Pre‐dispersal seed predation of bayberry Myrica rubra by Thiotricha pancratiastis (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Yakushima Island,Japan |
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| Authors: | Mariko FUJITA Kiyoshi MATSUI Mari TERAKAWA Furumi KOMAI Takakazu YUMOTO Kaoru MAETO |
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| Institution: | 1. Insect Science Laboratory, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1‐1 Rokkoudai‐cho, Nada‐ku, Kobe;2. Biological Laboratory, Nara University of Education, Takabatake‐cho, Nara;3. Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima;4. Environment Design Department, Osaka University of Arts, Kanan‐cho, Osaka;5. and;6. Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kamigamo, Kita‐ku, Kyoto, Japan |
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| Abstract: | We investigated pre‐dispersal seed predation by insects in a bayberry Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. (Myricaceae) on Yakushima Island, Japan. To clarify the patterns of seed fate and predation, all fruit that fell into seed traps were collected to allow any insect larvae within the fruit to emerge, and the fruit were finally dissected to determine whether or not they had been attacked by insect predators. Two lepidopteran species, Thiotricha pancratiastis (Meyrick) (Gelechiidae) and Neoblastobasis spiniharpella Kuznetzov & Sinev (Blastobasidae), emerged from the fruits. Thiotricha pancratiastis is the major seed predator of M. rubra, attacking the fruits intensively during the primary stage of fruit development. Thiotricha pancratiastis had been known as a foliage feeder (leaf miner) of M. rubra, but we revealed that the insect is also an important seed predator of the bayberry. |
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| Keywords: | foliage feeder fruit abortion mast fruiting Neoblastobasis spiniharpella seed predator |
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