Canadian Forest Service Publications
Observations of Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) phenology and variation in its buprestid prey in Louisiana. 2015. Johnson, C.W.; MacRae, T.C.; Brownie, C.; Virgets, W.; Allison, J.D. Florida Entomologist 98(4):1106-1113.
Year: 2015
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 36654
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1653/024.098.0415
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Abstract
The non-native emerald ash borer,Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), threatens extirpation of susceptible ash (Fraxinus species; Lamiales: Oleaceae) in North America. Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), a ground-nesting wasp that preys on Buprestidae in eastern North America, is used as a survey tool for the emerald ash borer in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. The recent detection of the emerald ash borer in Louisiana provides an opportunity to complement trapping surveys with the use of C. fumipennis, but knowledge of C. fumipennis in the region is lacking. From 2011 to 2014, we conducted searches at 155 sites and located C. fumipennis aggregations at 25% (n = 39) of these sites; 36% (n = 14) of these were located at forest harvests, an aggregation habitat not previously reported in the literature. We collected 1,559 buprestids representing 35 species from 2 aggregations in Louisiana between May and Aug 2012. Buprestid collections at these aggregations and observations of C. fumipennis activity at a 3rd aggregation indicated the number of buprestid species and individuals collected declined significantly from May to Jul. We collected significantly more Agrilus difficilis Gory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the afternoon than morning hours and observed similar diurnal patterns among other buprestid species during the early weeks following aggregation activation. We also discuss evidence suggesting a portion of the regional C. fumipennis population is bivoltine. Although A. planipennis was not collected during this study, our results suggest that C. fumipennis is a feasible sampling tool and a useful addition to ongoing emerald ash borer surveys in the region.
Plain Language Summary
The nonnative emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), threatens extirpation of susceptible ash (Fraxinus spp.) in North America. Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), a ground-nesting wasp which preys on Buprestidae in eastern North America, is used as a survey tool for the emerald ash borer in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. The recent detection of emerald ash borer in Louisiana provides an opportunity to complement trapping surveys with the use of C. fumipennis, however knowledge of C. fumipennis in the region is lacking. From 2011–2014 we conducted searches at 155 sites and located C. fumipennis aggregations at 25% (n=39) of these sites; 36% (n=14) of which were located at forest harvests, an aggregation habitat not previously reported in the literature. We collected 1559 buprestids representing 35 species from two aggregations in Louisiana between May and August, 2012. Buprestid collections at these aggregations and observations of C. fumipennis activity at a third aggregation indicated the number of buprestid species and individuals collected declined significantly from May to July. We collected significantly more Agrilus difficilis Gory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the afternoon than morning hours, and observed similar diurnal patterns among other buprestid species during the early weeks following aggregation activation. We also discuss evidence suggesting a portion of the regional C. fumipennis population is bivoltine. Although A. planipennis was not collected during this study, our results suggest that C. fumipennis is a feasible sampling tool and a useful addition to ongoing emerald ash borer surveys in the region. Plain language summary French:
