VARIATION IN SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE ATTACK HEIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH PHORETIC UROPODID MITES
Keyword(s):
AbstractSouthern pine beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis) carrying phoretic Trichouropoda australis deutonymphs were caught in bucket traps baited with frontalin-alpha pinene at heights of 3, 6, and 9 m on the boles of loblolly pines. Of 8475 beetles collected, 36.3% carried uropodids or their pedicels. Beetles trapped at 3 m carried more pedicels than those trapped at 6 or 9 m, indicating that the flight of beetles is influenced by the presence of phoretic mites. Re-emerging parent beetles can be differentiated from brood adults by the color of the mite pedicels.