Author
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Byers, John |
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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2003 Publication Date: 7/1/2004 Citation: Byers, J.A. 2004. Chemical ecology of bark beetles in a complex olfactory landscape. Book Chapter in Bark and Wood Boring Insects in Living Trees in Europe, A Synthesis, F. Lieutier, K.R. Day, A. Battisti, J.C. Gregoire, H.F. Evans, eds., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 89-134. Interpretive Summary: Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scoytidae), especially pests in the genera Dendroctonus, Ips, Scolytus, Trypodendron, Tomicus, and Pityogenes of the Northern hemisphere are reviewed regarding aspects of their chemical ecology. Most of the species covered here feed on conifers, primarily pines (Pinus) in the Northern hemisphere and Norway spruce (Picea abies) of Europe and Asia. Bark beetles use a variety of olfactory strategies to discriminate suitable host trees from among less suitable, overcolonized, or decaying hosts as well as nonhosts. Bark beetles also use olfactory strategies to find mates and select attack sites. These strategies have implications for coevolution of trees and bark beetles. Much more needs to be learned about nearly every aspect of the chemical ecology of the insect-insect and insect-plant relationships so that improved methods can be devised for monitoring and controlling the bark beetle predators of trees. Technical Abstract: Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scoytidae), especially pests in the genera Dendroctonus, Ips, Scolytus, Trypodendron, Tomicus, and Pityogenes of the Northern hemisphere are reviewed regarding aspects of their chemical ecology. Most of the species covered here feed on conifers, primarily pines (Pinus) in the Northern hemisphere and Norway spruce (Picea abies) of Europe and Asia. Bark beetles use a variety of olfactory strategies to discriminate suitable host trees from among less suitable, overcolonized, or decaying hosts as well as nonhosts. Bark beetles also use olfactory strategies to find mates and select attack sites. These strategies have implications for coevolution of trees and bark beetles. Much more needs to be learned about nearly every aspect of the chemical ecology of the insect-insect and insect-plant relationships so that improved methods can be devised for monitoring and controlling the bark beetle predators of trees. |
