Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia
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Population size estimation for the Warren root collar weevil, Hylobius warreni Wood (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a pest of regenerating lodgepole pine plantations
Full text linkThe Warren root collar weevil, Hylobius warreni Wood (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an endemic pest species of conifers, particularly lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) (Pinaceae), in British Columbia. Larvae feed on the roots and root collars of young trees, resulting in girdling damage and mortality or growth reductions. Population sizes of adult H. warreni have historically been difficult to assess due to a lack of operational sampling methods or chemical attractants for the species. Therefore, most previous population estimates have relied on indirect or incomplete measures of damage by immature individuals. In this study, we tested the Björklund funnel trap to assess its efficacy as a method to estimate H. warreni populations. Funnel traps were placed on all 182 trees in half of a small (~1 ha) lodgepole pine stand over four days and remained in place for 13 days after the last traps were installed. Adult weevils were captured, marked, and released on the bole of the tree on which they had been caught. It is likely that most of the adult weevils in the plot, which was isolated from any nearby lodgepole pine stands, were caught at least once and many were caught multiple times. Population sizes were estimated using both the Schnabel method and the Schumacher and Eschmeyer method, resulting in population estimates of 1.83-2.19 weevils/tree and 731-875 weevils/ha. These measures are within the range of population sizes estimated by previous studies. The results suggest the Björklund funnel trap may be an effective operational tool for population monitoring for this species and may also be an effective tactic in population reduction strategies
Assessments of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S.A.
Full text linkTo understand the likelihood of any risk of apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to domestic and foreign fruit export markets, knowledge of its host plant use is needed. Here, assessments of R. pomonella infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit were made in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S.A. In field surveys in 2010–2017 in central Washington, 6.7% of Crataegus douglasii and 6.1% of feral Malus domestica trees (both temperate plants) in fly-managed sites were infested by larvae. In unmanaged sites, 54.1% of C. douglasii and 16.3% of feral M. domestica tree samples were infested. In field surveys of 36 types of temperate fruit in 2015–2018 in southwestern Washington, new host records for R. pomonella were one species and three hybrids of Crataegus as well as Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca, all producing adult flies. In addition, Prunus avium was a new host record for Washington State, producing one adult fly. Prunus armeniaca x Prunus salicina and Vitis vinifera exposed to flies in the laboratory produced adult flies. Of 37 types of tropical and subtropical fruit hung in fly-infested M. domestica trees in southwestern Washington, only Mangifera indica produced puparia. Out of nine tropical and subtropical fruit types in laboratory tests, Musa acuminata x balbisiana produced puparia, although no adult flies. Results provide a basis for further research and hypotheses concerning host use by R. pomonella and its potential impact on protecting both U.S. and tropical and subtropical fruit markets
Redescription of the spider Robertus arcticus (Chamberlin & Ivie) (Araneae: Theridiidae), with the first description of the female
Full text linkThe original description of Robertus arcticus (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1947) (Araneae: Theridiidae) was based on a single male collected in Alaska, United States of America. The female has remained undescribed, although specimens of both sexes have been collected over the intervening decades. The species occurs in boreal Alaska, and records from Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada and James Bay, Ontario, Canada suggest that it is probably widely distributed in the Canadian boreal. Here we redescribe the male and describe the female for the first time. Most specimens examined in our study were collected from the ground of boreal forest peatlands in northeastern Alberta
Assessments of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S.
Full text linkTo understand the likelihood of any risk of apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to domestic and foreign fruit export markets, knowledge of its host plant use is needed. Here, assessments of R. pomonella infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit were made in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S. In field surveys in 2010– 2017 in central Washington, 6.7% of Crataegus douglasii and 6.1% of feral Malus domestica trees (both temperate plants) in fly-managed (insecticide- treated) sites were infested by larvae. In unmanaged sites, 54.1% of C. douglasii and 16.3% of feral M. domestica tree samples were infested. In field surveys of 36 types of temperate fruit in 2015–2018 in southwestern Washington, new host records for R. pomonella were one species and three hybrids of Crataegus, as well as Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca – all of which produced adult flies. In addition, Prunus avium was a new host record for Washington State, producing one adult fly. Prunus armeniaca x Prunus salicina and Vitis vinifera exposed to flies in the laboratory produced adult flies. Of 37 types of tropical and subtropical fruit hung in fly-infested M. domestica trees in southwestern Washington, only Mangifera indica produced puparia. Out of nine tropical and subtropical fruit types in laboratory tests, Musa acuminata x balbisiana produced puparia but no adult flies. Results provide a basis for further research and hypotheses concerning host use by R. pomonella and its potential impact on protecting both U.S. and tropical and subtropical fruit markets
Toxonevra muliebris (Harris) (Diptera: Pallopteridae): a European fly new to North America
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Collections of fleas (Siphonaptera) from Pacific marten, Martes caurina (Carnivora: Mustelidae), reveal unique host–parasite relationships in the Haida Gwaii archipelago
Full text linkFleas and their host–parasite relationships are understudied in many parts of Canada, yet such relationships may contribute to our knowledge of ecosystems in ways we have yet to understand. A collection of 57 fleas from Pacific marten (Martes caurina (Merriam)) in Haida Gwaii, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, led to the collection of five taxa of fleas: the European rat flea, Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Bosc), a squirrel flea, Ceratophyllus (Amonopsyllus) ciliatus protinus (Jordan), a mustelid flea, Chaetopsylla floridensis (I. Fox), Hystrichopsylla (Hystroceras) dippiei, likely ssp. spinata Holland, a parasite of mustelids and mephitids, and a generalist bird flea, Dasypsyllus gallinulae perpinnatus (Baker). All five species are first records for Haida Gwaii, and C. floridensis is recorded from Canada for the first time. Two new host–parasite relationships support a previous dietary study of marten in Haida Gwaii. This provides further evidence that fleas infesting predators may indicate prey composition within their home ranges
Promachus dimidiatus Curran (Diptera: Asilidae): a robber fly genus and species new to British Columbia
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Dispersal of Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in relation to phenology of matrimony vine (Lycium spp.; Solanaceae)
Full text linkBactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a key pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum; Solanaceae) in western North America. Native species of Lycium (Solanales: Solanaceae) in the southwestern U.S. have been known since the early 1900s to support populations of B. cockerelli. These shrubs are adapted to survive arid habitats by entering a summer dormancy characterized by partial or complete defoliation. Summer leaf fall by native Lycium in the southwestern U.S. triggers the dispersal of B. cockerelli to new seasonally available hosts, including potato. Recently, B. cockerelli was found to occur on non-native species of Lycium (L. barbarum and L. chinense), collectively known as matrimony vine in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho). Monitoring of matrimony vine in previous years suggested qualitatively that these non-native shrubs also entered a summer dormancy with effects on B. cockerelli populations. Our study had two principal objectives: 1) document when and under what conditions matrimony vine enters summer dormancy, and 2) determine whether summer leaf fall is associated with dispersal of B. cockerelli from these plants. In this report, we demonstrate that matrimony vine exhibits xerophytic phenological traits similar to the Lycium species native to the southwestern United States, and we provide evidence that psyllid dispersal from matrimony vine is associated with the onset of the host plant’s summer dormancy. These results may be beneficial for the development of predictive models to forecast B. cockerelli pressure in potato based upon populations occurring on matrimony vine in early spring
