Inherited predation defense strategies in planthopper: Implications for biocontrol and ecosystem evolution

Predators can induce morphological plasticity in prey through selection driven by predation risk. However, defense plasticity is rarely reported in insects, let alone trans-generational plasticity and attention of such plasticity devoted to pest control and ecosystem evolution. Here we examined the morphological plasticity of small brown planthoppers (SBPHs), Laodelphax striatellus, in the parent or F1 generations when exposed to predation risk of a caged predator, Paederus fuscipes. We also uncovered the survival outcomes (fitness gained) in SBPHs with predator-induced defensive morphological traits by examining their survival probability and behavioral plasticity. Results showed risky predators could enhance a higher proportion of long-winged, female SBPHs in the parent and F1 generation, but the proportion of males neither short- nor long- winged forms were affected, probably because females suffered greater mortality than males during the longer periods of predation risk. Surprising...