Detection of pine woodwasp in Pinus taeda in São Paulo State, Brazil

Detecção da vespa-da-madeira em Pinus taeda no estado de São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT:

The woodwasp Sirex noctilio (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is one of the main pests of Pinus plantations in South America. The aim of this study is to report the occurrence of S. noctilio in Pinus taeda in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The surveys were carried out in the arboretum of Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA) da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), campus Botucatu, SP where six species of Pinus are distributed in blocks of 100 trees. Resin beads were observed on the trunks and stems of Pinus species. In post-flight evaluation it was reported that 8.77% of P. taeda trees showed symptoms of oviposition by S. noctilio. A female S. noctilio was found performing oviposition. Sirex noctilio is present in Botucatu, increasing the geographical distribution of the pest in São Paulo State.

Key words:
Sirex noctilio; exotic pest; forest pest; occurrence; pine

RESUMO:

A vespa-da-madeira, Sirex noctilio (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) é uma das principais pragas de plantações de Pinus na América do Sul. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a ocorrência de Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) em Pinus taeda em Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. As pesquisas foram realizadas no arboreto da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA) da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), campus Botucatu, SP, composto por seis espécies de Pinus distribuídas em blocos de 100 árvores. Respingos de resina foram visualizados nos troncos das espécies de Pinus. Na avaliação pós-revoada verificou-se que 8,77% das árvores de P. taeda apresentaram sintomas de oviposição por S. noctilio. Uma fêmea de S. noctilio foi encontrada realizando oviposição. Sirex noctilio está presente em Botucatu, ampliando a distribuição geográfica da praga no estado de São Paulo.

Palavras-chave:
Sirex noctilio; praga exótica; praga florestal; ocorrência; pinheiro

An important pine pest is the pine woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, 1793 (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). This pest is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and it has become a strong threat in the Southern hemisphere countries where it was introduced (IEDE et al., 2015). In South America, detections were recorded in Uruguay (1980), Argentina (1985), Brazil (1988), and Chile (2001), with records of high levels of pest population (ECHEVERRIA, 1986; MADERNI, 1998; CISTERNAS, 2007). In Brazil, the first record of S. noctilio was reported in Canela, Gramado, and São Francisco de Paula, in Rio Grande do Sul State in 1988 (IEDE et al., 1988). This pest was reported in states of Santa Catarina, in 1989 (MENDES et al., 1993), Paraná, in 1994 (IEDE et al., 1998), and in São Paulo, in 2004, and most recently in Minas Gerais, in 2005 (IEDE & ZANETTI, 2007) (Figure 1). Sirex noctilio was reported in four municipalities as Itapeva, Itapirapuã Paulista, Capão Bonito, and Jundiaí, in the state of São Paulo (IEDE; ZANETTI, 2007).

Figure 1
Occurrence of Sirex noctilio in Brazil.

A female lays up to 226 eggs per female and the incubation period ranges from 14 to 28 days, and adult longevity varies between four to five days in Brazil (CARVALHO et al., 1993). After hatching, larvae begin feeding and they bore galleries close to the laying sites. The formation of pupae occurs inside the trunk (IEDE et al., 2015). In general, the pine woodwasp prefers dominated trees, as these trees are stressed and smaller, with a thinner trunk diameter (IEDE et al., 2015), between 7cm and 26cm at breast height (DBH) (NEUMANN et al., 1987), more than eight years old, and these are under stress (IEDE et al., 2015). The adoption of appropriate silvicultural practices to maintain the health and vigor of Pinus plantations is the main principle to prevent severe attacks (IEDE et al., 1998).

The main damage caused by S. noctilio is boring the wood caused by larvae; tree death occurs due to combined action of phytotoxic mucus and pathogenic fungus Amylostereum areolatum (Chaillet ex Fr) Boidin (Russulales: Amylostereaceae) growth (IEDE et al., 1998; NAHRUNG et al., 2016). The most visible external signs are canopy chlorosis, drought, and fall of pine needles, resin beads, and adult emergence holes. These factors affected the wood quality, limiting its use in the market (IEDE et al., 1998). The monitoring of areas infested by S. noctilio is performed by identification of trees with symptoms of external attack by adults, mainly resin beads along the trunk (PENTEADO, 2008). The main management strategy for the pine woodwasp is biological control using nematode Deladenus (= Beddingia) siricidicola Bedding, 1968 (Nematoda: Neothylenchidae), the egg parasitoid Ibalia leucospoides Hochenwarth, 1785 (Hymenoptera: Ibaliidae), and the ectoparasitoids of mature larvae, Megarhyssa nortoni Cresson, 1864 and Rhyssa persuasoria Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) (HURLEY et al., 2007; CAMERON, 2012).

Signs of S.noctilio were reported in an experimental area of Pinus in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, Brazil during the periodic monitoring of leaf-cutting ants in this area (Figure 2). Thus, the aim of this study was to report a new area of occurrence of S. noctilio in São Paulo.

Figure 2
Occurrence of Sirex noctilio in São Paulo State.

A female of S. noctilio was found ovipositing in the trunk of a P. taeda tree (Figure 3), and resin beads were observed in the tree during a control operation of cutting ants in the arboretum of Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (FCA/UNESP) - Campus of Botucatu. This female was collected, fixed, and incorporated in the collection of the Entomological Museum of the Department of Plant Protection in FCA/UNESP.

Figure 3
Resin beads in Pinus taeda caused by S. noctilio in Botucatu, SP, Brazil, October, 2016.

Later, evaluations to find S. noctilio were carried out in other pine species of the arboretum. The Pinus species evaluated were: P. caribaea caribaea, P. caribaea hondurensis, P. caribaea bahamensis, P. oocarpa, and P. elliottii, planted between 1992 and 1999, in blocks of 100 trees (Table 1). Pinus taeda was the only species in the arboretum which was attacked by S. noctilio. Pre-infested trees were evaluated looking for symptoms of canopy chlorosis and dried pine needles, but no symptoms were observed, confirming no fungus colonization in trees.

Table 1
Diameter at breast height (DBH) of Pinus spp. in Botucatu, SP, Brazil (2016).

Species	-----------------Trees with DBH>7cm-----------------		--------------Attacked trees by S. noctilio--------------
	Number of trees	Rate DBH (cm)	Number of trees	Rate DBH (cm)
P. taeda	57	20.9	5	19.48
P. caribaea var. caribaea	32	26.1	-	-
P. caribaea var. hondurensis	52	29.6	-	-
P. caribaea var. bahamensis	15	35.7	-	-
P. elliotti	30	23.4	-	-
P. oocarpa	27	35.7	-	-

Measurements of the diameter at breast height (DBH) were performed on all species of Pinus (Table 1). The average DBH of P. taeda was 20.9cm (Table 1), confirming the preference of the pine woodwasp to oviposite in trees between 8 cm to 26 cm in diameter (NEUMANN, 1987). A total of 57 Pinus trees present in the arboretum, 8.77 % (five trees) showed symptoms of S. noctilio oviposition. The other pine species in the arboretum have larger diameters compared to the P. taeda block (Table 1).

The dispersion of S. noctilio in Botucatu may have been through timber transport, due to the presence of the pest, Pinus spp., in the vicinity of the arboretum. The detection of one female S. noctilio in this municipality occurred in October. In Brazil, the occurrence of pine woodwasp adult pest vary from October to January (CARVALHO et al., 1993).

The detection of a S. noctilio female was recorded in Botucatu, SP, during the estimated period of occurrence of this pest in Brazil. Evolution of the typical symptoms of a S. noctilio attack, such as, drying and death of P. taeda trees in this municipality was not observed. The surveys carried out on pine species of the arboretum will continue in the following years, considering that the establishment of this pest was not confirmed in Botucatu yet.

In this context, population surveys on S. noctilio, in areas with Pinus plantations, in municipalities of the central region of São Paulo (Figure 2) has become necessary, to confirm the possible establishment of this pest and to guide management procedures based on biological control, using natural enemies. In this region there are Pinus plantations for wood and resin production, and the presence of the S. noctilio will cause economic losses for the farmers and forest companies.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (Process: 142131/2012-1), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Programa Cooperativo sobre Proteção Florestal (PROTEF) of the Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais (IPEF) for financial support.

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  CR-2017-0632.R1

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2018

History

• Received
  09 Sept 2017
• Accepted
  27 Oct 2017
• Reviewed
  13 Dec 2017