Global change models predict that global warming will affect the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts and hurricanes. One well supported hypothesis is that climate induced changes in the timing of the onset of growing seasons can lead to insect outbreaks and increased losses in forestry and agriculture. But what happens to insect populations when they are exposed to short duration extreme weather events such as hurricanes has received less scrutiny. Because the natural enemies that normally control herbivorous insects may suffer dispersion and death from severe weather, local outbreaks of herbivores may occur in the months following severe weather events. This study examines the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on parasitoid wasps and flies, two of the key enemies of butterfly and moth caterpillars. The two hurricanes affected eastern and western Louisiana respectively, thus this study will compare levels of parasitism on and subsequent population densities of caterpillars collected from hurricane affected and less affected (central Louisiana) natural areas. If predictions are supported there should be lower parasitism and greater incidence of caterpillar outbreaks in eastern and western Louisiana.
