Vertically Stratified Ash-Limb Beetle Fauna in Northern Ohio

Michael D Ulyshen,E Richard Hoebeke,Daniel A Herms,William T Barrington

doi:10.1155/2012/215891

Abstract

To better understand the diversity and ecology of indigenous arthropods at risk from the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennisFairmaire) in North American forests, saproxylic beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) were reared from ash (Fraxinussp.) limbs suspended in the canopy,~10–17 m above the ground, and from those placed on the ground in a mature mixed hardwood forest. In total, 209 specimens from 9 families and 18 species were collected from 30.0 m2of limbs. The generalist cerambycidNeoclytus acuminatus(Fabricius) was the most commonly captured taxon, followed by an assemblage of four exotic ambrosia beetles dominated byXylosandrus crassiusculus(Motschulsky). Two species largely or entirely restricted to ash, the buprestidAgrilus subcinctusGory and the curculionidHylesinus aculeatus(Say), were collected as well. Although there were no differences in beetle richness, abundance, or density between limb positions, community composition differed significantly. This can be largely attributed to phloem and wood-feeding species (i.e., Cerambycidae and Buprestidae) being more common in the suspended limbs and ambrosia beetles being more numerous on the forest floor. Possible explanations for these patterns are discussed.

Highlights

Saproxylic organisms, species directly or indirectly dependent on dying and dead wood, face numerous anthropogenic threats in many parts of the world
To better understand the diversity and ecology of indigenous arthropods at risk from the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in North American forests, saproxylic beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) were reared from ash (Fraxinus sp.) limbs suspended in the canopy, ∼10–17 m above the ground, and from those placed on the ground in a mature mixed hardwood forest
The generalist cerambycid Neoclytus acuminatus (Fabricius) was the most commonly captured taxon, followed by an assemblage of four exotic ambrosia beetles dominated by Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky)

Summary

Introduction

Saproxylic organisms, species directly or indirectly dependent on dying and dead wood, face numerous anthropogenic threats in many parts of the world. The ever-worsening invasive species problem poses yet another challenge to this beleaguered fauna. One recent example is the emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), a phloem-feeding buprestid from Asia responsible for widespread ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality in eastern North America. This pest was first detected in the Great Lakes region in 2002 [3] and is rapidly spreading into new areas after killing virtually all mature ash trees near its original point of introduction. With the window of opportunity to understand the ecology of ash in North American forests quickly and perhaps permanently closing, efforts to better understand faunal communities associated with the genus are of interest

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