Behavioral and Reproductive Response of White Pine Weevil (Pissodes strobi) to Resistant and Susceptible Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Insects

Jeanne A. Robert¹ 

[1] Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; E-Mail

关键词: Pissodes strobi;    white pine weevil;    host selection;    insect ovary development;    Picea sitchensis;    Sitka spruce;    conifer defense;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects1010003

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

White pine weevil (Pissodes strobi, Peck.) is a native forest insect pest in the Pacific Northwest of North America that attacks species of spruce (Picea spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.). Young Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.] trees are particularly susceptible to weevil attack. Pockets of naturally occurring Sitka spruce resistance have been identified in high weevil hazard areas in coastal British Columbia. In this study, we characterize behavioral, physiological and reproductive responses of weevils to an extremely resistant Sitka spruce genotype (H898) in comparison to a highly susceptible genotype (Q903). The experiments relied on a large number of three-year-old clonally propagated trees and were therefore restricted to two contrasting Sitka spruce genotypes. When exposed to resistant trees, both male and female weevils were deterred during host selection and mating, females showed delayed or reduced ovary development, and successful reproduction of weevils was prevented on resistant trees.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.