Cerambycid Species Research Articles

Feeding and mating behavior of Dorcacerus barbatus (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae)

In this study we describe the mating behavior of Dorcacerus barbatus (Olivier, 1790) and its predation on the reproductive parts of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) in a restored area of Atlantic forest, in southeastern Brazil. Lantana camara is regarded as one of the world’s ten worst weeds. We found three species of longhorn beetles on this plant: Trachyderes succintus duponti Aurivillius, 1912, Andraegodius rufipes zonatus (Dalman, 1823), and D. barbatus; this last species represented more than 95% of all individuals found. This is the first record of these three cerambycid species on L. camara. We observed a sequence of mating-behavior stages: jousting, antennation, holding, mounting, fighting, licking, abdomen bending, and copulation. D. barbatus destroyed 60% of the reproductive parts during the mating process. These primary observations indicate that D. barbatus may be considered as a potential biocontrol agent for this invasive species.

Pine volatiles and terpenoid compounds attractive to European xylophagous species, vectors of Bursaphelenchus spp. nematodes

The attractiveness of different combinations of volatile compounds to several scolytid and cerambycid species, potential vectors of phytoparasitic nematodes of the genus Bursaphelenchus Fuchs, was investigated in pine woods of central Italy. The blend composed of α-pinene, ethanol, ipsenol, ipsdienol and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol was very efficient in trapping the cerambycids Monochamus galloprovincialis, Acanthocinus griseus and Arhopalus syriacus and the scolytids Ips sexdentatus, Orthotomicus erosus and Hylurgus ligniperda. This blend is proposed for operational surveys of Bursaphelenchus spp. associated with these beetles. Comparison of the capture levels with cross-vane and funnel traps baited with α-pinene, ethanol, ipsenol, ipsdienol, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and cis-verbenol revealed the higher efficacy of the cross-vane traps for the above-mentioned cerambycids and the scolytid I. sexdentatus but greater effectiveness of the funnel traps in capturing H. ligniperda and O. erosus. Cross-vane traps were more efficient in capturing large numbers of these insects. Data on non-target xylophagous beetles and predator species are also reported.

A Male-produced Aggregation Pheromone Blend Consisting of Alkanediols, Terpenoids, and an Aromatic Alcohol from the Cerambycid Beetle Megacyllene caryae

Bioassays conducted with a Y-tube olfactometer provided evidence that both sexes of the cerambycid beetle Megacyllene caryae (Gahan) were attracted to odor produced by males. Odor collected from male M. caryae contained eight male-specific compounds: a 10:1 blend of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-2,3-hexanediols (representing 3.2 +/- 1.3% of the total male-specific compounds), (S)-(-)-limonene (3.1 +/- 1.7%), 2-phenylethanol (8.0 +/- 2.4%), (-)-alpha-terpineol (10.0 +/- 2.8%), nerol (2.1 +/- 1.5%), neral (63.3 +/- 7.3%), and geranial (8.8 +/- 2.4%). Initial field bioassays determined that none of these compounds was attractive as a single component. Further field trials that used a subtractive bioassay strategy determined that both sexes were attracted to the complete blend of synthetic components, but the elimination of any one component resulted in a decline in trap captures. Blends that were missing (2S,3R)-2,3-hexanediol, (2R,3S)-2,3-hexanediol, or citral (a 1:1 mixture of neral and geranial) attracted no more beetles than did controls. A pheromone blend of this complexity, composed of alkanediols, terpenoids, and aromatic alcohols, is unprecedented for cerambycid species.

Biological invasion into the nested assemblage of tree–beetle associations on the oceanic Ogasawara Islands

Invasion by alien organisms is a common worldwide phenomenon, and many alien species invade native communities. Invasion by alien species is especially likely to occur on oceanic islands. To determine how alien species become integrated into island plant–insect associations, we analyzed the structure of tree–beetle associations using host plant records for larval feeding by wood-feeding beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on the oceanic Ogasawara Islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The host plant records comprised 109 associations among 28 tree (including 8 alien) and 26 cerambycid (including 5 alien) species. Of these associations, 41.3% involved at least one alien species. Most native cerambycid species feed on host trees that have recently died. Alien trees were used by as many native cerambycid species (but by significantly more alien cerambycid species) as were native trees. Native cerambycid species used as many alien tree species (but significantly more native tree species) as did alien cerambycids. Thus, we observed many types of interactions among native and alien species. A network analysis revealed a significant nested structure in tree–cerambycid associations regardless of whether alien species were excluded from the analysis. The original nested associations on the Ogasawara Islands may thus have accepted alien species.

Yeasts Isolated from Neotropical Wood‐Boring Beetles in SE Peru

ABSTRACTSome temperate wood‐boring cerambycid beetles harbor intracellular gut yeasts believed to augment host nutrition, but species belonging to the subfamily Lamiinae are thought to lack endosymbionts. Almost 49 percent of Neotropical cerambycid species are lamiines, therefore, comparatively few rain forest species would be expected to host symbiotic gut yeasts. This study reports the isolation of gut yeasts from closely related Neotropical lamiines. We investigated species that feed on trees in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae), because host plant associations are relatively well known. Our objectives were to determine if gut yeasts were present and, if possible, infer their mode of transmission. We collected and dissected 18 beetle specimens from three tree species, including 17 cerambycids and one curculionid. Every insect specimen yielded a gut yeast. DNA sequence libraries were used for a rapid identification of the yeasts and their larval hosts. The cerambycids included five lamiine species and one cerambycine. Six ascomycete yeasts were isolated from their guts; we found no evidence of strict vertical transmission. Larval gut yeasts were genetically similar to yeasts previously isolated from insects associated with wood or fungi, implying potential habitat specificity. The yeasts have not yet been localized, and potential function is not known, but they may contribute to rapid nutrient cycling or serve as the first line of defense against plant toxins.

Host specificity of Anagrus epos: a potential biological control agent of Homalodisca vitripennis

Anagrus epos Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is a candidate for a classical biological control program targeting the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in California. Because mass production of GWSS is expensive and labor-intensive, a factitious host that is more economical to produce is desirable to mass produce A. epos for colonization and augmentation efforts. Here, we report the results of host specificity tests and potential rearing techniques for A. epos under laboratory conditions. Females discriminated and oviposited into eggs of seven cicadellid species: H. vitripennis, Circulifer tenellus (Baker), Erythroneura variabilis Beamer, Amblysellus grex (Oman), Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret), Macrosteles severini Hamilton, and H. liturata Ball, and two cerambycid species: Phoracantha recurva Newman and P. semipunctata (F.). Anagrus epos successfully completed development in the eggs of H. vitripennis, C. tenellus, E. variabilis, A. grex, G. atropunctata, M. severini, and H. liturata. The use of a factitious host and potential nontarget effects of this generalist parasitoid are discussed.

Cerambycidae Larval Host Condition Predicts Trap Efficiency

Insect traps of different designs should sample some species more effectively than others. I used three different traps to survey longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) at 43 locations throughout the state of Indiana to test the prediction that these traps would sample different assemblages of cerambycids. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that, while there was little difference between the assemblages sampled by Lindgren multiple funnel traps and Intercept panel traps, window traps caught quite different assemblages. Several species of cerambycids that showed differences in trap efficiencies seem to be differentially caught by different trap designs according to the nature of the larval host. These results can be used to plan monitoring according to the guild of the target beetles.

Cerambycidae Larval Host Condition Predicts Trap Efficiency

Insect traps of different designs should sample some species more effectively than others. I used three different traps to survey longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) at 43 locations throughout the state of Indiana to test the prediction that these traps would sample different assemblages of cerambycids. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that, while there was little difference between the assemblages sampled by Lindgren multiple funnel traps and Intercept panel traps, window traps caught quite different assemblages. Several species of cerambycids that showed differences in trap efficiencies seem to be differentially caught by different trap designs according to the nature of the larval host. These results can be used to plan monitoring according to the guild of the target beetles.

Calling Behavior in the Primitive Longhorned Beetle Prionus californicus Mots.

Many prionine species share morphological and behavioral traits commonly associated with production of volatile pheromones by females. Adults Prionus californicus Mots. are sexually dimorphic, males being smaller and having antennae that are much more strongly serrate than those of females. Females of this species produce a volatile pheromone that attracts males. We conducted studies characterizing calling behavior of P. californicus females. In these studies females typically lowered their heads and raised their abdomens while extending their ovipositors. The extended ovipositor was often flexed and the abdomen rhythmically contracted during these bouts which lasted up to 10 min. In some cases females everted a membranous, cylindrical sac from the dorsal surface of the ovipositor which was retracted before the ovipositor was withdrawn. This eversible sac has not reported for a cerambycid species, and is likely to be involved in production and/or release of pheromone.

MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS OF ENAPHALODES RUFULUS (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE)

Oak-hickory forests in northwestern Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri have recently experienced an oak decline event with widespread oak mortality. The oak mortality is associated with an outbreak of a native wood-boring cerambycid, Enaphalodes rufulus (Haldeman), the red oak borer. Taxonomic identification, below the family level, of larval Cerambycidae through traditional morphological methods is not usually possible. We employed molecular diagnostics, with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), to distinguish E. rufulus from other closely related species of cerambycids. A portion of the mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA gene, isolated from legs or thoraxes of adult museum specimens, was amplified and digested with Alu I and Hind III restriction enzymes. Both restriction enzymes independently produced fragments for E. rufulus that were significantly different from any other cerambycid tested. Alu I had one restriction site for E. rufulus and two restriction sites for all other cerambycids tested, while Hind III did not cut for E. rufulus but did cut at one restriction site for all other cerambycids. Eggs, larvae, and pupae of E. rufulus along with an unknown cerambycid larva and pupa were successfully amplified and digested by this method to verify validity of this technique for multiple life stages.

Laboratory Evaluation of the Toxicity of Systemic Insecticides for Control of <I>Anoplophora glabripennis</I> and <I>Plectrodera scalator</I> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the most serious nonnative invasive forest insects discovered in North America in recent years. A. glabripennis is regulated by federal quarantines in the United States and Canada and is the subject of eradication programs that involve locating, cutting, and chipping all infested trees. Other control methods are needed to aid in eradication and to form an integrated management program in the event eradication fails. We conducted laboratory bioassays to determine the toxicity of two systemic insecticides, azadirachtin and imidacloprid, for potential control of A. glabripennis and the cottonwood borer, Plectrodera scalator (F.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a closely related native cerambycid. Larvae of both cerambycid species were fed artificial diet with dilutions of azadirachtin or imidacloprid for 14 wk. Both insecticides exhibited strong antifeedant effects and some toxicity against A. glabripennis and P. scalator larvae. For A. glabripennis, the highest larval mortality at the end of the bioassay was 60% for larvae fed artificial diet treated with azadirachtin (50 ppm) or imidacloprid (1.6 ppm). For P. scalator, the highest larval mortality at the end of the bioassay was 100% for larvae fed artificial diet treated with azadirachtin (50 ppm) or imidacloprid (160 ppm). At 14 wk, the LC50 values for P. scalator were 1.58 and 1.78 ppm for azadirachtin and imidacloprid, respectively. Larvae of both species gained weight when fed diet treated with formulation blanks (inert ingredients) or the water control but lost weight when fed diet treated with increasing concentrations of either azadirachtin or imidacloprid. In a separate experiment, A. glabripennis adults were fed maple twigs treated with high and low concentrations of imidacloprid. A. glabripennis adult mortality reached 100% after 13 d on twigs treated with 150 ppm imidacloprid and after 20 d on twigs treated with 15 ppm imidacloprid. There was no visible feeding by A. glabripennis adults on twigs treated at the higher imidacloprid rate, and feeding was significantly reduced for adults placed on twigs treated at the low imidacloprid rate compared with adults on untreated twigs. In summary, imidacloprid and azadirachtin had both antifeedant and toxic effects against A. glabripennis and P. scalator and have potential for use in management programs. Based on our results, the delivery of high and sustained insecticide concentrations will be needed to overcome the antifeedant effects and lengthy lethal time for both larvae and adults exposed to these insecticides.

Mating behavior of a flower-visiting longhorn beetle Zorion guttigerum (Westwood) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae)

Long-range sex pheromones have been demonstrated for several cerambycid beetle species. Our field study on the mating behavior of Zorion guttigerum, on the basis of its temporal and spatial distributions on mating and feeding sites (flowers), and longevity, however, suggests that such pheromones are not used by this species. Plant characteristics rather than long-range sex pheromones may play an important role in bringing both sexes together. Adult activities on flowers occur exclusively during the day with two peaks, one around midday and the other in the late afternoon. Overall operational sex ratio is male-biased ( approximately 1 female symbol:1.5 male symbol) but it becomes very highly male-biased ( approximately 1 female symbol:9 male symbol) when mating and feeding activities decrease to the minimum in mid-afternoon, suggesting that females leave flowers to oviposit during that period of time. For cerambycid species whose females oviposit alone, and in which mating and oviposition occur on different plants or different plant parts, the operational sex ratio appears to vary significantly over time on the mating sites. The number and duration of pair-bondings also vary over time for Z. guttigerum. Fewer and shorter pair-bondings in the morning may suggest a strong sexual selection process. After approximately 2 h of selection, both sexes tend to engage in longer pair-bondings and mate more times before females leave the mating sites in mid-afternoon. Details of the mating behavior are described here.

Host Volatile Attractants and Traps for Detection ofTetropium fuscum(F.),Tetropium castaneumL., and Other Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract Cortical and sapwood volatiles were collected in situ from red spruce, Picea rubens (Sarg.), trees infested with Tetropium fuscum (F.), to determine the relative concentrations and enantiomer ratios of monoterpenes emitted. This information was used to create a synthetic “spruce blend” lure that was tested in various trap designs for efficacy in capturing T. fuscum, and Tetropium castaneum L. in field bioassays conducted on McNabs Island, Nova Scotia, in 2001 and 2002 and in Poland and Switzerland in 2002. Response of other cerambycid species was measured opportunistically. Cross-vane pan traps baited with spruce blend caught significantly more T. fuscum than unbaited traps or traps baited with racemic α-pinene, ethanol, or both. The addition of an ethanol lure to spruce blend–baited traps significantly increased capture of T. fuscum and T. castaneum. There were no significant differences among trap designs in mean catch of either Tetropium species. Spruce blend was also significantly attractive ...

Species richness of Cerambycidae in larch plantations and natural broad-leaved forests of the central mountainous region of Japan

Species richness of Cerambycidae was investigated and compared among 32 forest stands in the central mountainous region of Japan. The stands comprised five forest types: middle-aged larch forest ( Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière), old-aged larch forest, recently thinned larch forest, secondary broad-leaved forest, and primary broad-leaved forest. Malaise traps were set deep inside of these stands, and beetles were captured during three 14-day periods, in June, July, and August. Trapped beetles were identified to the species level, and statistical analyses were carried out to determine quantitative and qualitative differences in species richness and composition among these forest types. Ninety-three species, representing 64 genera of Cerambycidae in total, dominated by Pidonia, Pterolophia, Parastrangalis, and Xylotrechus, were captured. The middle-aged larch forest and the primary broad-leaved forest were not significantly different in terms of species number. However, compositions of the beetles in these forest types were different. Pidonia puziloi was a species with a significant indicator value for the latter. Thinning increased the richness of cerambycid species in larch plantations. This management not only increased the number of individuals of species characteristic of larch plantations, but also some species usually found in natural broad-leaved forests. Long rotation for plantations also had some effects on cerambycid composition. The secondary broad-leaved forest had more cerambycid species than either the middle-aged larch forest or the primary forest. Xylotrechus was characteristic of the secondary forest, and Xylotrechus cuneipennis and X. emaciatus had significant indicator values for the secondary forest in comparison with middle-aged larch forest, whereas Pidonia was a genus characteristic of the primary forest. Besides forest type, openness of the canopy and altitude influenced the number of cerambycid species.

OVIPOSITION BIOLOGY OF ACANTHOCINUS NODOSUS (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE) IN PINUS TAEDA

Oviposition biology of Acanthocinus nodosus was examined on southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis, infested loblolly pine trees in Alabama, U.S.A. Components of oviposition biology, including oviposition pit description, colonization period, average number of eggs laid per oviposition pit, use of bark beetle entrance or ventilation holes as oviposition sites, and pit density were described. Acanthocinus nodosus oviposition pits were easily differentiated from Monochamus titillator, another cerambycid species that also inhabits SPB-killed trees. Colonization of trees by A. nodosus began within 2 days of initial SPB attack and lasted for 8 to 14 days. Females laid an average of 3.33 (SE ± 0.48) eggs per oviposition pit and 99% of the pits occurred on SPB entrance and ventilation holes. All pits were on the lower bole between 18 and 163 cm above the ground. Oviposition pit density ranged from 0.22 to 0.45 pits per cm2 of bark surface. Potential interactions with other phloem inhabiting species were noted.

Methods for rearing Syngaster lepidus and Jarra phoracantha (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of the phloem-colonizing longhorned beetles Phoracantha semipunctata and P. recurva (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Two species of cerambycid beetles that attack eucalypts, Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius) and P. recurva Newman, have been accidentally introduced from Australia into most regions of the world in which their hosts have been planted. The beetles cause extensive mortality in plantations and landscape plantings of the trees. Management programmes have focused on integration of silvicultural practices, host plant resistance and biological control. To rear and release natural enemies of the larval stages of the beetles in California, mass rearing protocols for continuous production of two species of parasitoids have been developed. The methods described represent the first long-term and large-scale techniques for mass rearing parasitoids of any wood-boring cerambycid species. In addition to providing large numbers of parasitoids for releases, the mass rearing effort has also provided large numbers of parasitoids for fundamental studies of their biology and behaviour.

Facultative Intraguild Predation by Larval Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) on Bark Beetle Larvae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae): Fig. 1.

Larvae of the Carolina sawyer Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier) (Cerambycidae) and bark beetle larvae (Scolytidae) often simultaneously feed in phloem of recently killed pine trees. Our investigations reveal that M. carolinensis larvae may act as facultative intraguild predators of bark beetle larvae. Phloem sandwiches were used in four experiments to examine inter- and intraspecific interactions. We discovered that all sizes of M. carolinensis larvae killed bark beetle larvae. Seventy-six percent of the killed bark beetle larvae were consumed by M. carolinensis, including 58% that were entirely ingested. Cannibalism in M. carolinensis occurred in every experimental trial. Based on this evidence, M. carolinensis, and possibly related cerambycid species associated with bark beetles, are facultative intraguild predators of larvae of other phloem inhabiting species. The consequences of this behavior may have important implications for bark beetle population dynamics.

Phylogenetic distribution of cysteine proteinases in beetles: evidence for an evolutionary shift to an alkaline digestive strategy in Cerambycidae

We characterized the digestive proteinases of eight species of beetles to improve our understanding of the phylogenetic distribution of serine and cysteine proteinases. Serine proteinases function optimally under alkaline pH conditions, whereas cysteine proteinases require acidic pH. The phylogenetic distribution of cysteine proteinases suggests that they first appeared in an early cucujiform ancestor, however, data for some groups is patchy, and there has been speculation that they have been lost in at least one group, the long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae). The pattern we found supports the hypothesized origin of the proteinases and extends their distribution to an additional superfamily. In addition, we confirmed the presence of cysteine proteinases in some Curculionoidea. Cysteine proteinases were absent, however, from all three species of cerambycids surveyed, supporting the hypothesis that this group has reverted to the more ancestral serine (alkaline) digestive strategy. In four species we compared the pH optima for total proteolytic activity to the actual pH of the midgut and found the match between optimal and actual pH to be weaker in the cerambycids. These findings suggest that either a close correlation between midgut pH and the proteolytic pH optimum is not needed for adequate digestive efficiency, or that midgut pH is a more constrained digestive feature and there has been insufficient time for it to shift upwards to maximize serine proteinase activity.

Host utilization of the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) by sympatric wood-boring species of Palame (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acanthocinini)

Abstract Estimates of the total number of arthropod species in existence are based, in part, upon assumptions about both the host specificity of tropical insects and their restriction to the forest canopy. It has been difficult to evaluate these estimates because of the paucity of available data. A newly discovered association between wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae) and their host plants in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) inspired a year-long rearing project in the Neotropical rain forest of French Guiana. Branches severed from five species of Lecythidaceae yielded 1813 cerambycids belonging to 37 species. Three cerambycid species— Palame anceps (Bates), P. crassimana Bates, and P. mimetica Monne—accounted for almost half of the individuals reared. Each demonstrated a different pattern of host fidelity. Palame crassimana emerged from four of the five potential hosts, P. anceps emerged exclusively from a single host, and P. mimetica made a seasonal change in host affiliation. Although Palame spp. emerged from both ground level and canopy branches, they made a seasonal shift in stratum: they reproduced at both levels during the dry season, but exclusively at canopy level during the rainy season. Even specialized tropical insects may show greater flexibility in host utilization than some current hypotheses suggest.

Host utilization of the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) by sympatric wood-boring species of Palame (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acanthocinini)

Estimates of the total number of arthropod species in existence are based, in part, upon assumptions about both the host specificity of tropical insects and their restriction to the forest canopy. It has been difficult to evaluate these estimates because of the paucity of available data. A newly discovered association between wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae) and their host plants in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) inspired a year-long rearing project in the Neotropical rain forest of French Guiana. Branches severed from five species of Lecythidaceae yielded 1813 cerambycids belonging to 37 species. Three cerambycid species—Palame anceps (Bates), P. crassimana Bates, and P. mimetica Monné—accounted for almost half of the individuals reared. Each demonstrated a different pattern of host fidelity. Palame crassimana emerged from four of the five potential hosts, P. anceps emerged exclusively from a single host, and P. mimetica made a seasonal change in host affiliation. Although Palame spp. emerged from both ground level and canopy branches, they made a seasonal shift in stratum: they reproduced at both levels during the dry season, but exclusively at canopy level during the rainy season. Even specialized tropical insects may show greater flexibility in host utilization than some current hypotheses suggest.