Abstract:
Resource quality can have direct or indirect effects on female oviposition choice, offspring growth and survival, and ultimately on body size and sex ratio. We examined
these patterns in Sirex noctilio Fabricus, the globally invasive European pine woodwasp, in South African Pinus patula plantations. We studied how tree position as well
as natural variation in biotic and abiotic factors influenced sex-specific density, larval
size, tunnel length, male proportion, and survival across development. Twenty infested trees divided into top, middle, and bottom sections were sampled at three
time points during larval development. We measured moisture content, bluestain
fungal colonization, and co-occurring insect density and counted, measured, and
sexed all immature wasps. A subset of larval tunnels was measured to assess tunnel
length and resource use efficiency (tunnel length as a function of immature wasp
size). 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
sections. Biotic and abiotic factors such as colonization by Diplodia sapinea, weevil
(Pissodes sp.) density, and wood moisture explained modest residual variation in our
primary mixed effects models (0%–22%). 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.
