SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT OF IPS PARACONFUSUS LANIER (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) REARED AXENICALLY AND WITH TREE-PATHOGENIC FUNGI VECTORED BY COHABITING DENDROCTONUS SPECIES

Abstract

AbstractSurvival and development of Ips paraconfusus Lanier larvae reared individually in intact Pinus ponderosa Laws. phloem without associated fungi and dietary supplements was demonstrated. Survival was reduced.in intact ponderosa pine phloem previously occupied by other larvae or by bluestaining fungi [i.e. Ophiostoma ips (Rumb.) vectored by I. paraconfusus, O. minus (Hedge.) H. & P. Syd. vectored by Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte, O. clavigerum (Robins.-Jeff. & Davids.) vectored by D. ponderosae Hopkins, and Leptographium terebrantis Barras & Perry vectored by D. valens LeConte] compared with those reared without fungi or symbiotic yeasts. The highest proportion of larvae initiating tunnels and surviving to adult was observed for untreated eggs, and the lowest proportion occurred in the L. terebrantis treatment. Size was reduced and developmental rate was slower for larvae reared without fungi compared with larvae reared with associated fungi.Tunnels excavated by first- and second-instar larvae reared without associated fungi were longer than those excavated by larvae reared with associated fungi. The most frequent larval turnabouts occurred with larvae reared axenically and reared with Ips yeast and O. ips. The fewest occurred with larvae reared with Ips egg niche plugs and from untreated eggs. Females reared free of any fungi or with Penicillium or Aspergillus did not oviposit in surface-sterilized ponderosa pine logs. Naturally eclosed females from ponderosa pine logs in which they developed, laid eggs in these sterilized logs. Potential for a new association among bark beetles and fungi is discussed.