University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 7-2015 Monochamus titillator Oviposition and Intraspecific ompC etition in Shortleaf Pine Bolts Ryan Patrick Rastok University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Entomology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Rastok, Ryan Patrick, "Monochamus titillator Oviposition and Intraspecific ompeC tition in Shortleaf Pine Bolts" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1291. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1291 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Monochamus titillator Oviposition and Intraspecific Competition in Shortleaf Pine Bolts A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology by Ryan P. Rastok University of Kansas Bachelor of General Studies in Environmental Science, 2010 University of Kansas Bachelor of General Studies in Geography, 2010 July 2015 University of Arkansas This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. _____________________________ Dr. Fred M. Stephen Thesis Director _____________________________ _____________________________ Dr. Cynthia L. Sagers Dr. Ashley P. G. Dowling Committee Member Committee member Abstract Monochamus titillator (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) feed on trees in the family Pinaceae as adults and larvae. Adults feed on healthy twigs and branches and oviposit on stressed, dead, or dying trees. Prior to oviposition, females construct pits on the bark surface using their mandibles. The number of eggs laid beneath bark, where oviposition pits have been constructed, varies greatly. Developmental time and adult body size also vary greatly. I investigated oviposition and intraspecific competition with the goal of determining the degree to which various insect densities and oviposition times impact the following: 1) oviposition pit construction; 2) egg deposition; 3) emergence, 4) and adult body size. Females constructed 463 oviposition pits and laid 1002 eggs on 26 bolts. The average number of pits per bolt was 17.8 and the average number of eggs per bolt was 38.54. The average number of eggs per pit was 2.16 and differed significantly between our treatment combinations (P=0.0132). Significant differences were detected between our treatment combinations for the number of pits constructed (P=0.0011*) and eggs deposited (P=0.0327*). There was a positive correlation between the number of pits per bolt and the number of eggs per bolt (P=-.0001*, R2=0.691). Emergence occurred in 49 out 60 bolts and 222 M. titillator emerged in total. The average number to emerge was 3.9 M. titillator per bolt and the mean number for emergence differed significantly between our treatment combinations (P<0.0001). A significant and positive correlation was detected between the mean number of pits per bolt and the mean number for emergence (P>0.0001, R2=0.448). It took an average of 96 days for larvae to emerge. These data, when taken together suggest that density dependent responses were detected and can be attributed to intraspecific competition. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the people who contributed to my research and professional development. My major professor, Dr. Fred Stephen, provided a supportive environment for my research. He was a wonderful mentor and worked tirelessly to aid me in the pursuit and eventual completion of this project. I learned a great number of things about the science of entomology during my time in his lab. Dr. Cindy Sagers and Dr. Ashley Dowling reviewed my research and manuscript and provided valuable advice and guidance. Larry Galligan was instrumental in every aspect of my research from the beginning to the end. I would like to extend a special thanks to my wife, Jenny, for being unconditionally supportive and patient during this process. She contributed long ours in dedication to this research by aiding with fieldwork, various lab duties, and formatting. I would like to extend additional thanks to the many students and faculty I interacted with over the years for their continual support and encouragement. I would like to thank Dr. Rob Wiedenmann, Dr. Don Steinkraus, Ace Lynn-Miller, David Dalzotto, Chandler Barton, Jessica Hartshorn, Dr. Amber Tripodi, Ben Thrash, Dr. Byan Petty, Susan Osredker, and Shelby Hanson. Dedication I would like to dedicate this document to my grandparents for all the love and support they provided over the years. Table of contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 I. Literature Review ............................................................................................................................................... 3 A. Life History of Monochamus ................................................................................................................................... 3 B. Competition .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 C. Types of competition ................................................................................................................................................... 9 D. Interspecific Competition in Monochamus Communities .............................................................................. 9 E. Intraspecific Competition ......................................................................................................................................... 12 F. Intraspecific Scramble Competition ..................................................................................................................... 12 G. Intraspecific Interference Competition ............................................................................................................... 13 H. Symptoms of Competition: Effects on Individuals ......................................................................................... 14 I. Research Objectives .................................................................................................................................................... 16 II. Effects of Oviposition Time and Monochamus titillator Density on Oviposition Pit Density and Egg Deposition in Caged Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) Bolts .................................................... 17 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 17 B. Materials and Methods ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Monochamus Trapping and Handling ..................................................................................................................... 18 Bolt Preparation and Oviposition Cages ................................................................................................................. 19 C. Experimental Design ................................................................................................................................................. 20 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................................... 21 D. Results ............................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Oviposition Pits ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 Eggs Per Bolt ................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Eggs Per Pit ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23 E. Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 F. Figures and Tables ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 III. Effects of Varying Monochamus titillator Oviposition Density on Survival of Offspring in Shortleaf Pine Bolts ................................................................................................................................................ 47 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 47 B. Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................................... 48 C. Materials and Methods ............................................................................................................................................