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Protein:Carbohydrate Ratios in the Diet of Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar Affect its Ability to Tolerate Tannins

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Abstract

Generalist insect herbivores may regulate nutrient balance in their diets, including the incorporation of carbohydrates as well as proteins. However, secondary metabolites, including tannins, are likely to interact with dietary protein:carbohydrate ratios in insect herbivores. We investigated the effects of protein:carbohydrate ratios, tannin, and the interaction between macronutrient ratios and tannin on the performance of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar. We designed a 6 X 3 factorial experiment, with six protein:carbohydrate ratios and three tannin concentrations. We monitored the development time and size of gypsy moths on the different diets. We conducted 4th stadium feeding trials to measure consumption, digestibility, and overall efficiency of ingestion/digestion. Gypsy moths fed a diet containing a 1:1 protein:carbohydrate ratio without tannin grew larger and developed faster than those fed a 1:2 protein:carbohydrate ratio diet. Increasing protein in the diet above the 1:1 protein:carbohydrate ratio (i.e. 2:1 or 7:1) did not have a significant effect on gypsy moth growth or development. Approximate digestibility was greatest in treatments with a low protein:carbohydrate ratio (1:2). Gypsy moths grew faster and larger on no-tannin diets than those with tannin in the diet. However, the specific concentration of tannin did not affect growth. The resulting interaction between protein:carbohydrate ratio and tannin showed that there may be a trade-off between development time and efficiency of food assimilation. We also found that feeding gypsy moth larvae an optimal protein:carbohydrate ratios may be more important for tolerating tannin than the amount of protein ingested alone.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Christian Combs, John Christakis, Daytona Johnson, and Harry Price for technical assistance, Dr. Matthew Lehnert for the use of his lab and Percival, and the USDA-APHIS, Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, for providing egg masses. This research was supported by the Herrick Foundation, Kent State University.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Cunningham Hall, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA

    Cynthia Perkovich & David Ward

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Correspondence to Cynthia Perkovich.

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Perkovich, C., Ward, D. Protein:Carbohydrate Ratios in the Diet of Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar Affect its Ability to Tolerate Tannins. J Chem Ecol 46, 299–307 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01161-x

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