Nelson, J.D, Lambdin, P.L., Grant, J.F., & Mendel, Z. 2002 Predators attracted to the sex pheromones of Matsucoccus spp. (Margarodidae) in pine dominated forests.. Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura (Milano) 33(2001-3): 409-416.

Keywords:

  • biological control
  • natural enemies
  • Notes: [Special Issue: Proceedings of the ISSIS IX International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies held at The University of Padua, Italy, Sept. 2-8, 2001.] Predators attracted to the sex pheromones of M. josephi, M. feytaudi, M. matsumurae, and controls (without pheromones) in east Tennessee (USA) were collected from May 1999 to July 2000. Delta style sticky traps (n=60) baited with the sex pheromones of Matsucoccus spp. were placed in 5 pine sites along elevation gradients in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From 468 sticky inserts processed, 7,972 insect specimens representing 112 species, 83 families, and 12 orders were identified. Some 99% (n=546) of all neuropterans and 88% (n=72) of all hemipterans were captured from pheromone traps, compared to the control traps. Hemerobiidae was represented by 510 specimens of Hemerobius stigma (=stigmaterus), two specimens of Sympherobius barberi, and three specimens of Micromus posticus. Highest numbers of individuals were captured in the sex pheromone traps of M. josephi (267), M. feytaudi (224), M. matsumurae (25), and the control (1), respectively. Significantly high numbers of predators were captured at pine sites at Little Greenbriar Trail and Bullhead Trail on Mt. LeConte in traps baited with pheromones of M. feytaudi and M. josephi in stands of Pinus pungens, on dry, rocky ridges between 914 m and 1,392 m. Twenty-five specimens of Elatophilus inimica were also captured from sites at Little Greenbriar Trail and Bullhead Trail on Mt. LeConte, University of Tennessee Arboretum, and Foothills Parkway sites. Of these, 14 were captured from pine site at Little Greenbriar Trail in traps baited with pheromones of M. matsumurae and M. feytaudi. These data suggest that E. inimica, like H. stigma, were most abundant in stands of P. pungens on dry, rocky ridges between 914 m and 1,392 m. Collection of E. inimica represents new county and state records, and the southernmost distribution recorded for this species.