Life History Parameters of Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Attacking West Indian Pine in the Dominican Republic
Abstract
An outbreak of pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) occurred in the central highlands of the Dominican Republic during 1986-1987. Initiation of the outbreak coincided with a period of severe drought. Thousands of native West Indian pines, Pinus occidentalis Sw., were killed by beetles attacking the trunk and branches. Ips calligraphus (Germar) was the principal mortality agent. Two other bark beetles infested the smaller branches (Pityophthorus antillicus Bright) and shoots (Pityophthorus pinavorus Bright). Spatial attack pattern, harem size, egg gallery length, egg density, and sex ratio of Dominican I. calligraphus populations were similar to values reported from the southeastern United States. However optimal pheromone blends differed between the two populations. Of five pheromone blends tested, the 50% (-)-ipsdienol:50% (+)-ipsdienol plus cis-verbenol attracted the most Dominican beetles. Ips calligraphus adults were collected throughout the year in pheromone-baited traps and theoretically could complete 11 to 12 generations per year in the Dominican highlands. No other species of Ips nor any species of Dendroctonus were collected in traps baited with pheromones of the pine bark beetle complex of the southeastern United States. Average tree diameter, tree height, and stand basal area from several infestation sites are presented. Infested pines ranged from 5 to 50 cm in diameter and from 6 to 26 m in height.Downloads
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