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S irex noctilio flight behavior: toward improving current monitoring techniques
Author(s) -
Martínez Andrés S.,
Villacide José,
Fernández Ajó Alejandro A.,
Martinson Sharon J.,
Corley Juan C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12205
Subject(s) - biology , sex pheromone , pest analysis , ecology , zoology , demography , botany , sociology
S irex noctilio F abricius ( H ymenoptera: S iricidae), an invasive woodwasp from S pain and N orth A frica, has an expanding global presence in pine forests. Although their populations are managed in most parts of the world, the success rate of existing prevention and control strategies has been historically variable, and there is consensus that monitoring techniques could be improved with increased knowledge about the behavioral biology of this insect. We conducted descriptive field studies in pine plantations in northern P atagonia to establish the flight behavior of S . noctilio . Specifically, the aim was to characterize male and female vertical flight distributions to assess ideal trap placement in pest monitoring programs. Our results indicated that males fly higher than females. A post‐hoc analysis revealed two distinct flight patterns of females; when males are present, females fly higher than when males are absent. This behavioral variance is likely linked to (1) oviposition substrate location and (2) mate location. Results suggest that the most effective trapping and monitoring strategies for females should be deployed at 1.8 m height, whereas monitoring of males or females that are searching for mates would occur at greater heights. Results also suggest that if future techniques involving pheromones are developed, trap placement should be reassessed.

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