Successful colonization, reproduction, and new generation emergence in live interior hybrid spruce Picea engelmannii×glauca by mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae

Abstract

1 Although mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins are able to utilize most available Pinus spp. as hosts, successful colonization and reproduction in other hosts within the Pinaceae is rare. 2 We observed successful reproduction of mountain pine beetle and emergence of new generation adults from interior hybrid spruce Picea engelmannii × glauca and compared a number of parameters related to colonization and reproductive success in spruce with nearby lodgepole pine Pinus contorta infested by mountain pine beetle. 3 The results obtained indicate that reduced competition in spruce allowed mountain pine beetle parents that survived the colonization process to produce more offspring per pair than in more heavily-infested nearby pine. 4 We also conducted an experiment in which 20 spruce and 20 lodgepole pines were baited with the aggregation pheromone of mountain pine beetle. Nineteen pines (95%) and eight spruce (40%) were attacked by mountain pine beetle, with eight (40%) and three (15%) mass-attacked, respectively. 5 Successful attacks on nonhost trees during extreme epidemics may be one mechanism by which host shifts and subsequent speciation events have occurred in Dendroctonus spp. bark beetles.

Transcriptome and full-length cDNA resources for the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, a major insect pest of pine forests

“…For instance, the potential for increased susceptibility of jack pine to MPB attack in the presence of pre-existing insect pests such as the defoliator jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus pinus Freeman), or vice versa, may pose a substantial additional risk for forest management (Colgan and Erbilgin, 2010). In addition, where population densities in British Columbia are high and suitable pine hosts are limited, MPB has also been observed successfully reproducing in spruce, which is not normally considered a viable host for this beetle (Huber et al, 2009).…”

Responses of Bark Beetle-Associated Bacteria to Host Monoterpenes and Their Relationship to Insect Life Histories

“…Ex Laws, and several other species, including high elevation pines like whitebark pine, Pinus albicaulis Engelmann (Logan et al, 2010). Once outbreaks have exhausted preferred hosts, D. ponderosae also may attack and kill spruce trees (Furniss and Schenk, 1969;Huber et al, 2009). The ability of these beetles to coordinate pheromone-mediated mass attack allows them to exhaust the resistance of vigorous, well-defended trees, and thereby provide their brood with a substrate with relatively low allelochemical concentrations.…”

Secondary stand structure and its timber supply implications for mountain pine beetle attacked forests on the Nechako Plateau of British Columbia.

“…Occasionally, when reaching epidemic levels, other species such as white spruce {Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and interior spruce {Picea glauca (Moench) Voss x Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) are attacked (Doane et al 1936;Amman 1976;Amman et al 1990;Huber et al 2009). …”