Herbivore attack by Bolax palliata Burmeister is reported on two sympatric bracken species: Pteridium caudatum (L.) Maxon and P. arachnoideum (Kaulf.). Laboratory and field observations revealed a preference for the last of the two species. Available phytochemical information suggests it could be based on differences in concentration of condensed tannins.
Feeding preference; Neotropical Rutelinae; Geniatini; condensed tannin