Natural enemies of Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in south‐eastern Queensland eucalypt plantations

Abstract

A field survey for natural enemies of Paropsis atomaria was conducted at two south-eastern Queensland Eucalyptus cloeziana plantation sites during [2004][2005]. Primary egg and larval parasitoids and associated hyperparasitoids were identified to genus or species, and parasitism rates were determined throughout the season. Predators were identified to family level but their impact was not quantified. P. atomaria adults were also examined as potential hosts for parasitic mites and nematodes. An undescribed species of Neopolycystus (Pteromalidae) was the major primary egg parasitoid species reared from egg batches, parasitising half of all egg batches collected. Three hyperparasitoid species (Baeoanusia albifunicle (Encyrtidae), Neblatticida sp. (Encyrtidae) and Aphaneromella sp. (Platygasteridae) were present, representing around one-quarter to one-third of all emergent wasps; this is the first host association record for Neopolycystus-B. albifunicle. In contrast to populations of P. atomaria from the Australian Capital Territory, primary larval parasitism was very low, around 1%, and attributable only to the tachinid flies Anagonia sp. and Paropsivora sp. However, the presence of the sit-and-wait larval hyperparasitoid, Perilampus sp. (Perilampidae) was high, emerging from around 17% of tachinid pupae, with planidia infesting a further 40% of unparasitised hosts. Three species of podapolipid mites parasitised sexually mature P. atomaria adults, while no nematodes were found in this study. Spiders were the most common predators and their abundance was positively correlated with P. atomaria adult and egg numbers. Although natural enemy species composition was identical between our two study sites, significant differences in abundance and frequency were found between sites.

The Role of Life-History and Ecology in the Evolution of Color Patterns in Australian Chrysomeline Beetles

“…Such predators would have to be on the same substrate as the beetles. Active hunting arachnids are potential predators exerting a selection pressure on chrysomelines, as arachnids would view the beetles at a lateral perspective without succumbing to their chemical defenses (Hilbeck and Kennedy, 1996;Nahrung et al, 2008;Lundgren et al, 2009). Most arachnid species are sensitive to green, while a few taxa are sensitive to blue and red wavelengths (Dahl and Granda, 1989;Peaslee and Wilson, 1989;Zurek et al, 2015).…”

Direct and indirect effects of egg parasitism by Neopolycystus Girault sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…was the only primary egg parasitoid reared from P. atomaria egg batches in SEQ, although there are other primary parasitoid species associated with P. atomaria eggs in temperate regions (Duffy 2007;Nahrung et al, 2008). To date there are no published data on this undescribed parasitoid species.…”

“…plantations (Nahrung 2006), while Neopolycystus Girault sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is its only recorded primary egg parasitoid in south-eastern Queensland (SEQ) (Nahrung et al 2008). Such straightforward two species interactions are not common in nature (Hassell & Waage 1984), and thus enable the examination of hostparasitoid dynamics in the absence of interspecific competition at both trophic levels.…”

Biology of theEucalyptusleaf beetleParopsisterna selmani(Chrysomelidae: Paropsini): a new pest ofEucalyptusspecies (Myrtaceae) in Ireland

“…In the native range, these leaf beetles are usually rare and only become problematic where eucalypts are grown outside the natural ranges (Strauss, 2001;Nahrung, 2006) and in extensive monocultures. Several species have emerged as pests, such as Paropsisterna (formerly Chrysophtharta) agricola (Chapuis) and Paropsis atomaria (Olivier) in south-eastern Australia (de Little & Griffith, 1989;Nahrung et al, 2008), as well as Pt. bimaculata and Pt.…”