Alien Scolytines on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Abstract
Alien (exotic) insects threaten trees, landscapes, and ecosystem stability. Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are saproxylic beetles that spend most of their life cycles under bark, and often are introduced to new locations through wooden packing materials used in international trade. This project reports the identification of 4 alien species reared on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Bait branches from 41 trees were exposed to saproxylic beetles in a mosaic of old growth and secondary forest. The branches yielded 6,578 scolytines in 33 species. Four of these were alien species: Coccotrypes cyperi Beeson, Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff, Xylosandrus crassiusculus Motschulsky, and Xylosandrus morigerus Blandford (all Coleoptera: Curculionidae). At least 1 of the alien species, Premnobius cavipennis, was the most abundant scolytine, represented by 1,476 individuals, and it emerged from almost half of the trees sampled. It was reared from the plant families Lecythidaceae, Sapotaceae, and Fabaceae. Most individuals emerged from bait branches in old growth forest, and were disproportionately abundant at canopy stratum. Only 46 individuals of the economic pest X. crassiusculus were reared from bait branches. Two of the 4 alien scolytines were reared commonly from branches in old growth forest, even though mature forest typically resists invasions of alien species. Unfertilized females can disperse and found colonies by mating with haploid sons, and intra-colony mating promotes rapid population growth; therefore, these life history traits facilitate invasion.
Resumen
Los insectos alienígenas amenazan los árboles, los paisajes y la estabilidad del ecosistema. Los escarabajos de la corteza y ambrosía (Scolytinae) son curculiónidos saproxílicos que pasan la mayor parte de sus ciclos de vida debajo de la corteza, y a menudo se introducen en lugares nuevos a través de materiales de embalaje de madera utilizados en el comercio internacional. Este proyecto reporta la identificación de 4 especies exóticas criadas en la península de Osa de Costa Rica. Las ramas del cebo de 41 árboles fueron expuestas a los escarabajos saproxílicos en un mosaico de bosque con crecimiento antiguo y bosque secundario. Las ramas produjeron 6,578 escolinos en 33 especies. Cuatro de estos fueron especies exóticas: Coccotrypes cyperi Beeson, Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff, Xylosandrus crassiusculus Motschulsky, y Xylosandrus morigerus Blandford (todo Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Salieron de casi la mitad de los árboles muestreado. Premnobius cavipennis fue la especie más abundante, representada por 1,476 individuos. Se crió en las familias de plantas Lecythidaceae, Sapotaceae y Fabaceae. La mayoría de los individuos emergieron de las ramas de cebo en el bosque antiguo, y fueron desproporcionadamente abundantes en el estrato del dosel. Solo 46 individuos de la peste económica X. crassiusculus fueron criados. Dos de los 4 escolinos alienígenas se criaron preferentemente de las ramas en el bosque antiguo, a pesar de que los bosques antiguos suelen resistir las invasiones de especies exóticas. Las hembras no fertilizadas pueden dispersar y encontrar colonias al aparearse con hijos haploides, este apareamiento dentro de la colonia promueve un rápido crecimiento de la población; por lo tanto, estos rasgos de historia de vida facilitan la invasión.
Key Words: Eschweilera biflava; tropical wet forest; invasive species; competitive exclusion
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