Data from: Forest defoliation by an invasive outbreak insect: Catastrophic consequences for a charismatic mega moth

Earth is now experiencing declines in insect abundance and diversity
unparalleled in human history. The drivers underlying those declines are
many, complex, and incompletely known. Here, using a natural experiment,
we report the first test of the hypothesis that forest defoliation by an
invasive outbreak insect compromises the fitness of a native insect via
damage-induced increases in toxicity of the forest canopy. We demonstrate
that defoliation by the invasive spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) elicits an
average 8.4-fold increase in foliar defense expression among aspen
(Populus tremuloides) genotypes. In turn, elevated defense dramatically
reduces survivorship, feeding, and growth of a charismatic mega moth
(Anthereae polyphemus). This work suggests that changes to the
phytochemical landscape of forests, mediated by invasive outbreak insects,
are likely to negatively impact native insects, with potential
repercussions for community diversity and ecosystem function across
expansive scales.