Latitudinal variation in body size of Agrilus planipennis and relationship with fecundity. (14th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marshall, Jordan M.; Miller, Molly A.; Lelito, Jonathan P.; Storer, Andrew J.
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 15:Number 3(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2013-05-14
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <list list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>For many animals with a wide geographical range, latitude is important in determining body size. Additionally, insect body size often has a direct influence on fecundity. Identifying these relationships for a forest pest can add to population dynamics modelling.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p> <italic>Agrilus planipennis</italic> is a pest of North American <italic>Fraxinus</italic> species.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The relationship between <italic>A. planipennis</italic> body size and latitude was investigated through field trapping adult <italic>A. planipennis</italic> in eastern U.S.A., and the relationship between body size and fecundity was investigated through egg production of laboratory‐reared <italic>A. planipennis</italic> adults. Accumulated growing degree days base 10 °C (GDD<sub>10</sub>) were calculated and used to identify the influence of local climate on <italic>A. planipennis</italic> body size.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Adult female <italic>A. planipennis</italic> body size (length and mass) was negatively related to latitude, with larger individuals at southerly sites where the number of days to accumulate 450 and 1000 GDD<sub>10</sub> was the lowest.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p> Using positive linear models relating body size and eggs produced, females from southerly sites would potentially produce twice as many eggs as females from northerly sites.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p> <italic>Agrilus planipennis</italic> population latitudes influenced female body size. Because larger <italic>A. planipennis</italic> females produced more eggs, there is a potential for populations at southerly sites to increase in density and geography more rapidly than northerly populations.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>