses and tree characteristics. A Chi-squared test allowed for the rejection of a random scenario and a stepwise linear regression identified significant correlations between tree characteristics and relative number of egg masses. Females preferred to oviposit on trees with a smaller surface area to volume ratio, trees that stood further west, and were in close proximity to a conspecific with a smaller DBH. A discussion follows on the evolutionary benefits to the offspring as a result of these preferences.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61461/1/Barjum_Berger_Lambropoulos_Hickner_2008.pd