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Douglas-fir cone gall midges respond to shape and infrared wavelength attributes of host tree branches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2012

Tracy Zahradnik ,
Stephen Takács ,
Ward Strong ,
Robb Bennett ,
Anastasia Kuzmin  and
Gerhard Gries
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Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that the conophagous Douglas-fir cone gall midge, Contarinia oregonensis Foote (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), responds to infrared (IR) radiation and other electromagnetic wavelengths associated with cones of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco (Pinaceae). Early-season (March–April) thermographic images showed that cone orientation (upright, horizontal, pendant) and cone colour (green, purple, green/purple) did not affect apparent cone temperature (inferred from thermographic images). Tree components significantly differed in apparent temperature with foliage being coolest and branches warmest. There was no significant difference in the number of larvae in cones of different colours, and adult midges were equally attracted to traps painted green or purple, suggesting that cone colour does not affect oviposition decisions by gravid females. Adult midges were more strongly attracted to warm traps with IR frequency emissions higher than the background than to cold traps with IR frequency emissions lower than the background. They were also more strongly attracted to warm branch-shaped traps than to warm can-shaped traps. Collectively, these data indicate that the shape and IR attributes of Douglas-fir branches may serve as foraging cues for C. oregonensis.

Résumé

Nous vérifions l'hypothèse selon laquelle la cécidomyie du cône du sapin de Douglas, Contarinia oregonensis Foote (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), une espèce conophage, réagit à la radiation infra-rouge (IR) et aux autres longueurs d'ondes électromagnétiques associées aux cônes du sapin de Douglas, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco (Pinaceae). Des images thermographiques au début de la saison (mars-avril) montrent que l'orientation du cône (dressé, horizontal ou pendant) et sa couleur (vert, violet, vert/violet) n'affectent pas la température apparente du cône (estimée d'après les images thermographiques). Les diverses composantes des arbres diffèrent significativement par leurs températures apparentes, car le feuillage est le plus frais et les branches les plus chaudes. Il n'y a pas de différence significative entre les nombres de larves dans les cônes de couleurs différentes et les cécidomyies adultes sont attirées autant par les pièges peints en vert qu'en violet, ce qui laisse croire que la couleur du cône n'affecte pas les décisions de ponte des femelles gravides. Les cécidomyies adultes sont plus fortement attirées par les pièges chauds dont les émissions de fréquence IR sont plus élevées que celles de l'arrière plan que par les pièges froids dont les émissions de fréquence IR sont plus basses que celles de l'arrière plan. Elles sont aussi plus fortement attirées par les pièges chauds en forme de branche que par les pièges chauds en forme de canette. Dans leur ensemble, ces résultats indiquent que la forme et les attributs IR des branches de sapins de Douglas peuvent servir de signaux de recherche chez C. oregonensis.

Type
Original Article
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 144 , Issue 5 , October 2012 , pp. 658 - 666
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2012

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