Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to volatiles isolated from conspecifics

Olfactory sensitivity of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, to compounds isolated from the mid/hindguts of newly emerged conspecific adults was assayed with coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection. All previously reported pheromones for D. frontalis plus eight additional compounds (fenchyl alcohol, myrtenal, cis-verbenol, trans-pinocarveol, acetophenone, trans-myrtanol, cis-myrtanol, and 2-phenylethanol) consistently elicited antennal responses from at least one sex. The eight additional compounds were assayed individually at three release rates (0.4-0.8, 3-9, and 25-100 mg/d) for the ability to alter D. frontalis responses to traps baited with D. frontalis attractant (4 mg/d frontalin and 17 mg/d alpha-pinene). At the high release rate, cis-verbenol enhanced attraction of D. frontalis females, whereas the other seven compounds significantly reduced attraction of one or both sexes. Acetophenone significantly reduced attraction of male D. frontalis at the low release rate, and five compounds (fenchyl alcohol, trans-pinocarveol, acetophenone, cis-myrtanol, and 2-phenylethanol) reduced attraction of one or both sexes at the intermediate rate. Only acetophenone significantly altered the sex ratio of beetles trapped, decreasing the proportion of males. Attraction of predatory checkered beetles (Cleridae) was enhanced by cis-verbenol released at the high rate but was not altered by any compound inhibitory to D. frontalis. Analyses of volatiles from individual D. frontalis indicated that the majority of the eight compounds were produced in greater quantities by newly emerged beetles than ones attacking pine bolts. Five of the compounds were associated predominantly with one sex. Possible ecological roles of these compounds in the biology of D. frontalis are discussed.     

Areography of the genus Dendroctonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Mexico

Objective To analyse whether the geographical ranges of Dendroctonus species are (1) associated with factors such as host species or elevation, and (2) in agreement with Halffter's Nearctic distribution pattern. (3) To identify and discuss the factors that are likely to act as barriers to the genus’ geographical distribution. (4) To explore whether there is an association between the size of the geographical ranges of Dendroctonus species and the number of Pinus host species used by each of them, and (5) to assess if these host species are most common at the elevations preferred by the individual Dendroctonus species. Site Mexico. Methods Records of 12 species of Dendroctonus were gathered from entomological collections in Mexico. Distribution ranges were defined by using the propinquity method ( Rapoport, 1975a ). Analysed parameters were: (1) geographical distribution of single species, (2) overlapping of species ranges, (3) disjunction patterns and barriers by means of isoprobabilistic lines, based on the morphotectonic subdivision of Mexico ( Ferrusquía‐Villafranca, 1998 ), (4) spatial variation in species richness with respect to latitude and altitude, (5) size of geographical ranges, and (6) host species for each Dendroctonus species. A correlation was determined between area size and number of pine host species. Results The species ranges varied in shape and size. Geographical ranges tend to be discontinuous in shape. Composite patterns showed that disjunctions among ranges do not closely follow Mexico's morphotectonic subdivision. There are repeated discontinuities among individual distributions, which define five areas: (1) Baja California Peninsula, (2) Sierra Madre Occidental (SMOC), (3) northern Sierra Madre Oriental (SMOR), (4) Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and (5) SMOR + Faja Volcanica Transmexicana (FVT) + Sierra Madre del Sur. The isoprobabilistic lines confirm that the inner part of SMOC provides an optimal environment for the genus, and the FVT province constitutes the broader corridor for it in the country. Richness does not directly decrease or increase with latitude. Richness behaviour of the insect is not associated with that of its host. Elevation distributions showed that most Dendroctonus species move within broad margins of tolerance and species richness is concentrated in the montane interval. Dendroctonus attack 24 of the 47 Pinus species distributed in Mexico. Preferred pine species belong predominantly to Leiophyllae, Ponderosae and Oocarpae subsections. The Spearman rank correlation between area size and number of pine host species was not significant. Dendroctonus clearly belongs to a Nearctic distribution pattern (sensu Halffter, 1987 ). Main conclusions Dendroctonus is present in all montane systems of Mexico and its species coexist within a high geographical sympatry. Overlapping of species distribution appears to be the result of two elements – generalized polyphagy inside Pinus and a wide elevation tolerance within mountainous environments. This behaviour, linked to a high vagility, has allowed the genus Dendroctonus to expand its distribution across Mexico and to employ mountainous systems as corridors separated by barriers that exert a low selective filter effect.     

Attraction of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, to pheromone components of the western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in an allopatric zone

Subtle differences in pheromone components of sympatric species should be attractive only to the producing species and unattractive or repellent to the nonproducing species, and thereby maintain reproductive isolation and reduce competition between species. Bark beetles Dendroctonus brevicomis and D. frontalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are known to have common pheromone components, except for exo-brevicomin, which is produced by D. brevicomis. We predicted that D. frontalis would not respond to exo-brevicomin outside of the zone of sympatry with D. brevicomis. We conducted a field experiment to determine the effect of exo-brevicomin on attraction of D. frontalis and associated species in Mississippi. We determined whether D. frontalis pheromone production differed inside and outside the sympatric zone and compared the pheromone profiles with D. brevicomis within the sympatric zone. Trapping studies revealed that D. frontalis can perceive and respond positively to exo-brevicomin, an aggregation pheromone of a sympatric congener (D. brevicomis), at locations hundreds of kilometers outside the sympatric zone. Qualitative pheromone profiles showed that both species emit similar pheromone components: frontalin, endo-brevicomin, exo-brevicomin, trans-verbenol, verbenone, and myrtenol. Although not previously reported, D. frontalis males from Arizona produced exo-brevicomin. The predator Thanasimus dubius did not discriminate traps baited with exo-brevicomin and was most attracted to traps with frontalin. Hylastes beetles were significantly attracted to traps baited with exo-brevicomin in combination with other compounds. Our results raise new practical and evolutionary questions on the role of exo-brevicomin in the behavioral ecology of D. frontalis. The addition of exo-brevicomin to the current lure might increase the efficiency of trapping programs in the southeastern United States.     

Phylogeography of the bark beetle Dendroctonus mexicanus Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Dendroctonus mexicanus is polyphagous within the Pinus genus and has a wide geographical distribution in Mexico and Guatemala. We examined the pattern of genetic variation across the range of this species to explore its demographic history and its phylogeographic pattern. Analysis of the mtDNA sequences of 173 individuals from 25 Mexican populations allowed to us identify 53 geographically structured haplotypes. High haplotype and low nucleotide diversities and Tajima’s D indicate that D. mexicanus experienced rapid population expansion during its dispersal across mountain systems within its current range. The nested clade phylogeographic analysis indicates that the phylogeographic pattern of D. mexicanus is explained by continuous dispersion among lineages from the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. However, we also observed isolation events among haplotypes from the Cofre de Perote/Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt/Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt/Sierra Madre del Sur, which is consistent with the present conformation of mountain systems in Mexico and the emergence of geographical barriers during the Pleistocene.     

Response of Dendroctonus brevicomis to different release rates of nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone in trapping and tree protection studies

A blend of eight nonhost angiosperm volatiles (benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, guaiacol, nonanal, salicylaldehyde, (E)‐2‐hexenal, (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol and (Z)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol) without [NAV] and with [NAVV] (–)‐verbenone (4,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐3‐en‐2‐one) were tested at low (L), medium (M) and high (H) release rates for their ability to reduce attraction of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, to attractant‐baited (exo‐brevicomin [racemic, 3 mg/d], frontalin [racemic, 3 mg/d] and myrcene [18 mg/d]) multiple funnel traps. NAV‐L (40 mg/d) had no significant effect. Verbenone alone (50 mg/d) and NAV‐M (240 mg/d) both significantly reduced attraction, but no significant difference was observed between the two treatment means. NAV‐H (430 mg/d) significantly reduced catches by ～60% and 78% compared to verbenone alone and the baited control, respectively. In a second experiment, combining (–)‐verbenone with NAV (NAVV) increased the effects observed in Experiment 1. NAVV‐M (240 mg/d) resulted in an ～69% and 83% reduction in trap catch compared to verbenone alone and the baited control, respectively. Significantly fewer D. brevicomis were captured in NAVV‐H (430 mg/d) than any other treatment resulting in an ～93% reduction in trap catch compared to the baited control. In a third experiment, NAVV was tested at three release rates for its ability to protect individual ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., from attack by D. brevicomis. Cumulative release rates varied in direct proportion to tree diameter, but represented quarter, half and full NAVV rates. NAVV significantly reduced the density of D. brevicomis attacks, D. brevicomis successful attacks, and levels of tree mortality on attractant‐baited trees. Only three of 15 NAVV‐treated trees died from D. brevicomis attack while ～93% mortality (14/15) was observed in the untreated, baited control. Quarter and half rates were ineffective for reducing tree mortality.     

Gut-associated yeast in bark beetles of the genus Dendroctonus Erichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Scolytine bark beetles are the most destructive pests of conifers; they sometimes aggregate in such large numbers that they actually kill their hosts. They maintain close relationships with yeasts and fungi, in particular those that are assumed to aid in digestive, detoxification processes and pheromone production. In this study, 403 yeast strains were isolated from the guts, ovaries, eggs and frass of nine bark beetle species in the genus Dendroctonus Erichson. The beetles were collected from 10 conifer species at 34 locations in Mexico, Guatemala and the USA. Yeast identification was based on partial DNA sequences from 18S rDNA, 26S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1), as well as morphological and physiological characteristics. A combined phylogenetic analysis delimited 11 clades with sequences similar to Candida arabinofermentans , C. ernobii , C. membranifaciens (including C. lessepsii , Pichia mexicana and P. scolyti ), C. oregonensis , C. piceae , Kuraishia capsulata (including K. capsulata and K. cf. molischiana ), Pichia americana , P. canadensis , P. glucozyma , P. guilliermondii and an undescribed species of Candida . Nucleotide divergences between the major clades were at least 5% while, with the exception of 30 isolates, yeasts within clades differed from named reference species at fewer than 1% of the nucleotide sites. There do not appear to be obligate relationships between particular yeasts and specific anatomical partitions, nor between particular yeasts and bark beetle species. Some yeasts do appear to be preferentially associated with bark beetles feeding on different conifer genera and therefore host plant defences may limit yeast community diversity in Dendroctonus .  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 98 , 325–342.     

Odor-baited trap trees: a novel management tool for plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the most important pests of apple (Malus spp.) in eastern and central North America, historically has been managed in New England apple orchards by three full block insecticide applications. Efforts to reduce insecticide inputs against plum curculio include perimeter row sprays, particularly after petal fall, to control immigrating adults. The odor-baited trap tree approach represents a new reduced input strategy for managing plum curculio based on the application of insecticides to a few perimeter-row trap trees rather than the entire perimeter row or full orchard block. Here, we compared the efficacy of a trap tree approach with perimeter row treatments to manage populations after petal fall in commercial apple orchards in 2005 and 2006. Injury was significantly greater in trap trees compared with unbaited perimeter row treated trees in both years of the study. In 2005, heavy rains prevented growers from applying insecticide applications at regular intervals resulting in high injury in nearly all blocks regardless of type of management strategy. In 2006, both the trap-tree and perimeter-row treatments prevented penetration by immigrating populations and resulted in economically acceptable levels of injury. The trap tree management strategy resulted in a reduction of approximately 70% total trees being treated with insecticide compared with perimeter row sprays and 93% compared with standard full block sprays.     

华山松大小蠹对几种寄主挥发物组分的EAG和行为反应

为筛选适宜配制华山松大小蠹(Dendroctonus armandi)引诱剂的有效化学成分,用触角电位仪和Y型嗅觉仪测定了华山松大小蠹雌、雄虫对华山松挥发物主要成分的触角电生理(EAG)和行为反应.结果表明:在0.01、0.1、1、10、100 μg 5种刺激剂量下,7种化合物在特定浓度下均有明确的EAG反应;雌、雄虫对月桂烯、(+)-3-蒈烯、β-石竹烯3种化合物及雄虫对(+)-α-蒎烯、柠檬烯的EAG相对电位的最大值均出现在10μg刺激条件下;在10 μg刺激剂量条件下,雌虫对(+)-α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯和(+)-3-蒈烯有明显的正趋向反应,正趋向率均高于72%且显著高于雄成虫对3种挥发物的正趋向率;在1 μg刺激下,只有雄虫对(+)-3-蒈烯有一定正趋向反应;而在100μg条件下,(-)-α-蒎烯对雌、雄虫均有一定驱避作用.该研究结果可为开发华山松大小蠹林间引诱剂提供借鉴.     

Phylogeny of Dendroctonus bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) inferred from morphological and molecular data

Bark beetles in the genus Dendroctonus may attack and kill several species of coniferous trees, some of them causing major economic losses in temperate forests throughout North and Central America. For this reason, they have been widely studied. However, various aspects of the taxonomy and evolutionary history of the group remain contentious. The genus has been subdivided in species groups according to morphological, biological, karyological or molecular attributes, but the evolutionary affinities among species and species groups within the genus remain uncertain. In this study, phylogenetic relationships among Dendroctonus species were reassessed through parsimony‐based cladistic analysis of morphological and DNA sequence data. Phylogenetic inference was based on 36 morphological characters and on mitochondrial DNA sequences of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. Analyses were carried out for each dataset, as well as for the combined data analysed simultaneously, under equal and implied weights. According to the combined analysis, the genus Dendroctonus is a monophyletic group defined by at least three synapomorphic characters and there are four main lineages of varied composition and diversity within the genus. Within these lineages, several monophyletic groups match, to some extent, species groups defined by previous authors, but certain groups proposed by those authors are polyphyletic or paraphyletic.     

Visual cues are relevant in behavioral control measures for Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Trap designs for banana root borer, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), have been done essentially on the understanding that C. sordidus rely primarily on chemical cues. Our present results indicate that these borers also rely on visual cues. Previous studies have demonstrated that among the eight differently colored traps tested in the field, brown traps were the most effective compared with the performances of yellow, red, gray, blue, black, white, and green traps; mahogany-brown was more effective than other shades of brown.In the current study, efficiency of ground traps with different colors was evaluated in the laboratory for the capture of C. sordidius. Response of C. sordidus to pheromone-baited ground traps of several different colors (used either individually or as 1:1 mixtures of two different colors) were compared with the standardized mahogany-brown traps. Traps with mahogany-brown mixed with different colors had no significant effect. In contrast, a laboratory color-choice tests indicated C. sordidus preferred black traps over other color traps, with no specific preferences for different shades of black. Here again, traps with black mixed with other colors (1:1) had no influence on the catches. Therefore, any other color that mixes with mahogany-brown or black does not cause color-specific dilution of attractiveness. By exploiting these results, it may be possible to produce efficacious trapping systems that could be used in a behavioral approach to banana root borer control.     

Verbenone-releasing flakes protect individual Pinus contorta trees from attack by Dendroctonus ponderosae and Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

1 In a study site in interior northern California, twenty individual lodgepole pines Pinus contorta were sprayed with a suspension of DISRUPT Micro‐Flake^® Verbenone (4,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo(3.1)hept‐3‐en‐2‐one) Bark Beetle Anti‐Aggregant flakes (Hercon Environmental, Emigsville, Pennsylvania) in water, with sticker and thickener, from ground level to a height of 7 m. Twenty trees sprayed with just water, sticker and thickener served as controls. All trees were baited immediately after spraying with mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae aggregation pheromone lures, and lures were refreshed after 4 weeks. 2 Trees treated with verbenone had significantly lower attack density by D. ponderosae than controls at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after application of flakes. 3 None of the treated trees was attacked by red turpentine beetle Dendroctonus valens, whereas control trees averaged nearly two D. valens attacks per tree, 8 weeks after treatment. 4 A dry frass index, used to predict ultimate tree mortality, was significantly higher in control trees than treated trees for all four sampling intervals. This index proved to be a significant predictor of ultimate tree mortality. 5 Ten months after application, treated trees showed significantly lower mortality than control trees.     

Predicting Dendroctonus pseudotsugae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) antiaggregation pheromone concentrations using an instantaneous puff dispersion model

An instantaneous puff dispersion model was used to assess concentration fields of the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins, antiaggregation pheromone, 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (MCH), within a 1-ha circular plot. Several combinations of MCH release rate and releaser spacing were modeled to theoretically analyze optimal deployment strategies. The combinations of MCH release rate and releaser spacing used in the modeling exercise were based on results of previous field studies of treatment efficacy. Analyses of model results suggest that a release rate up to six times the initial standard, at a correspondingly wider spacing to keep the total amount of pheromone dispersed per unit area constant, may be effective at preventing Douglas-fir beetle infestation. The model outputs also provide a visual representation of pheromone dispersion patterns that can occur after deployment of release devices in the field. These results will help researchers and practitioners design more effective deployment strategies.     

DNA条形码试剂盒检测技术在大小蠹属种类鉴定中的应用

[目的]DNA条形码技术已成为生物分类鉴定的有力工具.DNA条形码技术的相关问题,如物种种内和种间的遗传距离出现重叠区域,将直接影响到物种鉴定的准确性.我们应用DNA条形码试剂盒检测技术来快速、准确地鉴定口岸截获的检疫性大小蠹属种类.[方法]针对大小蠹昆虫设计引物以提高PCR扩增效率.运用自主研发的基因条码分析软件找出基因片段上区分每个物种的多态位点规律,作为该物种的鉴定特征并建立数据库,应用于物种鉴定.[结果]使用针对大小蠹属昆虫设计的引物成功扩增出325 bp的COI基因片段.将大小蠹属12种昆虫的COI基因片段上的核苷酸诊断位点的组合作为物种的鉴定特征,可以准确地区分近似种.通过比对植物检疫鉴定系统数据库里的鉴定特征,将6个大小蠹属的未知样品成功鉴定到种(核苷酸序列一致性为100％),与形态鉴定结果一致.[结论]结果表明DNA条形码试剂盒检测技术可以准确鉴定大小蠹属的种类.该检测技术可以应用于其他经济重要性有害生物的检测鉴定.     

Nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone disrupt response of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to attractant-baited traps

Nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone were tested for their ability to disrupt the response of western pine beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to attractant-baited multiple funnel traps. Verbenone significantly reduced attraction; however, no difference was observed between 4 and 50 mg/24-h release rates. Combinations of six bark volatiles (benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, trans-conophthorin, guaiacol, nonanal, and salicylaldehyde), three green leaf volatiles [(E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, and (Z)-2-hexen-1-ol], and the nine compounds combined did not significantly reduce D. brevicomis response to attractant-baited traps. However, a significant effect was observed when the bark and green leaf volatiles were combined with verbenone. The nine nonhost angiosperm volatiles (NAVs) significantly augmented the effect of both release rates of verbenone, reducing trap catches to levels significantly below that of either release rate of verbenone alone. trans-Conophthorin, a compound reported to have behavioral activity in a number of other scolytids, was not critical to the efficacy of our NAV blend. Our results suggest that the addition of nonhost angiosperm volatiles to verbenone could be important for developing successful semiochemical-based management techniques for D. brevicomis.     

Reducing spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) emergence for hibernation in central British Columbia by felling infested trees

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Temporal variation in mycophagy and prevalence of fungi associated with developmental stages of Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Mycophagy by bark beetles is widespread. However, little is known regarding which developmental stages of bark beetles actually feed on fungi. To study this question, we sampled fungi associated with Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) throughout development in naturally attacked trees. Isolations of fungi were made from phloem adjacent to brood and from brood exoskeletons and guts. Overall, the incidence of fungi with individual brood increased as brood development progressed. Grosmannia clavigera (Robinson-Jeffrey and Davidson) Zipfel, de Beer and Wingf. and Ophiostoma montium (Rumbold) von Arx exhibited generally opposing trends in prevalence. G. clavigera was most likely to be found in phloem adjacent to prewintering third- and postwintering fourth-instar larvae. O. montium was most likely to be found in phloem adjacent to eggs, first-instar larvae, pupae, and teneral adults. In contrast to isolations made from phloem, fungi isolated from brood guts and exoskeletons were not observed to shift in prevalence. First- and third-instar larvae were often observed migrating to older portions of their galleries, indicating that they do not spend all of their time feeding at, and extending, the apex of the gallery. Our results suggest that not only are D. ponderosae brood in contact with and feeding on fungi throughout development, but also, that during development, contact of brood with a particular fungus is likely to change. Such temporal shifts in fungal symbionts may be environmentally driven and have important implications in how these fungi interact with their hosts within and across generations.     

Improved semiochemical-based trapping method for old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), has been a very serious pest of structural timber in many parts of the world. The available semiochemical-based trapping method typically results in low capture rates. In this study, efforts were made to improve the semiochemical-based trapping method using screen cage assays conducted in the greenhouse. Ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol (pheromone baited) caught >21.0% adults than the alternative trap and were seen to be superior to ramp traps baited with identical compounds. Based on adult catches with pheromone-baited traps with different colors, attraction of H. bajulus adults to black was significantly greater than other colors, followed by brown, gray and yellow, red, white, green, and blue. No differences were found in adult catches to pheromone-baited traps with respect to different trap sizes. There were no statistical differences between the different semiochemicals tested. Therefore, black ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol plus two vials of ethyl acetate can be effective in the monitoring and potential control of H. bajulus.     

Effects of temperature on development of Otiorrhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Development of the black vine weevil, Otiorrhynchus sulcatus , was investigated at constant temperatures from 9 to 27 ^oC. Pre-adult development was completed in 200 and 130 days at 15 and 24 ^oC, respectively. Eggs and larvae developed at 27 ^oC, but no pupation took place at this temperature. The developmental threshold temperatures for eggs, larvae + pre-pupae and pupae were 6, 2–6 and 12 ^oC, respectively. Reproductive maturation of females took place at temperatures from 12 to 27 ^oC, but only a few females became reproductive at 12 ^oC. Most females at 12 ^oC, like those at 9 ^oC, had a short maturation feed, but the ovaries did not develop. The pre-oviposition period was temperature dependent. The females showed a cyclic oviposition pattern with three peaks. The significance of soil temperatures for the phenology and distribution of O. sulcatus in Norway is discussed.     

Modelling temperature-dependent development and survival of Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract 1 We conducted a laboratory experiment to quantify the stage‐specific effects of temperature on development time and survival of Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a serious economic pest of horticultural crops. Quantification of the relationship between stage development and temperature is required to predict seasonal occurrence of particular life stages and to optimize the timing of monitoring and control tactics. 2 Temperature‐dependent survival rate was quantified using an extreme value function and showed a skewed bell shape, due to the vulnerability of the insect to high temperature in all stages. 3 The development times of O. sulcatus decreased with increasing temperature up to 27 °C for eggs and 24 °C for larvae and pupae. The nonlinear relationship between development rate and temperature was described using the Logan model, and enabled us to estimate the optimum temperature for development. 4 The inherent variation of development time was estimated from the cumulative frequency of stage emergence, which was modelled using the cumulative Weibull function. 5 The stage emergence model, which simulated the transition from one stage to the next in relation to temperature and cohort age, was constructed by incorporating stage‐specific survival and development rate submodels with the Weibull model of stage frequency. 6 Our results show a difference in optimal temperature regime among developmental stages of O. sulcatus.     

Responses of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) parasitoids to invasion of the cabbage seedpod weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in western Canada

Invasion of the European weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), was investigated through surveys of its range and population densities in Alberta and Saskatchewan from 2001 to 2005. After it was first reported in southern Alberta, C. obstrictus rapidly expanded its range and abundance. Our more recent surveys indicate that its northward expansion has slowed, but that it has continued to extend its range eastward to southcentral Saskatchewan. The distribution and abundance of parasitoids of C. obstrictus in Alberta and Saskatchewan were investigated from 2003 to 2005 by mass rearing canola pods infested with C. obstrictus larvae. Although weevil populations were not parasitized for several years immediately following its introduction to southern Alberta, a surprisingly diverse assemblage of Chalcidoidea parasitoids, comprising 12 species from four families, were recently reared from weevil-infested canola siliques in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Chalcidoidea fauna of C. obstrictus include species with both Nearctic and Holarctic distributions, with some species having restricted host ranges and others that are more niche than taxon-specific. These Chalcidoidea species appear to have expanded their host ranges to parasitize C. obstrictus in the region. Most parasitism is attributable to Trichomalus lucidus (Walker), Chlorocytus sp., and Pteromalus sp. (Pteromalidae), and Necremnus tidius (Walker) (Eulophidae). Parasitism levels varied considerably over the three years of this study. From 2003 to 2005 increases in parasitism occurred among all four of the species dominating the parasitoid fauna of C. obstrictus, but greater increases were observed for Chlorocytus sp. and Pteromalus sp. than for T. lucidus. Parasitoid species have sometimes caused substantial levels of host mortality, although current levels are usually less than 15% for all species combined and so are not sufficient to control weevil populations. Implementing a classical biological control program for C. obstrictus by reconstructing its European natural enemy complex is being considered, but it is still uncertain whether parasitism levels by native Chalcidoidea will increase over time since considerable year-to-year variation has been found. Parasitism levels of C. obstrictus should therefore continue to be monitored to assess whether a classical biological control program should be implemented.