Use of an exotic host plant reduces viral burden in a native insect herbivore

Incorporation of exotic plants into the diets of native herbivores is a common phenomenon, influencing interactions with natural enemies and providing insight into the tritrophic costs and benefits of dietary expansion. We evaluated how use of an exotic plant, Plantago lanceolata, impacted immune performance, development and susceptibility to pathogen infection in the neotropical herbivore Anartia jatrophae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Caterpillars were reared on P. lanceolata or a native plant, Bacopa monnieri, and experimentally infected with a pathogenic virus, Junonia coenia densovirus. We found that virus-challenged herbivores exhibited higher survival rates and lower viral burdens when reared on P. lanceolata compared to B. monnieri, though immune performance and development time were largely similar on the two plants. These findings reveal that use of an exotic plant can impact the vulnerability of a native herbivore to pathogen infection, suggesting diet-mediated protection against disease as a potential mechanism facilitating the incorporation of novel resources.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of incorporating the exotic plant Plantago lanceolata into the diet of the herbivorous insect Anartia jatrophae on its immune performance, development, and susceptibility to pathogen infection. The results show that herbivores reared on P. lanceolata exhibit higher survival rates and lower viral burdens when infected with a pathogenic virus, suggesting diet-mediated protection against disease as a potential mechanism facilitating the incorporation of novel resources.