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Desiccation of Pinus foliage induced by conifer sawfly oviposition: effect on egg viability
Author(s) -
Codella Sylvio G.,
Raffa Kenneth F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00447.x
Subject(s) - desiccation , sawfly , biology , pinus <genus> , population , botany , larva , shoot , demography , sociology
1. Desiccation of needles following oviposition by Neodiprion lecontei in Pinus resinosa caused high egg mortality. Eight‐five per cent of pine needles into which sawflies oviposited subsequently desiccated, compared with 2.5% of needles without eggs. No larval emergence occurred from desiccated needles. 2. Within affected shoots, the probability of desiccation increased with the extent of oviposition. In paired comparisons of needles, 41.2% of needle length was occupied by eggs in desiccated needles, compared with 24.0% of needles without desiccation. 3. Both density‐dependent and density‐independent factors may contribute to desiccation of egg‐laden needles. The likelihood that needle vasculature will be severed by ovipositing females probably increases with population density. Drought, which was high during the observations, probably increases the incidence of needle desiccation following mechanical injury caused by oviposition.