Putative origin of clonal lineages of Amylostereum areolatum, the fungal symbiont associated with Sirex noctilio, retrieved from Pinus sylvestris, in eastern Canada

Abstract The woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, is an exotic pest of Pinus L. in the southern hemisphere and North America, and it is an emerging threat in northeastern China. Adult woodwasps have numerous insect competitors for oviposition substrates, and developing larvae must compete for resources with other subcortical invaders. Its mutualistic fungus Amylostereum areolatum (Fr.) Boidon, is less competitive than many other fungal colonists present in pine ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of incidental, host-colonizing fungi on the growth and development of woodwasp larvae and A. areolatum. Fungi were isolated from dead S. noctilio larvae within galleries (primarily Trichoderma Pers, Ophiostoma Sydow, and Sphaeropsis Sacc.), and effects of these fungi on woodwasp brood survival were investigated via inoculations of S. noctilio-infested logs. Larval mortality was significantly increased in sample logs inoculated with Ophiostoma minus (Hedgc.) Sydow Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jülich, Trichoderma atroviride Bissett, Trichoderma viride Pers, and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. Inoculation of logs with O. minus resulted in the highest mortality and greatest reductions in wood moisture content. When grown on artificial media, these fungi grew faster than and inhibited growth of A. areolatum mycelium. We propose that the adverse effects of incidental fungi on the survival of S. noctilio larvae may be caused at least in part by an indirect mechanism involving inhibition of the fungal symbiont. The findings provide potentially valuable information for suppressing S. noctilio populations using microbial control agents.

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Effect of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) attack density on Pinus sylvestris (Pinaceae) survival

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2019.12 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 151 (3) ◽

pp. 340-344

Author(s):

Laurel J. Haavik ◽

Brett P. Hurley ◽

Jeremy D. Allison

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Generation Time ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Low Density ◽

Sirex Noctilio ◽

Time To Death ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

One Year ◽

Wood Boring ◽

Density Treatment

AbstractPopulation density is often a critical factor in colonisation of trees by bark and wood-boring insects and may determine whether an exotic species is likely to establish and spread. In a manipulative field study, we investigated whether density of the attacking population of an exotic invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), affected survival and time-to-death of a favoured host tree, Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus (Pinaceae). We introduced mating pairs of woodwasps to stressed P. sylvestris at either high (15 mating pairs, nine trees) or low (two mating pairs, nine trees) density. More trees died, and more quickly, when exposed to the high versus low density of S. noctilio (78% versus 33% of trees). In the high-density treatment, year of tree death was synonymous with production of a S. noctilio F1 cohort (one-year or two-year generation time); this pattern was not as consistent in the low-density treatment. Although sample size was limited, our results indicate that attack density affects S. noctilio colonisation of P. sylvestris.

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The impact of Sirex noctilio in Pinus resinosa and Pinus sylvestris stands in New York and Ontario

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x09-181 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 212-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Kevin J. Dodds ◽

Peter de Groot ◽

David A. Orwig

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Basal Area ◽

Pinus Resinosa ◽

Attack Behavior ◽

Sirex Noctilio ◽

Silvicultural Treatments ◽

Dead Trees ◽

Management Plans ◽

The Impact

Sirex noctilio Fabricius has a long history as an invasive insect species in pine plantations throughout the Southern Hemisphere and has been recently discovered in North America, where it is uncertain how this insect will behave in pine ecosystems. To assess the impact and attack behavior of S. noctilio, forest surveys and measurements from attacked and unattacked trees were taken in nine Pinus resinosa Ait. and Pinus sylvestris L. plantations in New York, USA, and Ontario, Canada. There was a trend of S. noctilio attacking suppressed trees with smaller live crowns and reduced growth. Some S. noctilio attacks were also found in dominant crown classes but at a lower rate than overtopped or intermediate classes. Sirex noctilio appeared to have more of an impact in P. sylvestris forests, as they attacked more stems (9%–18%) and higher basal area (1.6–5.5 m2/ha) than P. resinosa stands (3%–8% of stems and 0.4–2.4 m2/ha). Dead trees with signs of Siricidae and dead from other causes were also quantified, and in some P. resinosa stands, levels were greater in magnitude than S. noctilio losses. Data from this study suggest that silvicultural treatments should be a key component of integrated pest management plans for S. noctilio.

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Interactions between the fungal symbiont of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) and two bark beetle-vectored fungi

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n11-001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 143 (3) ◽

pp. 224-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Kathleen Ryan ◽

Jean-Marc Moncalvo ◽

Peter de Groot ◽

Sandy M. Smith

Keyword(s):

Larval Development ◽

Bark Beetles ◽

Essential Role ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Competitive Interactions ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Fungal Symbiont ◽

Sirex Noctilio ◽

Individual Trees

AbstractThe woodwasp Sirex noctilio F. is invading North American forests, where it will interact with a large guild of pine-inhabiting beetles and their associated fungi. The woodwasp's obligate fungal symbiont, Amylostereum areolatum (Fries) Boidin (Stereaceae), plays an essential role in the wasp's larval development but is expected to be a poor competitor in the presence of fungi vectored by co-occurring insects. We examined the outcomes of competitive interactions between A. areolatum and two fungal species vectored by bark beetles, Leptographium wingfieldii Morelet (Ophiostomataceae) and Ophiostoma minus (Hedgcock) H. and P. Sydow (Ophiostomataceae), and the effect of temperature and substrate on these interactions. Beetle-associated fungi were usually able to capture more uncolonized resource than A. areolatum regardless of substrate or temperature. Amylostereum areolatum was able to colonize relatively more space in some cases but could not gain substrate already colonized by the ophiostomatoid competitor. These findings suggest that competitive interactions between beetle-vectored fungal species and A. areolatum could influence the reproductive fitness and distribution of S. noctilio within individual trees and also across a wide geographic area.

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Sirex species (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) and their parasitoids in Pinus sylvestris in eastern North America

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n08-068 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 141 (2) ◽

pp. 153-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Stefan J. Long ◽

David W. Williams ◽

Anne E. Hajek

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

New York State ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Sirex Noctilio ◽

York State ◽

Sirex Nigricornis ◽

Percent Parasitism ◽

Central New York

AbstractSiricids and their parasitoids were reared from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L. (Pinaceae)) trees infested by Sirex noctilio F. in central New York State. Sirex noctilio accounted for 94.3% of the siricid specimens emerging, totaling 1313 specimens from six trees, with a maximum of 495 from one tree. Of the individuals emerging per tree, 20.6 ± 5.2% were female. Two native siricids, Sirex nigricornis F. and S. edwardsii Brullè, also emerged from trees but in low numbers. Three hymenopteran parasitoid species that attack siricids emerged, totaling 21.8 ± 6.4% parasitism per tree. Ibalia leucospoides ensiger Norton (Ibaliidae) was by far the most abundant parasitoid, at 20.5 ± 6.3% parasitism per tree. The percentage of female S. noctilio emerging was positively correlated with wood diameter, whereas percent parasitism by I. l. ensiger was negatively correlated with wood diameter.

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Arboreal Insects Associated With Herbicide-Stressed Pinus resinosa and Pinus sylvestris Used as Sirex noctilio Trap Trees in New York

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1603/en12180 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1350-1363 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kevin J. Dodds ◽

Kelley E. Zylstra ◽

Garret D. Dubois ◽

E. Richard Hoebeke

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Pinus Resinosa ◽

Sirex Noctilio

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A bioeconomic approach to assess the impact of an alien invasive insect on timber supply and harvesting: a case study with Sirex noctilio in eastern Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x08-164 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 154-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Denys Yemshanov ◽

Daniel W. McKenney ◽

Peter de Groot ◽

Dennis Haugen ◽

Derek Sidders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Net Present Value ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Sirex Noctilio ◽

Timber Supply ◽

Allocation Model ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Potential Losses ◽

Alien Insect ◽

The Impact

This study presents a model that assesses the potential impact of a new alien insect species, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, on pine timber supply and harvest activities in eastern Canada. We integrate the spread of S. noctilio with a broad-scale growth and harvest allocation model. Projections of pine mortality range between 25 × 106 and 115 × 106 m3 over 20 years depending on S. noctilio spread and impact assumptions. Our model suggests Ontario could experience the highest, most immediate losses (78% of the potential losses across eastern Canada), with Quebec sustaining most of the rest of the losses over the next 20 years. Potential losses of $86 to $254 million per year are simulated after 20 years. The net present value of total harvest losses after 28 years of outbreak ranges between $0.7 to $2.1 billion. Adaptation policies decrease short-term losses by 46%–55% and delay larger harvest failures by 9–11 years. Without harvest adaptation, failures to maintain annual allowable cut levels may occur once the total area infested exceeds 15 × 106 ha. While better understanding and representing S. noctilio behaviour will involve a significant effort, there is a strong demand by policy makers for this kind of information.

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