Journal article
Impact of braconid wasps on larval performance of longhorned borer Coptocercus rubripes Boisduval (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Eucalyptus forest of Southwestern Australia
Austral Entomology, Vol.59(4), pp.819-828
2020
Abstract
In Southwestern Australia, outbreaks of cerambycids have been associated with infestation of drying and stressed trees. Felled timber provides an abundant habitat for a variety of subcortical beetles where their development can be modified by attack from natural enemies, including parasitoids. There are a variety of parasitoid wasps of cerambycids native to Australia, yet their effectiveness in controlling the larval performance of borers has been little studied. Approximately 700 Eucalyptus trees felled to realign a forest road provided an opportunity to determine how a mass of drying logs influences borer infestation rates and whether parasitoid wasps were effective in controlling borer survival. The native borer Coptocercus rubripes (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) caused an extensive infestation of fallen trees at the clearfell site. These infestations were subsequently limited by the direct effect of parasitism from the native braconid wasps Callibracon limbatus and Syngaster lepidus emerging from a single hole in a white cocoon. The effects of parasitism showed inverse density dependency where high borer larval densities increased the chances of borer larval survival. The absence of parasitism in caged logs promoted high borer larval densities and greatly improved adult borer survival, and while this increased the demand for sapwood resources, it promoted early adult borer emergence. Control by native braconid wasps of high infestations of Co. rubripes borers attacking drying and stressed trees limits adult borer emergence and has the potential to partially regulate borer populations.
Details
- Title
- Impact of braconid wasps on larval performance of longhorned borer Coptocercus rubripes Boisduval (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Eucalyptus forest of Southwestern Australia
- Authors/Creators
- S.A. Seaton (Author/Creator)G.E.St.J. Hardy (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Austral Entomology, Vol.59(4), pp.819-828
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991005544000607891
- Copyright
- © 2020 Australian Entomological Society
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Harry Butler Institute
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
81 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.32 Entomology
- 3.32.1539 Bark Beetle Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Entomology
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science