Resource regulation by a stem-galling sawfly on the arroyo willow

We studied the impact of the stem-galling tenthredinid sawfly, Euura lasiolepis, on the growth and branch age structure of the arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis. Normally, as willows age they become less susceptible to galling, but heavy Euura galling maintains willows at a young, relatively susceptible juvenile stage. The Euura form more galls and long shoots. Long shoots are found on clones with young branches. Heavy galling stunts or kills growth distal to the gall, stimulating sprouting by indefinitely dormant buds located near branch bases. The resulting young branches keep the clone susceptible to further galling. In contrast, increasing branch age of lightly galled clones confers resistance to galling. We term this model of gall-induced resource maintenance the resource regulation hypothesis. Resource regulation is the maintenance or increase of high-quality resources by an herbivore species that impacts immediately subsequent generations of the same herbivore species on the same plant.