Impacts of biotic and abiotic variation within and among trees on body
size, sex ratio, and survival in immature stages of the European
woodwasp, Sirex noctilio
Abstract
Resource quality has direct or indirect effects on female oviposition
choice, offspring performance, and ultimately on body size and sex
ratios. We examined these patterns in Sirex noctilio Fabricus, the
globally invasive European pine woodwasp, in South African Pinus patula
plantations. We studied how natural variation in biotic and abiotic
factors influenced sex-specific density, larval growth rates, and
survival. Twenty trees infested trees divided into top, middle, and
bottom sections were sampled at three time points during larval
developmental. We measured moisture content, bluestain colonization, and
co-occurring insect density and counted, measured, and sexed all
immature wasps. A subset of larval tunnels was measured to assess
compensatory feeding and growth efficiency. Wasp density increased from
the bottoms to the tops of trees for both males and females. However,
the largest individuals and the longest tunnels were found in bottom
sections. Male bias was strong (~10:1) and likewise
differed among sections, with the highest proportion in the middle and
top sections. Sex ratios became more strongly male biased due to high
female mortality, especially in top and middle logs. Biotic and abiotic
factors such as colonization by Diplodia sapinea, weevil (Pissodes spp.)
density, and wood moisture explained modest residual variation in our
primary mixed effects models, generally between 6-12%. These findings
contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of sex-specific
resource quality for S. noctilio and of how variation in key biotic and
abiotic factors can influence body size, sex ratio and survival in this
economically important woodwasp.