DOCSLIB.ORG

A Visual Tracking System for Honeybee 3D Flight Trajectory Reconstruction and Analysis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Visual Tracking System for Honeybee 3D Flight Trajectory Reconstruction and Analysis A visual tracking system for honeybee 3D flight trajectory reconstruction and analysis A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Science and Engineering 2020 Cong Sun School of Engineering Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Declaration .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Copyright statement ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ 10 1. Chapter 1 – Introduction .................................................................................................................... 11 1.1 The main character of the story - bees ............................................................................... 12 1.1.1 Characteristics and behaviours ............................................................................................ 12 1.1.2 The unquestionable value ...................................................................................................... 16 1.1.3 Current situation and threats ............................................................................................... 17 1.1.4 Strategies to maintain effective pollination .................................................................... 19 1.2 Main contributions ............................................................................................................................ 20 1.3 Chapter summary ............................................................................................................................... 21 2 Chapter 2 – Literature review .......................................................................................................... 24 2.1 An overview of insect behaviour ................................................................................................. 24 2.2 Ground-based passive observation methods ......................................................................... 27 2.3 Airborne netting and sampling platforms ................................................................................ 28 2.4 Entomological radar .......................................................................................................................... 29 2.4.1 Traditional scanning radar / marine radar ..................................................................... 30 2.4.2 Vertical-looking radar (VLR) ................................................................................................. 31 2.4.3 Conventional entomological scanning radar (without harmonic transponders) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.4.4 Harmonic radar........................................................................................................................... 35 2.4.5 Radio-frequency identification............................................................................................. 39 2.5 Optical imaging systems .................................................................................................................. 42 2.5.1 In-field visual tracking with conventional instrumentation .................................... 43 2.5.2 Insect Monitoring with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) ............................... 45 2.5.3 Laboratory observation ........................................................................................................... 47 2.5.4 Object tracking inspired by modern computer vision algorithms ........................ 49 2.5.4.1 Overview of modern object tracking ......................................................................... 49 2.5.4.2 Small object tracking ........................................................................................................ 51 2.6 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 52 3 Chapter 3 - Relevant Theory............................................................................................................. 54 3.1 Gaussian mixture model .................................................................................................................. 54 3.2 Kalman filter ......................................................................................................................................... 57 3.3 Hungarian algorithm ......................................................................................................................... 59 3.4 3D space triangulation & epipolar geometry .......................................................................... 60 4 Chapter 4 – Hardware configuration and data collection .................................................... 66 4.1 Exploration of the imaging principle .......................................................................................... 66 4.2 First experiment (2D determination) ........................................................................................ 71 4.3 Camera parameters ........................................................................................................................... 73 4.4 Simulation of 3D flights .................................................................................................................... 75 4.5 Second experiment session (3D determination) ................................................................... 82 4.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 86 5 Chapter 5 – Software development ............................................................................................... 88 5.1 Definition of the problem ................................................................................................................ 88 5.2 Processing procedure of the software ....................................................................................... 90 5.3 Flowchart of the software processing procedure ................................................................. 91 5.4 Software development environment ......................................................................................... 92 5.5 Camera calibration ............................................................................................................................. 92 5.6 Pre-processing of the raw video .................................................................................................. 96 5.7 Background subtraction .................................................................................................................. 97 5.8 Morphological operations & further filtering ...................................................................... 103 5.9 Software simulation ....................................................................................................................... 109 5.10 Epipolar geometry system and 3D triangulation ............................................................ 113 5.11 Motion estimation and the generation of flight tracks .................................................. 116 5.12 Quantified system evaluation .................................................................................................. 119 5.13 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 121 6 Chapter 6 – Results and data analysis ....................................................................................... 122 6.1 Initial cleaning and reduction of data ..................................................................................... 122 6.2 Analysis of individual flights ....................................................................................................... 126 6.3 Error analysis .................................................................................................................................... 136 6.4 Analysis of the entire cluster ...................................................................................................... 138 6.4.1 Analysis of flight tendency .................................................................................................. 138 6.4.2 Density distribution of worker bees at hive entrance ............................................. 148 6.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 154 7 Chapter 7 - Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 155 7.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 155 7.2 Summary of system development and findings .................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nitrogen Content in Riparian Arthropods Is Most Dependent on Allometry and Order
    Wiesenborn: Nitrogen Contents in Riparian Arthropods 71 NITROGEN CONTENT IN RIPARIAN ARTHROPODS IS MOST DEPENDENT ON ALLOMETRY AND ORDER WILLIAM D. WIESENBORN U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Regional Office, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006 ABSTRACT I investigated the contributions of body mass, order, family, and trophic level to nitrogen (N) content in riparian spiders and insects collected near the Colorado River in western Arizona. Most variation (97.2%) in N mass among arthropods was associated with the allometric effects of body mass. Nitrogen mass increased exponentially as body dry-mass increased. Significant variation (20.7%) in N mass adjusted for body mass was explained by arthropod order. Ad- justed N mass was highest in Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Araneae, and Odonata and lowest in Coleoptera. Classifying arthropods by family compared with order did not explain signifi- cantly more variation (22.1%) in N content. Herbivore, predator, and detritivore trophic-levels across orders explained little variation (4.3%) in N mass adjusted for body mass. Within or- ders, N content differed only among trophic levels of Diptera. Adjusted N mass was highest in predaceous flies, intermediate in detritivorous flies, and lowest in phytophagous flies. Nitro- gen content in riparian spiders and insects is most dependent on allometry and order and least dependent on trophic level. I suggest the effects of allometry and order are due to exoskeleton thickness and composition. Foraging by vertebrate predators, such as insectivorous birds, may be affected by variation in N content among riparian arthropods. Key Words: nutrients, spiders, insects, trophic level, exoskeleton, cuticle RESUMEN Se investiguo las contribuciones de la masa de cuerpo, orden, familia y el nivel trófico al con- tenido de nitógeno (N) en arañas e insectos riparianos (que viven en la orilla del rio u otro cuerpo de agua) recolectadaos cerca del Rio Colorado en el oeste del estado de Arizona.
    [Show full text]
  • FORECO13632R1 Title
    Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Forest Ecology and Management Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: FORECO13632R1 Title: Effects of forest management on ground beetle diversity in alpine beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands Article Type: FLA Full Length Article Keywords: Carabus olympiae; coppice; conversion to high forest; Fagus sylvatica; insect ecology; retention; ageing islands Corresponding Author: Dr. Matteo Negro, Corresponding Author's Institution: University of Turin First Author: Matteo Negro Order of Authors: Matteo Negro; Giorgio Vacchiano; Roberta Berretti; Dan E. Chamberlain; Claudia Palestrini; Renzo Motta; Antonio Rolando Abstract: European beech forests are of particular importance for biodiversity, although relatively little is known about how beech forest management impacts on invertebrate communities. In this paper we investigated the influence of beech forest management history [i.e. over-mature coppices (OC) and coppices in conversion to high forests (CCHF)], climatic, topographic and microhabitat characteristics on ground beetle diversity (measured as total relative abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity and abundance of the endangered endemic species Carabus olympiae) in northern Italy. The diversity of forest specialist carabids was higher in OC and in forest stands characterized by a higher mean temperature and lower relative humidity. Moreover, we detected a positive response of several diversity variables to coarse wood debris cover or volume, herb cover, and the standard deviation of tree diameter. Currently,
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Relationships of Tachinid Flies in Subfamily Exoristinae Tachinidae: Diptera) Based on 28S Rdna and Elongation Factor-1A
    Systematic Entomology *2002) 27,409±435 Phylogenetic relationships of tachinid flies in subfamily Exoristinae Tachinidae: Diptera) based on 28S rDNA and elongation factor-1a JOHN O. STIREMAN III Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,University of Arizona,Tucson,U.S.A. Abstract. The phylogenetic relationships within the largest subfamily of Tachi- nidae,Exoristinae,were explored using nucleotide sequences of two genes *EF-1 a and 28S rDNA). A total of fifty-five and forty-three taxa were represented in the analyses for each gene,respectively,representing forty-three genera. Neighbour joining,parsimony and maximum likelihood inference methods were employed to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships in separate analyses of each gene,and parsimony was used to analyse the combined dataset. Although certain taxa were highly mobile,phylogenetic reconstructions generally supported recent clas- sification schemes based on reproductive habits and genitalia. Generally,the monophyly of Tachinidae and Exoristinae was supported. Tribes Winthemiini, Exoristini and Blondeliini were repeatedly constructed as monophyletic groups, with the former two clades often occupying a basal position among Exoristinae. Goniini and Eryciini generally clustered together as a derived clade within Exoristinae; however,they were never reconstructed as two distinct clades. These results suggest that the possession of unembryonated eggs is plesiomorphic within the subfamily and that there may have been multiple transitions between micro- type and macrotype egg forms. Introduction 1987; Williams et al.,1990; Eggleton & Belshaw,1993), and the wide variety of mechanisms by which they attack Tachinidae is generally regarded as a relatively recent, them *O'Hara,1985). These oviposition strategies include actively radiating clade of parasitic flies *Crosskey,1976).
    [Show full text]
  • Tachinid Collecting in Southwest New Mexico and Arizona During the 2007 NADS Field Meeting
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Biological Sciences Faculty Publications Biological Sciences 2-2008 Tachinid Collecting in Southwest New Mexico and Arizona during the 2007 NADS Field Meeting John O. Stireman III Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/biology Part of the Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, and the Systems Biology Commons Repository Citation Stireman, J. O. (2008). Tachinid Collecting in Southwest New Mexico and Arizona during the 2007 NADS Field Meeting. The Tachinid Times (21), 14-16. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/biology/404 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Tachinid Times part of Florida’s natural heritage, its native bromeliads. some of the rarer species on that particular hilltop. Once this goal has been achieved, a program for repop- Identifications were made with generic and species ulating devastated areas with small plants grown from seed keys and descriptions from the literature (see O’Hara and specifically collected from a number of hard-hit areas can Wood 2004) with particular reliance on Monty Wood’s begin. (1987) key to Nearctic genera. Specimens were also com- pared to previously identified material in my collection. Tachinid collecting in southwest New Mexico and These identifications should be considered preliminary as Arizona during the 2007 NADS field meeting (by J.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Section Introduction
    Re-introduction Practitioners Directory - 1998 RE-INTRODUCTION PRACTITIONERS DIRECTORY 1998 Compiled and Edited by Pritpal S. Soorae and Philip J. Seddon Re-introduction Practitioners Directory - 1998 © National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, 1998 Printing and Publication details Legal Deposit no. 2218/9 ISBN: 9960-614-08-5 Re-introduction Practitioners Directory - 1998 Copies of this directory are available from: The Secretary General National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development Post Box 61681, Riyadh 11575 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Phone: +966-1-441-8700 Fax: +966-1-441-0797 Bibliographic Citation: Soorae, P. S. and Seddon, P. J. (Eds). 1998. Re-introduction Practitioners Directory. Published jointly by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Re-introduction Specialist Group, Nairobi, Kenya, and the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 97pp. Cover Photo: Arabian Oryx Oryx leucoryx (NWRC Photo Library) Re-introduction Practitioners Directory - 1998 CONTENTS FOREWORD Professor Abdulaziz Abuzinadai PREFACE INTRODUCTION Dr Mark Stanley Price USING THE DIRECTORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PART A. ANIMALS I MOLLUSCS 1. GASTROPODS 1.1 Cittarium pica Top Shell 1.2 Placostylus ambagiosus Flax Snail 1.3 Placostylus ambagiosus Land Snail 1.4 Partula suturalis 1.5 Partula taeniata 1.6 Partula tahieana 1.7 Partula tohiveana 2. BIVALVES 2.1 Freshwater Mussels 2.2 Tridacna gigas Giant Clam II ARTHROPODS 3. ORTHOPTERA 3.1 Deinacrida sp. Weta 3.2 Deinacrida rugosa/parva Cook’s Strait Giant Weta Re-introduction Practitioners Directory - 1998 3.3 Gryllus campestris Field Cricket 4. LEPIDOPTERA 4.1 Carterocephalus palaemon Chequered Skipper 4.2 Lycaena dispar batavus Large Copper 4.3 Lycaena helle 4.4 Lycaeides melissa 4.5 Papilio aristodemus ponoceanus Schaus Swallowtail 5.
    [Show full text]
  • © 2016 David Paul Moskowitz ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
    © 2016 David Paul Moskowitz ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE LIFE HISTORY, BEHAVIOR AND CONSERVATION OF THE TIGER SPIKETAIL DRAGONFLY (CORDULEGASTER ERRONEA HAGEN) IN NEW JERSEY By DAVID P. MOSKOWITZ A dissertation submitted to the Graduate School-New Brunswick Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Program in Entomology Written under the direction of Dr. Michael L. May And approved by _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ New Brunswick, New Jersey January, 2016 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION THE LIFE HISTORY, BEHAVIOR AND CONSERVATION OF THE TIGER SPIKETAIL DRAGONFLY (CORDULEGASTER ERRONEA HAGEN) IN NEW JERSEY by DAVID PAUL MOSKOWITZ Dissertation Director: Dr. Michael L. May This dissertation explores the life history and behavior of the Tiger Spiketail dragonfly (Cordulegaster erronea Hagen) and provides recommendations for the conservation of the species. Like most species in the genus Cordulegaster and the family Cordulegastridae, the Tiger Spiketail is geographically restricted, patchily distributed with its range, and a habitat specialist in habitats susceptible to disturbance. Most Cordulegastridae species are also of conservation concern and the Tiger Spiketail is no exception. However, many aspects of the life history of the Tiger Spiketail and many other Cordulegastridae are poorly understood, complicating conservation strategies. In this dissertation, I report the results of my research on the Tiger Spiketail in New Jersey. The research to investigate life history and behavior included: larval and exuvial sampling; radio- telemetry studies; marking-resighting studies; habitat analyses; observations of ovipositing females and patrolling males, and the presentation of models and insects to patrolling males.
    [Show full text]
  • Download in Portable Document Format
    Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 65(4), pp. 335–348, 2019 DOI: 10.17109/AZH.65.4.335.2019 HABITAT USE OF AN ENDANGERED BEETLE CARABUS HUNGARICUS ASSESSED VIA RADIO TELEMETRY Sándor Bérces1 and Jana Růžičková2 1Duna–Ipoly National Park Directorate, H-1121 Budapest, Költő utca 21, Hungary E-mail: [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2920-8756 2MTA–ELTE–MTM Ecology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Biological Institute H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Hungary E-mail: [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9703-4538 Carabus hungaricus is an endangered habitat specialist of tall-grass steppe occurring in the Pannonian region. In this study, we used radio telemetry to examine whether habitat type (different habitat patches in steppe mosaic), sex, time of day, temperature and air pressure affect the activity of this species. During the reproductive period of C. hungaricus in Octo- ber 2017, we equipped ten individuals, five males, and five females, with small 0.3 g VHF transmitters and tracked them for seven consecutive days. The average speed of tagged individuals was 1.29 m/h for the fastest individual and 0.21 m/h for the slowest one. The shape of trajectories indicated random walk; only in few cases did beetles cover larger distances between two tracking sessions. Habitat type significantly affected beetle move- ment; the average speed was higher in grassy patches and common juniper stands, while it decreased in mosses and litter under shrubs. Although there was no effect of sex, time of day, or air pressure on beetles’ activity, the temperature had a positive effect on move- ment.
    [Show full text]
  • Layman's Report
    Tutela e conservazione di habitat di specie per il consolidamento della popolazione di Carabus olympiae in Val Sessera Protecting and conser- ving the habitats of spe- cies for the consolidation of the population of Cara- bus olympiae in Val Ses- sera LIFE11NAT IT/000213 LIFE CARABUS Layman’s Report LIFE11NAT IT/000213 CARABUS • Layman’s Report Tutela e conservazione di habitat di specie per il con- Questa pubblicazione è stata realizzata con il contri- LIFE11NAT IT/000213 The Carabus LIFE project, named LIFE 11 solidamento della popolazione di Carabus olympiae in buto dello strumento finanziario LIFE della Unione Eu- NAT/IT/000213 “Protecting and conserving Val Sessera ropea | This pubblication was produced with the help Protecting and conserving the habitats of species for of LIFE founds of the European Union. LIFE CARABUS the habitats of species for the consolida- the consolidation of the population of Carabus olym- tion of the population of Carabus olympiae piae in Val Sessera. Versione digitale gratuita disponibile su | Free digital in Val Sessera”, approved and co - funded version on: by The European Union in June 2012, invol- A cura di http://www.lifecarabus.eu/images/pdf/Carabus%20 Marcello Miozzo, Francesca Martini Copertine%20Libro.pdf ved the commitment of a partnership of five Il progetto LIFE Carabus, denominato con beneficiaries coordinated by Ermenegildo Pubblicazione e cura di | Edited by Video documentario del progetto | Documentary of la sigla LIFE 11 NAT/IT/000213 “Tutela e Zegna HoldItalia (leading competent body)
    [Show full text]
  • Sovraccoperta Fauna Inglese Giusta, Page 1 @ Normalize
    Comitato Scientifico per la Fauna d’Italia CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA FAUNA THE ITALIAN AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHECKLIST 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species and inland water 10,000 terrestrial CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species ISBNISBN 88-89230-09-688-89230- 09- 6 Ministero dell’Ambiente 9 778888988889 230091230091 e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare CH © Copyright 2006 - Comune di Verona ISSN 0392-0097 ISBN 88-89230-09-6 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers and of the Authors. Direttore Responsabile Alessandra Aspes CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species Memorie del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona - 2. Serie Sezione Scienze della Vita 17 - 2006 PROMOTING AGENCIES Italian Ministry for Environment and Territory and Sea, Nature Protection Directorate Civic Museum of Natural History of Verona Scientifi c Committee for the Fauna of Italy Calabria University, Department of Ecology EDITORIAL BOARD Aldo Cosentino Alessandro La Posta Augusto Vigna Taglianti Alessandra Aspes Leonardo Latella SCIENTIFIC BOARD Marco Bologna Pietro Brandmayr Eugenio Dupré Alessandro La Posta Leonardo Latella Alessandro Minelli Sandro Ruffo Fabio Stoch Augusto Vigna Taglianti Marzio Zapparoli EDITORS Sandro Ruffo Fabio Stoch DESIGN Riccardo Ricci LAYOUT Riccardo Ricci Zeno Guarienti EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Elisa Giacometti TRANSLATORS Maria Cristina Bruno (1-72, 239-307) Daniel Whitmore (73-238) VOLUME CITATION: Ruffo S., Stoch F.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Modern Threats to the Lepidoptera Fauna in The
    MODERN THREATS TO THE LEPIDOPTERA FAUNA IN THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM By THOMSON PARIS A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2011 1 2011 Thomson Paris 2 To my mother and father who helped foster my love for butterflies 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I thank my family who have provided advice, support, and encouragement throughout this project. I especially thank my sister and brother for helping to feed and label larvae throughout the summer. Second, I thank Hillary Burgess and Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Dr. Jonathan Crane and the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education center Homestead, FL, Elizabeth Golden and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Leroy Rogers and South Florida Water Management, Marshall and Keith at Mack’s Fish Camp, Susan Casey and Casey’s Corner Nursery, and Michael and EWM Realtors Inc. for giving me access to collect larvae on their land and for their advice and assistance. Third, I thank Ryan Fessendon and Lary Reeves for helping to locate sites to collect larvae and for assisting me to collect larvae. I thank Dr. Marc Minno, Dr. Roxanne Connely, Dr. Charles Covell, Dr. Jaret Daniels for sharing their knowledge, advice, and ideas concerning this project. Fourth, I thank my committee, which included Drs. Thomas Emmel and James Nation, who provided guidance and encouragement throughout my project. Finally, I am grateful to the Chair of my committee and my major advisor, Dr. Andrei Sourakov, for his invaluable counsel, and for serving as a model of excellence of what it means to be a scientist.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tachinid Times
    The Tachinid Times ISSUE 24 February 2011 Jim O’Hara, editor Invertebrate Biodiversity Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada ISSN 1925-3435 (Print) C.E.F., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0C6 ISSN 1925-3443 (Online) Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] My thanks to all who have contributed to this year’s announcement before the end of January 2012. This news- issue of The Tachinid Times. This is the largest issue of the letter accepts submissions on all aspects of tachinid biology newsletter since it began in 1988, so there still seems to be and systematics, but please keep in mind that this is not a a place between peer-reviewed journals and Internet blogs peer-reviewed journal and is mainly intended for shorter for a medium of this sort. This year’s issue has a diverse news items that are of special interest to persons involved assortment of articles, a few announcements, a listing of in tachinid research. Student submissions are particularly recent literature, and a mailing list of subscribers. The welcome, especially abstracts of theses and accounts of Announcements section is more sizable this year than usual studies in progress or about to begin. I encourage authors and I would like to encourage readers to contribute to this to illustrate their articles with colour images, since these section in the future. This year it reproduces the abstracts add to the visual appeal of the newsletter and are easily of two recent theses (one a Ph.D. and the other a M.Sc.), incorporated into the final PDF document.
    [Show full text]
  • Acquired Natural Enemies of Oxyops Vitiosa 1
    Christensen et al.: Acquired Natural Enemies of Oxyops vitiosa 1 ACQUIRED NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE WEED BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OXYOPS VITIOSA (COLEPOTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) ROBIN M. CHRISTENSEN, PAUL D. PRATT, SHERYL L. COSTELLO, MIN B. RAYAMAJHI AND TED D. CENTER USDA/ARS, Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314 ABSTRACT The Australian curculionid Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe was introduced into Florida in 1997 as a biological control agent of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S. T. Blake. Pop- ulations of the weevil increased rapidly and became widely distributed throughout much of the invasive tree’s adventive distribution. In this study we ask if O. vitiosa has acquired nat- ural enemies in Florida, how these enemies circumvent the protective terpenoid laden exu- dates on larvae, and what influence 1 of the most common natural enemies has on O. vitiosa population densities? Surveys of O. vitiosa populations and rearing of field-collected individ- uals resulted in no instances of parasitoids or pathogens exploiting weevil eggs or larvae. In contrast, 44 species of predatory arthropods were commonly associated (>5 individuals when pooled across all sites and sample dates) with O. vitiosa. Eleven predatory species were ob- served feeding on O. vitiosa during timed surveys, including 6 pentatomid species, 2 formi- cids and 3 arachnids. Species with mandibulate or chelicerate mouthparts fed on adult stages whereas pentatomids, with haustellate beaks, pierced larval exoskeletons thereby by- passing the protective larval coating. Observations of predation were rare, with only 8% of timed surveys resulting in 1 or more instances of attack. Feeding by the pentatomid Podisus mucronatus Uhler accounted for 76% of all recorded predation events.
    [Show full text]