Larval diets of tropical Lepidoptera are more specialized than those of their temperate forest counterparts: tropical species on average feed on fewer plant species, genera and families than do temperate caterpillars. This results in a greater turnover in caterpillar species composition between tree species in tropical faunas than in temperate faunas, and it is suggested that greater specialization in tropical faunas is the result of differences in trophic interactions.
- L. A. Dyer
- M. S. Singer
- P. D. Coley
