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Adult behavior of an ambrosia gall midge I lliciomyia yukawai ( D iptera: C ecidomyiidae) and synchronization between its emergence and host plant phenology
Author(s) -
Yukawa Junichi,
Nakagawa Kohjin,
Saigou Tetsumi,
Awa Takahiro,
Fukuda Takeshi,
Higashi Masahiko
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/ens.12024
Subject(s) - midge , biology , gall , phenology , host (biology) , shoot , botany , population , pest analysis , parasitoid , perennial plant , ecology , horticulture , zoology , demography , sociology
The adult behavior of an ambrosia gall midge I lliciomyia yukawai ( D iptera: C ecidomyiidae) that induces leaf galls on I llicium anisatum ( I lliciaceae) was studied at the population level from 1977 to 1995 in K agoshima, J apan. Most males emerged between 0:00 and 08:00 h and females between 05:00 and 11:00 h. Males swarmed around the host trees between 05:00 and 11:00 h. Mating occurred on the host leaves mainly between 06:00 and 08:00 h. Females then left the host trees for somewhere else, possibly to collect symbiont fungal conidia. From 08:00 to 16:00 h, females were observed ovipositing into the host shoots. The low development threshold temperature for overwintered larvae was 14° C , while the thermal constant for emergence differed with individuals. Thermal totals above 14° C up to the 50% emergence date varied yearly from 33.1 to 68.7 degree‐days. The 50% emergence date varied from 9 to 18 M ay. The thermal totals significantly correlated with the 50% emergence date but did not correlate with the date when 50% of shoots became suitable for oviposition. Thus, the host‐plant responded to thermal effects differently from the gall midge. I lliciomyia yukawai has been synchronizing well with the host‐plant phenology but will suffer from asynchrony when global warming becomes more conspicuous.