Abstract
Methylene chloride-extractable chemical(s) from range caterpillar larval silk facilitates trail-following and aggregation by early-instar larvae, but late-instar larvae are less responsive to the pheromone. Larval aggregation does not reduce water loss when larvae are exposed to low humidity, nor does aggregation prevent predation by the antFormica neoclara Emery. Grouped larvae gain weight and complete early stadia more rapidly as compared to solitary larvae. Aggregation may provide increased visibility to herbivores and increase the impact of urticating spines, thereby decreasing inadvertant predation.
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Capinera, J.L. A trail pheromone from silk produced by larvae of the range caterpillarHemileuca oliviae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and observations on aggregation behavior. J Chem Ecol 6, 655–664 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987676
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987676