Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2006) 120, 99-104

Pedro Miguel Naves, Edmundo Manuel de Sousa and José Alberto Quartau (2006)
Feeding and oviposition preferences of Monochamus galloprovincialis for certain conifers under laboratory conditions
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 120 (2), 99-104
Abstract: Feeding and oviposition preferences of Monochamus galloprovincialis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Monochamini), the vector of the pine wilt nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Bührer) Nickle (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), in Portugal, was studied in three laboratory experiments: an adult feeding preference trial between branches of five pines, a no-choice oviposition experiment on seven conifer bolts, and an oviposition choice trial between maritime pine, Pinus pinaster Aiton, and four other pines, P. pinea L., P. sylvestris L., P. halepensis Miller, or P. radiata D. Don. Scots pine (P. sylvestris) was the pine with the largest bark feeding area, while P. radiata was the least chosen to feed upon. Female M. galloprovincialis laid eggs on P. sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. pinaster, P. radiata, P. pinea, and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco, but larvae successfully completed development only on the first four pines. Beetles emerging from maritime pine bolts were slightly bigger than the others. No preference for oviposition was detected when beetles were given the choice between P. pinaster and P. sylvestris or P. halepensis. Inversely, greater oviposition occurred on P. pinaster when compared with P. pinea and P. radiata. Although PWN currently affects only P. pinaster in Portugal, the results on host suitability for M. galloprovincialis suggest that P. sylvestris and P. halepensis are adequate hosts for the insect's feeding and oviposition, and thus may also be PWN hosts in Europe. The systematically high feeding and oviposition attraction for P. sylvestris exhibited by the beetles means that the eventual spread of the PWN to areas where both M. galloprovincialis and P. sylvestris occur may have a significant impact on this widespread and economically important pine, considered to be highly susceptible to B. xylophilus.
(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): Pedro Miguel Naves

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Monochamus galloprovincialis	Pine (Pinus)	Portugal (continental)