DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkgs
title: Multiple choice of Aphalara itadori for oviposition among three knotweed species

description: Intraspecific hybridization between distinct populations could increase
 fitness and adaptive potential of biological control agents that often
 have low genetic diversity and can be inbred due to long-term laboratory
 rearing often at small population sizes. Hybridization can also alter host
 preference and performance when the parental insect populations are
 adapted to different host plants. We investigated the effects of
 hybridization between two populations (Northern and Southern) of the
 psyllid, Aphalara itadori, that have different fitness on three invasive
 knotweed species (Japanese, giant, and Bohemian). Fecundity, host choice,
 and developmental success of second-generation reciprocal hybrids and the
 parental psyllid populations were compared on the three knotweed species
 in multiple choice tests. Hybridization did not increase fecundity. All
 three knotweed species were accepted for oviposition without preference by
 the Southern and the two hybrid psyllid populations. The northern psyllid
 population laid the most eggs on Bohemian knotweeds but those were
 maladaptive choices since almost all eggs failed to develop. Developmental
 success of the parental psyllid populations was highest on the knotweed
 species they were originally collected from, on Japanese knotweed of the
 Southern psyllids and on giant knotweed of the Northern psyllids. Hybrids
 had intermediate or higher survival on given knotweed hosts compared to
 their parents. These results can inform release tactics of A. itadori in
 different regions especially where there appears to be climatic and/or
 host mismatches such as in Michigan. In southern Michigan, based on
 climate the Northern psyllid population should be released. However, the
 most common knotweed species in the region are Bohemian and Japanese
 knotweeds that do not support development of the Northern psyllids. In
 this case, hybrids that may carry cold adaptations of the Northern
 psyllids but have better developmental success on the prevailing knotweed
 species may be considered for release to increase establishment success.
description: Data were collected in a laboratory/greenhouse experiment using
 potted plants that were caged in mesh cages. Plants were kept at ambient
 temperatures.
description: # Multiple choice cage experiment
 Give a brief summary of
 dataset contents, contextualized in experimental procedures and results.
 ## Description of the data and file structure | Strain | refers to the
 four different populations of Aphalara itadori used in the experiments.
 The two parental strains are Kyushu and Hok (Hokkaido), and their
 reciprocal hybrids are FemKYU and FemHok with the names indicated where
 the female originated in the crosses. | | :----------- |
 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Cage | in each cage there were 3 different knotweed plants | | Plant spp.  | the three knotweed species within each cage: Japanese (Jap), Bohemian (Boh) or Giant knotweed | | Egg count | the number of eggs laid on each knotweed species within each cage by certain strains of psyllids | | Adult count | the number of adult psyllids emerging from each knotweed plant | | Mortality | the number of eggs that did not develop into adults | | Dev. Success | developmental success. The proportion of eggs that yielded adults. Calculated by dividing the number of adults that emerged (adult count) by the number of eggs laid on each plant (egg count). |