Sample Data

Oviposition preference experiments were performed by Morehouse College Ecology students in 2000 and 2001. In each trial, a female was placed in a petri dish with 10 beans from each of a variety of species (10 species in 2000 and 12 species in 2001) not including the bean species from which that female had emerged (the natal bean species). Females had been reared on either black-eye pea or mung beans. Fifteen independent trials (different females) were carried out in 2000 and 21 trials in 2001. All trials were conducted in 150mm petri dishes.

In 2000, the total number of eggs laid differed significantly among bean species for females reared on black-eye pea (chi-square = 181.7, df=9, P<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (chi-square = 412.2, df=9, P<0.0001) (Figure 1a). In addition, the total number of beans with eggs varied among different bean species for females from black-eye pea (chi-square =145.6, df=9, P<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (chi-square =161.3, df=9, P<0.0001). However, the pattern of oviposition did not differ based on maternal host (chi-square =2.7, df=7, P=0.91) (Figure 1a). Both maternal hosts were removed from this last analysis and lentils also were removed, because no female ever laid eggs on lentils. The average number of eggs varied among bean species for females from black-eye pea (Kruskal-Wallis chi-square=39.0, df=9, p<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (Kruskal-Wallis chi-square=35.0, df=9, p<0.0001) (Figure 1b). The raw data are available in the Downloads section.

Figure 1a. Total number of eggs laid by individual females on 10 species of beans other than the natal bean species. A total of 15 independent trials were performed (different females) in 2000. Each replicate evaluated the oviposition choices of a given females on ten beans of each bean species.

Figure 1b. The average number of eggs (per replicate) laid by individual females on 10 species of beans other than the natal bean species. A total of 15 independent trials were performed (different females) in 2000. Each replicate evaluated the oviposition choices of a given females on ten beans of each bean species.

In 2001, similar results were observed. The total number of eggs laid differed significantly among bean species for females from black-eye pea (chi-square = 301.3, df=11, P<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (chi-square = 149.8, df=11, P<0.0001) (Figure 2a). The total number of beans with eggs also varied among different bean species for females from black-eye pea (chi-square =193.9, df=11, P<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (chi-square =103.7, df=11, P<0.0001). Unlike in 2000, the pattern of oviposition did differ based on maternal host (chi-square =44.3, df=10, P<0.0001) (Figure 2a). Both maternal hosts were removed from this last analysis. The average number of eggs varied among bean species for females from black-eye pea (Kruskal-Wallis chi-square=57.1, df=11, p<0.0001) and for females from mung beans (Kruskal-Wallis chi-square=40.0, df=11, p<0.0001) (Figure 2b). The raw data are available in the Downloads section.

Figure 2a. Total number of eggs laid by individual females on 12 species of beans other than the natal bean species. A total of 21 independent trials were performed (different females) in 2001. Each replicate evaluated the oviposition choices of a given females on ten beans of each bean species.

Figure 2b. The average number of eggs (per replicate) laid by individual females on 12 species of beans other than the natal bean species. A total of 15 independent trials were performed (different females) in 2001. Each replicate evaluated the oviposition choices of a given females on ten beans of each bean species.