In previous experiments we have used a state-space geometric approach to show that locusts, Locusta migratoria L., will defend a specific nutrient intake target when given access to i) single foods that have been nutritionally diluted or ii) two sub-optimal, but complementary foods. Here we report experiments investigating the effects on nutrient regulation of complicating factors such as the spatial distribution of foods, their relative frequencies and their allelochemical content. Results demonstrate that locusts have a remarkable ability to defend their intake targets as the distance between food types increases and in the face of different relative food frequencies. However, the defence of intake targets can be impeded by the presence of allelochemicals. The data show that the extent to which allelochemicals affect defence of the intake target depends on the type present (C- or N-based), its concentration and the chemical composition (both nutritional and allelochemical) of other available foods. The findings from these studies have important implications for current theories of plant defence and foraging models.
Species 1: Orthoptera Acrididae Locusta migratoria (African migratory locust, locust)
Keywords: insect herbivores, behavior
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