01. Southern Two-Striped Walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides) Substrate and Food Choice When Reared on Invasive Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinese)

Abstract

The Southern two-striped walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides) ranges from Mississippi to South Carolina, with large populations residing in Florida, especially Ocala, where the black and white morph is found exclusively (Hetrick, 1949). These walkingsticks are polyphagous and have been known to feed on crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Florida rosemary (Creatiola ericoides), oak (Quercus sp.), scrub palmetto (Sabal etonia), and other leafy, herbaceous plants in their native habitats (Thomas, 2001; Gunning, 1987). In 1962, Meinwald et al. discovered that A. buprestoides could be successfully reared on privet (Ligustrum sp.) (Thomas, 2001). Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinese), is a highly invasive shrub-like plant that is native to China. This species of privet is a significant threat to native ecosystems in Southeastern Piedmont, especially to the wildlife that rely on native plants for their habitat and nutrition. To date, there are no known biological controls for L. sinese, although they are subject to fungal and bacterial infection (Burtatsch, n.d.). The objective of this study was to determine whether A. buprestoides would consistently choose L. sinese as a food source or substrate when given three other options, after being reared exclusively on L. sinese. We hypothesized that A. buprestoides would continue to choose L. sinese as a substrate and/or food source despite their generalist nature because of early exposure to the plant (Cassidy, 1978; Jermy 1987).