Southern Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Infestations Without the Bluestain Fungus, Ceratocystis minor

1985 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Robert Bridges ◽  
W. A. Nettleton ◽  
M. D. Connor
1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (9) ◽  
pp. 807-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Goyer ◽  
Michael T. Smith

AbstractUnder laboratory conditions, Corticeus glaber (LeConte) and C. parallelus (Melsheimer) adults were facultative predators of southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, eggs and first and second instar larvae. Southern pine beetle frass and blue stain fungus, Ceratocystis minor (Hedgecock) Hunt were also suitable for survival for both species of Corticeus. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) phloem was not utilized as a food source by either species. Corticeus spp. larvae were predators of D. frontalis eggs.


1985 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Robert Bridges ◽  
Thelma J. Perry

Southern pine beetles, Dentroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, treated to remove their mycangial fungi, were infected with Ceratocystis minor (Hedgcock) Hunt spores and placed in freshly-cut pine bolts. Galleries constructed by beetles without mycangial fungi were significantly shorter and contained significantly more bluestain than galleries constructed by beetles with mycangial fungi. It was concluded that southern pine beetle mycangial fungi limit the distribution of bluestain in southern pine beetle-infested trees. Inhibition of the spread of the bluestain fungus by mycangial fungi may be necessary for optimal beetle development.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 2093-2095 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. Paine ◽  
F. M. Stephen

Infection and invasion by the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm., and its associated fungi stimulate the inducible defense system of loblolly pine and result in production of a hypersensitive-like lesion around the affected tissue. The length of the lesion stimulated by inoculation is not related to the amount of inoculum introduced into the tree, even with an eightfold difference. The extent of the response is greater with large inoculum doses, but that is likely to be a function of initial inoculation wound size.


1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Goldhammer ◽  
Frederick M. Stephen ◽  
Timothy D. Paine

AbstractThe southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, was studied in the laboratory to determine the influence of associated fungi on its reproduction. First-generation (P) surface-sterilized beetles associated with mycangial fungi (Ceratocystis minor [Hedgecock] Hunt var. barrasii Taylor or SJB 122) constructed more galleries and laid more eggs, at faster rates, than P beetles not associated with these mycangial fungi. No significant differences occurred among non-surface-sterilized P beetles associated with the phoretic blue staining fungus Ceratocystis minor (Hedgecock) Hunt and mycangial fungi or among progeny of P beetles (F1 generation) carrying mycangial fungi. P and F1 surface-sterilized beetles produced more eggs at a greater density than non-surface-sterilized beetles associated with blue stain, but gallery length and the rate of construction were not different. P and F1 surface-sterilized beetles laid more eggs and constructed galleries faster than surface-sterilized beetles that carried no mycangial fungi. The re-emergence rate of beetles was fastest for P beetles associated with C. minor and significantly slower for fungus-free P beetles, P beetles carrying only mycangial fungi, and F1 beetles, respectively. The F1 generation emerged fastest when associated with both mycangial fungi and slowest when associated with SJB 122, and C. minor var. barrasii or no fungus, respectively. This study employed a successful new rearing technique for isolating specific southern pine beetle/fungal associations.


1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (23) ◽  
pp. 2702-2711 ◽  
Author(s):  
George M. Happ ◽  
Christine M. Happ ◽  
Stanley J. Barras

SJB 133 is an isolate of a variety of Ceratocystis minor that is found in a Sporothrix imperfect state as an ectosymbiont of Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm. Within the mycangium (fungal transport pocket of the beetle), SJB 133 grows in yeast-like fashion. Cells contain prominent vacuoles which appear to bridge between dividing cells. Hypha-like transition cells are also present. In continuous culture on potato carrot agar, SJB 133 produces sympodial conidiophores. The resulting conidia are quite similar to the yeast-like cells in the mycangium and the conidiophores resemble some of the transition cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Clarke ◽  
Jessica Hartshorn

Abstract The southern pine beetle (SPB) Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, is the most important insect pest of pines in the southeastern United States, with outbreaks often resulting in thousands of hectares of pine mortality. Natural enemies and competitors have been cited as significant regulators of SPB populations and, therefore, outbreaks. A recent outbreak on the Homochitto National Forest (NF) in Mississippi provided an opportunity to undertake a case study comparing population fluctuations of SPB, its major predator Thanasimus dubius, and its competitors, Ips bark beetles. Trap catches of all three were tracked through the course of the outbreak on the Homochitto NF as well as in two other forests with low or no SPB activity. The number of predators collected initially increased on the Homochitto NF in response to the SPB outbreak, but their impact on reducing infestation numbers was unclear. Numbers of Ips trapped were similar across all three forests, indicating that other factors were regulating SPB populations. The outbreak only lasted a single year, and its brevity likely limited the availability of host resources for natural enemy and competitor populations. Additional studies are warranted to explore the mechanisms affecting the extent and duration of SPB outbreaks, such as active forest management. Study Implications: The widespread application of cut-and-leave treatments during a short duration southern pine beetle (SPB) outbreak on the Homochitto National Forest did not result in immediate increased collections of Ips bark beetles, competitors of SPB. Similar population trends of Ips bark beetles in areas with and without SPB infestations suggest that other factors, such as climate, regulate population numbers. Low numbers of the main SPB predator, Thanasimus dubius, immediately preceded an outbreak, and trap collections increased after outbreak onset, reaffirming the importance of this natural enemy in SPB population fluctuations.


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