Effects of Climate Warming on the Performance of <i>Gynaephora alpherakii</i> (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Larvae in a Tibetan Alpine Meadow.

ABSTRACT: The performance of invertebrate herbivores in grasslands can be influenced by climate warming, but there is a lack of experimental evidence, particularly in high elevation areas. We conducted two complementary experiments to investigate the effect of experimental warming on the performance of the grassland caterpillar Gynaephora alpherakii, a notorious pest species in the alpine Tibetan meadow. The first field experiment examined the effect of warming (nonwarmed vs. warmed) on the feeding behavior, growth, and development rate of the caterpillars. The second chamber experiment explored the relationship between temperature and caterpillar appetite, excrement mass, respiration rate, or change of caterpillar weight. Results show that warming significantly decreased fresh body mass of c

SUBMITTER: Cao R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11807702 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature