Effects of two species of cerambycid beetles, tribe Lamiini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), on the phoretic stage formation of two species of nematodes, genus Bursaphelenchus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae)

Abstract

We examined the effects of vector cerambycid beetles, tribe Lamiini, on the formation of the phoretic stages of Bursaphelenchus conicaudatus and B. luxuriosae, using a new, simple nematode-loading method. Fourth-stage dis persal juveniles (JIV) of B. conicaudatus and a putative “entomoparasitic adult form”(PA) of B. luxuriosae are vectored by Psacothea hilaris and Acalolepta luxuriosa, respectively. Bursaphelenchus conicaudatus JIV and B. luxuriosae PA developed in the presence of their vector beetles, and were not recorded without those beetles. We concluded that the presence of vector beetles affected the life cycle strategy of B. conicaudatus and B. luxuriosae.