Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2005) 7, 179-185

A.M. Liebhold, K.F. Raffa and A.L. Diss (2005)
Forest type affects predation on gypsy moth pupae
Agricultural and Forest Entomology 7 (3), 179-185
Abstract: 1 Predation by small mammals has previously been shown to be the largest source of mortality in low-density gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), populations in established populations in north-eastern North America. Fluctuations in predation levels are critical in determining changes in population densities.
2 We compared small mammal communities and levels of predation on gypsy moth pupae among five different oak-dominated forest types along this insect's western expanding population front in Wisconsin. Comparisons of predator impact can provide critical information for predicting variation in susceptibility among forest types.
3 The results indicated that small mammals caused more mortality than did invertebrates.
4 Both abundance of Peromyscus sp. predators and predation levels were lower in urban and xeric forest types than in mesic sites.
5 These results suggest that, because predation pressures will probably be greater in the mesic sites, gypsy moths may be less likely to develop outbreaks in these habitats, and that defoliation will probably be more frequent in urban and xeric oak-dominated sites.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew M. Liebhold, Kenneth F. Raffa

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lymantria dispar		U.S.A. (mid N)