Biology and Ecology of Cypress Twig Borer, Uracanthus Cupressiana SP
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\\'¡.1 I tl tl'l:ì I I l'Ll'l l' t L. ro- t1 I-IBIìARY BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF CYPRESS T'WIG BORER,, URACANTHUS CUPRESSIANA SP. N. (CERAMBYCIDAE) SAAHTJE JEANNE RONDONU\MU LUMANAUW SAM RATULANGI UNIVERSITY, MANADO A Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Agricultural Science to the University of Adelaide Department of Entomology, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide Novernber, 1987 Plate1: Femalebeetle Uracanthus cuDressiana on its host Cupressus senDervirens. To My Mother and My Country SIJ}IMARY l_ The biology and ecology of the native Australian insect, the Cypress Twig Borer (CTB), Uracanthus cupressiana sp.n., on the exotic conifer, CuÞre ssus semDervirens. were sLudied between 1983 and l9B7 - Outbreaks of CTB have occurred periodically for some decades, yet the species is still undescribed and its biology noL studied. In this present study, the species is described, the genus to which this insect belongs is reviewed, and 2 keys are presented, one to separate closely related genera, the other to separate species of the genus Uracanthus. In the field this insect mostly has a biennial life cycle, with a fer¡ individuals developing in one year. Under laboratory conditions, sorne may even have a triennial life cycle. Beetle emergence and reproductive activity occur in spring and summer, reaching a peak in November. The number emerging increases on warm sunny days and decreases on cold cloudy days. The establishment of young larvae mosLly occurs in surnmer. Most of the insectfs life is spent in the larval stage. There are 6 to 7 larva1 instars, the 1arva1 stage taking 14 to 22 months, sometimes more than 2 years under laboratory conditions. The moisture content of the wood greatly affects the developmenL and growth of larvae, particularly under laboraEory conditions. The insect enters diapause during the larval or prepupal stage. The diapause is sensitive to temperature and synchronises the life cycle with the seasons. Laboratory study indicates that both male and female become very active when sexually mature, and they emit sex pheromone that. can guide them to locate their maLes. The ovipositing female retains her eggs when the host plant is not available. When boEh host and non-host, plants are provided, the female tends to deposit fewer eggs, in other words the fecundity of beetles decreases under the influence of a non host-plant. The native host of this insecE is probably Callitris spp. Observations on caged-poEted plants indicate that alteration of the water status of the host tree (by watering regímes) does not alter the reproducLive behavíour of insects. However, it does alter the larval behaviour in feeding and constructing the pupal charnber and the insect does more damage Eo water:stresseC trees than to regularly watered trees. 1l The response of host. trees Èowards larval attack was investigated and discussed. There is a linear correlation beEhreen hosL tree size (surface area of tree) and population density. The study showed that the role of natural enemies (parasites and predators) in the population dynamics of CTB was trivial. Study of the life table indicates that the key factors are rnore like1y to be those that (1) operate on the first instar larvae, and (2) have a differential effect on the sex ratio. Excessive resin flow, produced by trees in response to 1arva1 attack, mâY be a key factor in the population dynamics of the CTB' The results of the study support, this hypothesis and accounL for both the distribution and the abundance of the insect in South Australia' particularly on the Adelaide p1ain. The operation of this key factor greatly depends on climatic factors, rainfall in particular. Suggestions are made for the control of CTB in CuPressus trees without the use of insecticides. Based on Lhe assumption that oleoresin flow is a key factor, it is suggested that regular maintenance (good watering) of the trees in spring and summer, the diversificaLion of trees, andfor the change to native trees could all be worth trying. Tree removal or pruning (removal of all Lhe attacked parts of the tree) is a useful method of controlling CTB. Adoption of a management Program based on these suggestions should not only prevent future outbreaks of CTB buL also provide better aesthetic values (healthier, better looking trees). 111 DECIJIRATTO}T This thesis conLains no naterial which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university and, to the best of ny knowledge and belief, contains no material peviously published or written by another person, except when due reference is made in the text of this thesis. November, L987. (Saartje Jeanne Rondonuwu L.) l-v ACKNOT.JIÆDGEMENTS I am grateful to my supervisor Dr. R. Laughlin for his constant encouragement, constructive criticism, and patience during the course of this study. Also my thanks are due to Dr. A.D. Austin for his willingness to supervise my study of Taxonomy and part of this thesis. I am indebted to the nembers of the Entomology Department, all of whom have helped me in various \,/ays. In particular, I would like to record my sincere appreciation to Dr. F.D. Morgan for his supervision during the first few months of this sLudy. Thanks are also due to Dr. D. Maelzer for his help in statistical analysis; Eo Dr. P.l^/. Miles for his willingness Eo read and correct part of the manuscript of this thesis; and also to Prof. Dr. D.E. Pinnock for his encouragement. Thanks are also due to lvfr. G. Taylor, Mrs. V. Burnyoczky, Miss H. Brookes, and Mr. K. Wilkinson for all their help during the conducting of the research and the completion of this thesis; to Mr. N. Stewart and Mrs. J. Peirce for providing materials required during this study; and to Miss R. Perry for her willingness to print the last draft of this thesis. I am also indebted to other members of the I^/AITE INSTITUTE for Èheir he1p. fn particular, Ì r+ould like to express my thanks Eo Dr. D. Aspinall for discussion of ways to improve my research methods; to Mr. C. Rivers for his willingness to help me in plant chemical analysis; to Mr. E. Nagy for providing soil and pots during the research; to Dr. J. Gardner for providing the tree information; and to Mr. B. Palk for the printing of photographs. Thanks are also due to tree gro\./ers in Adelaide who have helped, and cooperated in allowing me to collect specimens from their properLies during this study. I am grateful to the South Australian Museum and CSIRO Canberra, Div. Entomology, for permission and cooperation ín the provision of facilities to carry out the taxonomy study. I would like to especially thank their officers, Dr. G.F. Gross, Dr. J.F. Laurence' and Mr. T. Weir. I would also like to express sincere appreciaEion and thanks to Dr. T.C.R. t/hite for his willingness Lo participate in mail discussions during this study. Thanks are also due to visitors to Dept. of Enrnmolnov- TÞs- G-E- T.ono- --!-A-D-M- r_-- Smirh- and I^/-D-.I- Kirk. who orovided J -^-- t ' furEher opportuniEy for discussion. I am indebued to lufiss RuUh Love for her patience and willingness to help in many ways during this study. I would like Lo express my sincere appreciation of her efforE. f wish to thank all my colleagues for their encouragemenE, criLicisrn, he1p, and undersEanding in making my sEay in the Entomology DepartmenE, pleasurable, parE,icularly Dr. J. Farr, lfiss F. Fitzgibbon, Mr. G.D. Rippon, Mr. P. Nkunika, lvfr. H.J. Stuart, lvlr. J.W. Zhao, lfr. G.R. A11en, and Mr. P. l{einsL,ein. Thanks are also due to lvfrs. G. lvfiddenway for her help in English during Ehe firsE year of my sLudy, and also to Ms. A. Noble for her willingness to read and correct the English grammar of the manuscripL of this thesis. This sLudy was made possible by a Colombo PIan award and thus Ï r,¡ould like to thank Ehe AusEralian Goverment and the AusÈralian lnternational Development Assistance Bureau. I would like to Ehank especially to lfs. Joy Battillana, lufr. R. Koehne, and I'fr. P. Denver. Thanks are also due to the University of Sam RaLulangi lfenado for granting me t,he period of leave required to carry out this study. Final1y, my deepest thanks to my family: my beloved husband, Octavianus, and sons Paul Graciano, and Clifford Flenry Stephen, for their patience, sacrifice, encouragemenE, and help during this study. lulay God bless us always. TABI,E OF COIITENTS SI'HI{ARY 1 DECIJIRATTON 1a1 ACKNOT{LEGMENIS iv CHAPTER 1. GENBRÄL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Insect phenology I I.2 Host plant phenology 2 1.3 Damaged caused by CTB 2 L.4 The study site 3 1.5 The scope of the study 4 CHAPI,ER 2. GENER.AL ME.HODS 2.L Material collecting technique 5 2.2 Laboratory culture 5 2.3 Growing trees 6 2.4 The measurement of water sÈatus of the trees 6 2.5 Total nitrogen analysis 7 2.6 Counting of attacked twigs (flags) in the field 7 2.7 Tree measurement 8 CHÁPTER 3. TAXONOMY OF GENUS T]RACAI{IEUS HOPE AND DESCRIPIION OF THE NET{ SPECIES 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 Materials and methods 11 3.2.I General 11 3.2.3 Terminology T2 3.3 The genus Uracanthus 15 3.3.1 Key to separate Uracanthus from related genera 15 3.3.2 Diagnosis of the g enus Uracanthus 16 3.3.3 Specíes of Uracanthus and their identifications 16 3.4 Taxonomic description of Uracanthus cuÞressiana sp.n 18 3.4.1 Âdult male 18 3.4.2 Adult female 19 3.4.3 Immature stages 19 3.4.3.1 Young larval instar (L1-L3) 19 3.4.3.2 01der larval instar (LA-L7) 20 3.4.3.3 Prepupae and pupae 2l 3.4.3.4 egg 23 3.4.4 Type naterial 23 3.4.5 Discussion 23 3.5 Key to Australian species of Uracanthus 23 CHÂPTER 4.