Insects Associated with the Southern Pine Beetle in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi

Abstract

Laboratory rearings designed to predict population trends of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman, were conducted in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi during 1963–65. Insects found associated with the beetle were collected and identified. Forty-two families of insects containing 84 species were found associated with the beetle in the 3 States. Of these, 7 were known predators and 8 were known parasites of the southern pine beetle. A torymid, Roptrocerus eccoptogastri (Ratzeburg), was the most prevalent hymenopterous parasite collected. Cecidostiba dendroctoni Ashmead was identified for the first time as a parasite of the southern pine beetle in Mississippi. Medetera maura Wheeler, a dolichopodid fly, identified from Texas and Louisiana, was one of the most abundant predators of the southern pine beetle. Impact of these associated insects on southern pine beetle population dynamics was not determined. However, the combination of all species of predators, parasites, and competitors probably had an effect in lessening the intensity or causing the decline of beetle outbreaks.