Pressing flowers between pages…
Insect abundance and phenology on Ligusticum porteri Plants are targeted by a variety of insect herbivores. These herbivores vary in abundance from place to place and over time. The purpose of this project is to monitor the abundance of insects and other arthropods on the host plant Ligusticum porteri (Porter's lovage). Over the last decade, our weekly counts of insects on focal plants near RMBL have revealed important patterns of insect abundance. Specifically, aphid colonization of host plants depends on snowmelt date. Very few flowering stalks are colonized in early snowmelt years, as a function of host plant drought stress and altered interactions with aphid natural enemies. By continuing to monitor insect abundance at these populations, we will have a unique multi-year dataset of insect abundance. Such datasets can give insights into changing patterns of insect abundance.