Nadya Muchoney

• Ph.D.
• Postdoctoral Fellow at Emory University

Host plant consumption and pathogen infection commonly influence insect traits related to development and immunity, which are ultimately reflected in the behavior and physiology of the insect. Herein, we explored changes in the metabolome of a generalist insect herbivore, Vanessa cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), in response to both dietary variat...

Identifying patterns of pathogen infection in natural systems is crucial to understanding mechanisms of host–pathogen interactions. In this study, we explored how Junonia coenia densovirus (JcDV) infection varies over space and time in populations of the Melissa blue butterfly ( Lycaeides melissa : Lycaenidae) using two different host plants. Colle...

Incorporation of exotic plants into the diets of native herbivores is a common phenomenon, influencing interactions with natural enemies and providing insight into the tritrophic costs and benefits of dietary expansion. We evaluated how use of an exotic plant, Plantago lanceolata, impacted immune performance, development and susceptibility to patho...

Defense against natural enemies constitutes an important driver of herbivore host range evolution in the wild. Populations of the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas phaeton (Nymphalidae), have recently incorporated an exotic plant, Plantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae), into their dietary range. To understand the tritrophic consequences of...

Given the barrage of natural enemies that lepidopterans face during their larval stage, the immune response should provide reliable, effective defense against pathogens, parasites, and parasitoids. In this chapter, we review the literature on host plant-mediated interactions that influence the strength of the immune response in caterpillars. First,...

Phytochemical variation among plant species is one of the most fascinating and perplexing features of the natural world and has implications for both human health and the functioning of ecosystems. A key area of research on phytochemical variation has focused on insects that feed on plants and the enormous diversity of plant-derived compounds that...