Behavioural Variation Among Scolytids in Relation to Their Habitat

Abstract

Most scolytids occupy temporary habitats. Migration, therefore, forms an important part of adult behaviour. Since the extent of migratory movement is positively correlated with the degree of impermanence of the species’ habitat, differences in the behaviour associated with migration must be expected to occur between species. Furthermore, the behaviour of individuals must change in relation to changes in physiology associated with migration and reproduction. These changes have been demonstrated in laboratory studies, and the results suggest that the phenomenon of secondary attraction observed among scolytids may have evolved in conjunction with their utilization of transitory habitats.

Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, Antennal and Behavioral Responses to Nonhost Leaf and Bark Volatiles

“…Suitable host trees are often unevenly distributed in forest landscapes, and inefficient host-finding behaviors can waste a beetle's limited energy reserves (Atkins, 1966;Gries et al, 1990;Kinn et al, 1994), as well as increase its risk of predation (Stephen and Dahlsten, 1976;Dahlsten, 1982) and exposure to harsh environmental conditions (McMullen and Atkins, 1962;Gries et al, 1989;Byers et al, 1998). There is an accumulating body of evidence suggesting that foraging coniferophagous bark beetles detect and avoid volatile compounds released from the leaves and/or bark of angiosperms and other nonhost taxa ('nonhost volatiles'), and thereby may improve foraging efficiency by avoiding nonhostdominated habitats and landings on unsuitable trees.…”

Disturbance Agents and Their Associated Effects on the Health of Interior Douglas-Fir Forests in the Central Rocky Mountains

“…Throughout the central Rocky Mountains, interior Douglas-fir stands often occur in mixed-species stands, or in small groups surrounded by non-host trees at the edge of their upper and lower elevation limits. Thus, suitable DFB hosts are typically distributed unevenly throughout a forest [152]. Where Douglas-fir is a dominant overstory component, past logging and fire history have created forest mosaics in which Douglas-fir oscillates in age and density, limiting the extent of potential hosts [135].…”

Terpene composition of lodgepole and jack pine and its relationship to the success of the mountain pine beetle.

“…They must find a susceptible host in stands that also contain non-hosts and resistant hosts (Atkins 1966). In addition, they have a limited energy supply to expend (Bell 1990), and the less time that they spend searching for a host, the less time they are exposed to other hazards such as inclement weather or predators and parasitoids associated with the bark of trees (Dahlsten 1982).…”