Impact of Irrigation and Experimental Drought Stress on Leaf-Mining Insects of Emory Oak

The hypothesis that drought-stressed trees suffer higher levels of herbivory than unstressed trees was tested experimentally with two as yet undescribed species of Cameraria leaf miners. Densities and site selection of the species differ within a common host plant. Several roots of four trees in a wash were severed and four trees at a more xeric site were irrigated. Densities of leaf miners on the experimental trees and also on four control trees were monitored at each of the two sites.