Influence of host plant vs. natural enemies on the spatial distribution of a pine sawfly, Neodiprion autumnalis

Immatures of the Phelypera schuppeli (Boheman, 1834) (Curculionidae; Hyperinae; Cepurini) are described, illustrated and compared with available descriptions of larvae and pupae of Hyperini. Immatures and adults from midwest (Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul; Pirenópolis, Goiás) and southeast Brazil (Bauru, São Paulo) were found on leaves of the host plant, Pachira aquatica Aubl. ( Malvaceae, formerly Bombacaceae), a tree used as an ornamental plant in many Brazilian frost-free cities. Larvae of P. schuppeli are exophytic, brightly colored, eruciform and possess abdominal ambulatory ampullae, resembling larvae of Lepidoptera. Mature larvae can spin globular lattice-like cocoons where pupation takes place. Data in the field and under laboratory conditions confirmed previously published biological observations on P. schuppeli. Additional information about defensive behaviors, process of cocoon construction and natural enemies, such as the larval predator Supputius cinticeps (Stål, 1860) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the prepupal and pupal parasitoid Jaliscoa nudipennis Bouček, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), are reported.

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Effects of Citrus Overwintering Predators, Host Plant Phenology and Environmental Variables on Aphid Infestation Dynamics in Clementine Citrus

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toz101 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 112 (4) ◽

pp. 1587-1597 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Juan Pedro Raul Bouvet ◽

Alberto Urbaneja ◽

César Monzó

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Plant ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Aphis Gossypii ◽

Colony Growth ◽

Plant Phenology ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Phenological Stages ◽

Aphid Infestation

Abstract The Spirea citrus aphid, Aphis spiraecola Patch, and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), are key pests of clementine mandarines in the Mediterranean basin. Severity of aphid infestations is determined by environmental variables, host plant phenology patterns, and the biological control exerted by their associated natural enemies. However, there is no information about the role these limiting and regulating factors play. Aphid densities, citrus phenology, and associated predators that overwinter in the crop were monitored weekly throughout two flush growth periods (February to July) in four clementine mandarin groves; relationships between these parameters and environmental variables (temperature and precipitation) were studied. Our results show exponential increase in aphid infestation levels to coincide with citrus phenological stages B3 and B4; shoots offer more space and nutritional resources for colony growth at these stages. Duration of these phenological stages, which was mediated by mean temperature, seems to importantly determine the severity of aphid infestations in the groves. Among those studied, the micro-coccinellids, mostly Scymnus species, were the only group of predators with the ability to efficiently regulate aphid populations. These natural enemies had the highest temporal and spatial demographic stability. Aphid regulation success was only achieved through early presence of natural enemies in the grove, at the aphid colonization phase. Our results suggest that conservation strategies aimed at preserving and enhancing Scymnus sp. populations may make an important contribution to the future success of the biological control of these key citrus pests.

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Host plant traits associated with resistance of ponderosa pine to the sawfly, Neodiprionfulviceps

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x93-109 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 839-845 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Michael R. Wagner ◽

Zhao-Yi Zhang

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Phenotypic Variation ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Outer Cell ◽

Soluble Nitrogen ◽

Fiber Cells ◽

Pine Sawfly ◽

Cell Layers ◽

Laboratory Bioassays

Phenotypic variation in defoliation of ponderosa pine, Pinusponderosa Laws., by the pine sawfly, Neodiprionfulviceps, is reported. Two field and one laboratory bioassays of paired phenotypically resistant and susceptible trees consistently indicated that sawfly egg, larval, and total survival were 5–14% lower on resistant trees. A suite of host-plant traits were assayed on resistant and susceptible trees including anatomical characteristics of the needles and concentration of terpene and nitrogen. Resistant trees had thicker outer cell layers, more fiber cells, higher toughness, and lower soluble nitrogen than susceptible trees. Resistant and susceptible trees were not distinguished by differences in terpenes. Generational survival of N. fulviceps was inversely related to foliage toughness and number of fiber cells.

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Interaction between bracken and its insect herbivores

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Section B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0269727000008046 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 86 ◽

pp. 125-131

Author(s):

J. H. Lawton ◽

M. MacGarvin

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Host Plants ◽

Insect Species ◽

Insect Herbivores ◽

The World ◽

Below Ground ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact ◽

Typical Site

SynopsisBracken in Britain is a host for 27 species of insect herbivores, with a further 11 species that either feed below ground (and are poorly studied), or appear to be only rarely associated with the plant. A typical site in northern England has an average of 15–16 of these species in any one year. Compared with perennial herbaceous angiosperms with similar wide distributions, bracken is not noticeably depauperate in the number of insect species that feed upon it. Bracken in others parts of the world is attacked by a wide variety of insects, with more species present in the geographical areas where bracken is most common.The ‘feeding niches’ of some of these insects are reviewed. Most are very rare relative to the biomass of their host plants, probably because of the impact of natural enemies; the effect of most of the insects upon their host-plant is consequently negligible.Reverse effects, of host-plant upon the insects, are subtle but poorly understood. Experiments to elucidate these effects are briefly outlined.

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Chronic Defoliation Impacts Pine Sawfly (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) Performance and Host Plant Quality

Oikos ◽

10.2307/3546019 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 357 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Joel D. McMillin ◽

Michael R. Wagner

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Plant Quality ◽

Host Plant Quality ◽

Pine Sawfly

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Natural enemies and host-plant asynchrony contributing to the failure of the introduced moth, Coleophora parthenica Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), to control Russian thistle

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/0167-8809(90)90129-2 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 32 (1-2) ◽

pp. 133-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

H. Müller ◽

G.S. Nuessly ◽

R.D. Goeden

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Natural Enemies

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The Spatial Distribution of Cocoons of Neodiprion swainei Middleton in a Jack Pine Stand: I. A Cartographic Analysis of Cocoon Distribution, With Special Reference to Predation by Small Mammals

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent98430-4 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 98 (4) ◽

pp. 430-447 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. M. McLeod

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Special Reference ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Tree Density ◽

Pine Sawfly ◽

Insight Into

AbstractInsight into the source of aggregation in the spatial distribution of cocoons of the Swaine jack-pine sawfly, Neodiprion swainei Middleton was gained by the use of special techniques enabling the sampling of units of forest floor in contiguous 2 × 2-inch square samples, as well as by randomized one-square-foot samples taken over a larger area. It was concluded that cocoon distribution is initially random but marked aggregation results from the subsequent transportation of cocoons into feeding stations by predacious small mammals, mostly of the genus Sorex. The feeding stations tended to be distributed near decaying stems and stumps on the forest floor, a factor which augmented the extent of aggregation. Of cocoons not preyed upon by small mammals, slightly higher counts were recorded directly under crown canopies as opposed to open areas, at a tree density of approximately 920 per acre.

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Whiteflies Provide Honeydew to Camponotus ants Without Receiving Reciprocal Favor

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v63i2.900 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 755

Author(s):

Raí Martins De Jesus ◽

Ramon Paes Junior ◽

Gleicy Do Carmo ◽

Danilo Mota ◽

Lessando Moreira Gontijo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Plant ◽

Laboratory Study ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Predator Cues ◽

Sooty Mold ◽

Field Laboratory ◽

Important Pest ◽

The Impact

The notion that tending ants provide protection to honeydew-producing hemipterans is widely accepted. Nevertheless, there have been debates about whether or not this protection can always disrupt the biological control of hemipterans. Although various hemipteran species interact with tending ants, most studies have focused on the mutualism between ants and aphids. Woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) is an important pest of citrus whose nymphs are frequently tended by ants such as Camponotus. However, it is unknown whether or not ants in this genus can disrupt biological control of woolly whitefly by protecting this pest’s nymphs from natural enemies. We investigated the impact of Camponotus ants on the biological control of woolly whitefly in the field by excluding or allowing the access of ants to whitefly nymph colonies in different tangerine trees. Furthermore, in a laboratory study we also assessed the behavior of Camponotus ants in response to woolly whitefly’s common predator cues (visual and scent). In summary, this field-laboratory study suggests that there is no mutualism between tending Camponotus ants and the whitefly A. floccosus; rather it indicates commensalism as an alternative interaction. Interactions as this may provide more benefits for the host plant, whereby Camponotus ants can reduce sooty mold by removing honeydew from the leaves and favor pest biological control by leaving the whiteflies unprotected.

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