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2026 Poster Session B
B25 - Effects of Frass on Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hornworm) Feeding Choices: Implications for Insect Communication
The presence of conspecific insects or evidence of prior feeding may inform larval feeding site choice by indicating the presence of potential competitors on a host plant.
2026 Poster Session B
B25 - Effects of Frass on Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hornworm) Feeding Choices: Implications for Insect Communication
Mentor: Deidra Jacobsen, Ph.D.
The presence of conspecific insects or evidence of prior feeding may inform larval feeding site choice by indicating the presence of potential competitors on a host plant. Frass contains plant defense and competition indicators that Manduca sexta (Tobacco Hornworm) can detect, which could be used to predict feeding success at that site. This study attempts to determine if Manduca sexta larvae respond to conspecific frass at potential feeding sites to avoid competition.