Herbivorous bugs typically specialize on eating one or a few closely related species of plants, whereas predatory bugs tend to feed on many different species of insects.If there is a high diversity of potential host plants, we would expect to find
A) speciation rates to be higher in herbivorous bugs.
B) speciation rates to be higher in predatory bugs.
C) speciation rates will be impossible to predict.
D) no difference, with speciation rates high in both groups.
E) no difference, with speciation rates low in both groups.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Herbivorous bugs tend to specialize on one or a few closely related species of plants, which can create reproductive isolation and drive speciation. In contrast, predatory bugs feed on many different species of insects, which may not drive speciation in the same way. Therefore, we would expect speciation rates to be higher in herbivorous bugs, especially in areas with high diversity of host plants.

Herbivorous Bugs Typically Specialize on Eating One or a Few