EFFECTS OF ABIES GRANDIS RESIN ON THE ATTACK BEHAVIOR AND BROOD SURVIVAL OF SCOLYTUS VENTRALIS (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE)

Abstract

Scolytus ventralis females attack their host, Abies grandis, at random in the beginning of the flight period. The success of these attacks, as manifested by the length of the gallery, is determined by the rapidity of the host’s resinous response, attacking females being repelled by resin flow. Aggregation occurs on both resistant and susceptible hosts but is directly associated with the degree of gallery elongation. Resinosis occurring after brood establishment reduces survival, having its greatest impact on the early developmental stages. Mortality from resinosis is inversely related to attack density.