Data from: Viral prevalence is higher, while relative infection loads are lower, in later developmental stages of a univoltine insect herbivore
Data files
Feb 12, 2026 version files 77.13 KB
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Ecol_Entomol_Dataset.csv
70.66 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Pathogens represent critical agents of mortality for insects, yet their ecological impacts remain poorly understood in many natural systems. Developmental resistance (i.e., a reduction in disease susceptibility as hosts mature), along with age-related changes in ecology and behavior, are expected to give rise to variation in pathogen pressure across the host life cycle. However, the dynamics of pathogen infection across long larval periods such as those in diapausing insects are relatively unexplored.
We used field-collected Euphydryas phaeton caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to evaluate how interactions with a naturally occurring entomopathogen, Junonia coenia densovirus, varied across host development and diapause. We compared the frequency and severity of viral infection during three stages of the life cycle: post-diapause, pre-diapause, and diapause. Field-collected post-diapause caterpillars were reared until death before viral screening, while field-collected pre-diapause caterpillars were subsampled for viral screening, allowing a portion to enter diapause to determine viral prevalence and load following overwintering.
Viral prevalence was higher in post-diapause caterpillars, pupae, and adults, compared to relatively immature pre-diapause caterpillars. However, early-instar (pre-diapause) caterpillars that were infected with the virus harbored higher relative viral loads, compared to late-instar (post-diapause) caterpillars, pupae, and butterflies. In addition, viral prevalence was generally similar across sampling regions, while viral loads exhibited inconsistent regional differences across developmental stages.
These results demonstrate that viral prevalence and load can vary considerably across the life cycle of an insect host and suggest that regional variation in infection severity may be more evident during certain stages of development than others. Moving forward, field and lab studies investigating the consequences of pathogen infection should consider host developmental stage, as infection parameters can change across development.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Title of Dataset: "Data from: Viral prevalence is higher, while relative infection loads are lower, in later developmental stages of a univoltine insect herbivore"
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Author Information:
A. Contact Information for Corresponding Author
Name: Nadya D. Muchoney
Institution: Emory University
Address: Department of Biology,
1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
Email: nmuchon@emory.eduB. Contact Information for Co-Authors
Name: Adrian L. Carper
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder
Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
1900 Pleasant Street, 334 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309, USAName: M. Deane Bowers
Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder
Address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
1900 Pleasant Street, 334 UCB, Boulder, CO, 80309, USAName: Denali G. Lowder
Institution: University of Nevada, Reno
Address: Department of Biology,
1664 N. Virginia Street, MS 0314, Reno, NV, 89557, USAName: Mike B. Teglas
Institution: University of Nevada, Reno
Address: Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences,
1664 N. Virginia Street, MS 0202, Reno, NV, 89557, USAName: Angela M. Smilanich
Institution: University of Nevada, Reno
Address: Department of Biology,
1664 N. Virginia Street, MS 0314, Reno, NV, 89557, USA -
Date of data collection: 2019–2020
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Geographic location of data collection: Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont, USA (field sites); Colorado and Nevada, USA (laboratory sites)
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Keywords: developmental resistance, diapause, entomopathogens, Euphydryas phaeton, Junonia coenia densovirus, tritrophic interactions
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Funding sources: The collection of these data was supported by a National Science Foundation grant (DEB‐1929522) to AMS, MDB, and MBT, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (DGE‐1447692) to NDM, and a research grant from the E.N. Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station.
DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
Ecol_Entomol_Dataset.csv: This file contains the dataset presented in our manuscript, including field sampling details and the results of quantitative PCR screening for Junonia coenia densovirus in Euphydryas phaeton individuals collected from wild populations in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont, USA in 2019.
METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Methodological details pertaining to this dataset are described in: Muchoney, N.D., Carper, A.L., Bowers, M.D., Lowder, D.G., Teglas, M.B., Smilanich, A.M. Viral prevalence is higher, while relative infection loads are lower, in later developmental stages of a univoltine insect herbivore. Accepted, Ecological Entomology.
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: Ecol_Entomol_Dataset.csv
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Number of variables: 30
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Number of cases/rows: 479
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Variable list:
individual: Identifier for each Euphydryas phaeton individual sampled in 2019/2020
coll_region: Region from which each individual originated (MA = Massachusetts; NY = New York; VT = Vermont)
coll_site: Site from which each individual originated (MA1, MA2, NY1, VT1, or VT2)
host_plant: Host plant used at each site (Chelone = Chelone glabra; Plantago = Plantago lanceolata)
coll_stage: Life stage at which each individual was collected from the field (POST = post-diapause larva, PRE = pre-diapause larva, EGG = egg)
collate: Date upon which each individual was collected from the field (post-diapause/pre-diapause) or lab (overwintered) (MM/DD/YY)
coll_time: Stage during which each individual was sampled for viral screening (POST = post-diapause, PRE = pre-diapause, OVWT = overwintered)
cluster: Field-collected cluster from which each pre-diapause/diapause individual originated (unique for each post-diapause individual)
cluster_size: Number of individuals within each field-collected cluster ('NA' for post-diapause individuals, which were collected independently)
ecl_date: Observed date of eclosion for each butterfly (MM/DD/YY) (post-diapause butterflies only)
sex: Sex of each butterfly as determined by visual inspection (F = Female, M = Male) (post-diapause butterflies only)
death_date: Observed date of death for each butterfly (MM/DD/YY) (post-diapause butterflies only)
death_stage: Life stage of each individual at time of death (LRV = Larva, PUP = Pupa, ADT = Adult) (post-diapause individuals only)
survived: Whether each individual survived to reach the adult stage (Yes/No) (post-diapause individuals only)
tot_mass: Total body mass of each individual at the time of DNA extraction (whole larva, pupa, or butterfly) (grams)
abd_mass: Mass of the dissected abdomen used for DNA extraction and viral screening (grams) (post-diapause butterflies only)
aliq_mass: Mass of the aliquot of homogenized tissue used for DNA extraction and viral screening (grams) (post-diapause larvae only)
samp_mass: Mass of tissue sample used for DNA extraction and viral screening (grams)
ct_vp4_1: Cycle threshold for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 1
mt_vp4_1: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 1
ct_vp4_2: Cycle threshold for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 2
mt_vp4_1: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 2
ct_vp4_3: Cycle threshold for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 3
mt_vp4_1: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of Junonia coenia densovirus (VP4 gene) via quantitative PCR; replicate 3
ct_28s_1: Cycle threshold for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 1
mt_28s_1: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 1
ct_28s_2: Cycle threshold for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 2
mt_28s_2: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 2
ct_28s_3: Cycle threshold for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 3
mt_28s_3: Melt temperature (°C) for detection of internal control gene (28S) via quantitative PCR; replicate 3 -
Missing data code: NA