A BIOPHYSICAL MODEL OF SOUTHERN PINE-BEETLE, DENDROCTONUS-FRONTALIS ZIMMERMANN (COLEOPTERA, SCOLYTIDAE), DEVELOPMENT
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
Predicting the population dynamics of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, in forests of the U.S.A. requires predictive models of cohort development. The cryptic nature of the insect, however, prevents direct observations of its development, and undefined host requirements of early stage larvae prevent rearing it in the laboratory. Consequently, obtaining the information needed to formulate predictive models is difficult. This study describes experimental, analytical, and modeling techniques used to obtain information on beetle development times, the distribution of those times, and percent mortality over a full range of constant temperatures. Our data indicate that D. frontalis is highly sensitive to temperature. Cohort development occurs over extended intervals of time with the durations of development influenced by temperature in a nonlinear fashion. Information on development rates and the distributions of development times were used to formulate biophysical models of life stage development and development from eggs to adult emergence. Tests of the latter model here and elsewhere (Feldman et al., 1981a) showed good agreement with data from several field populations. These tests provided a basis for incorporating the model into a larger population dynamics model for this insect (Feldman et al., 1981b). 1984.
