Habitat selection by Passaloecus spp. based upon tree species used as stations for artificial nesting sites were studied. Data suggest that Passaloecus areolatus preferred Juglans and that P. cuspidatus preferred Pinus

Fricke, John M

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John M Fricke

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Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by \u3ci\u3ePassaloecus\u3c/i\u3e Species (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

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The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 25 Number 1 - Spring 1992 Number 1 - Spring 1992 Article 8 April 1992 Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by Passaloecus Species (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) John M. Fricke Concordia College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Fricke, John M. 1992. "Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by Passaloecus Species (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 25 (1) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol25/iss1/8 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 1992 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 51 INFLUENCE OF TREE SPECIES ON FREQUENCY OF TRAP-NEST USE BY PASSALOECUS SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE) John M. Frickel ABSTRACT Habitat selection by Passaloecus spp. based upon tree species used as sta­tions for artificial nesting sites were studied. Data suggest that Passaloecus areolatus preferred Juglans and that P. cuspi atus preferred Pinus. Wasps of the genus Passaloecus (Pemphredoninae) nest in hollow twigs or in beetle borings in wood, provisioning their cells with paralyzed aphids (Bohart and Menke 1976). Little is known about the ecological differences between sympatric species. The importance of habitat, such as trees to which trap-nest bundles are attached, has received little attention in previous research on the biology of Passaloecus spp. (Danks 1971, Fye 1965, Krombein 1967, Vincent 1978). Tree species might be important to these wasps for several reasons: the presence of suitable prey (e.g., aphids), availability of appropriate nesting cavities aside from trap-nests, a d availability of closure materials. METHODS AND MATERIALS Trap-nesting biology of Passaloecus spp. was investigated from 1984 through 1987 on the campus of Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Fricke 1991b). Trap-nest stations were established in a mixed hardwood for­est edge between a smaIl red pine plantation and an old field. The long axis of the edge ran from north-west to south-east. Bundles of trap-nests were posi­tioned so hat bore openings faced north-west, north-east, south-east, and south-west. Trap-nests were arranged in bundles presenting a mixture of regu­lar and randomized patterns of drilled and blank trap-nest faces. Trap-nest design has been previously described (Fricke 1991a). Bore diameters, bundle configurations, tree species, and bundle heights are summarized in Table 1.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Data from trap-nesting studies were examined for the possible influence of tree species on the selection of nesting sites by Passaloecus spp. In 1984, all trap-nesting stations were Juglans, and P. cuspidatus Smith was the only Passaloecus observed an  reared. In 1986, 19 stations were Juglans and INatural Science and Mathematics Division, Concordia College, Ann Arbor. MI 48105. 1Fricke: Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by <i>PasPublished by ValpoScholar, 199252 THE GREAT LAKES EN'IDMOLOGIST Vol. 25, No.1 Table 1. - Bore diameters, bundle configurations, tree species, and bundle heights used instudies of Passaloecus spp. trap·nesting biology, 1984-1987. Bore Number of Bundles and Tree Year Diameters Bundle Configuration Species Bundle Heights 1984a 3.2-4.8 nun 48 (3 X 3) Juglans 0.5-1.5 m 1984b 3.2-8.0 nun 17 (3 X 3) Juglans 0.5-1.5 m 1986a 1.6-4.8 nun 96 (3 X 4) Juglans 0.5-2.0m Populus Fraxinus Prunus 1986b 1.6-4.8 nun 36 (3 X 4) Juglans 1.0-9.0m Fagus 1987 2.4-7.2 mm 147 (3 X ) Juglans 0.75-1.75 m Pinus another 9 stations were distributed as follows: 5 Fraxinu , 1 Prunu.s, 2 Popu­lus, and 1 Fagus. Thirty trap-nests were provisioned by P. cuspidatus; 18 by P. monilicomis Dahlbom; 6 by P. annulatus (Say), and 51 by P. areolatus Vincent. Chi-square (X2) (I) was used to test for differences in Passaloecus spp. tree selection between Juglans and all other tree species. The expected frequencies were based upon station deployment frequencies: Juglans (67.86%) ana others (32.14%). Observed and expected frequencies of tree selection are given in Table 2. The X2 statistic indicated th  the differences in distribution of Pa sa­loecus spp. among these trees was not random. These data suggest that P.areolatus has a strong preference for Juglans; few were observed on other trees. Data from four stations (3 Juglans and 1 Fagus) with bundles of trap-nests distributed at 1 meter intervals o a height of 9 m were particularly interest­ing. Each bundle consisted of 12 trap-nests in a 3X4 confIguration; hence each tree received 108 trap-nests. Of 432 trap-nests, 259 were used by trap-nesting wasps nd bees. Respective frequencies of trap-nest use at these stations were 75, 71, 52 (Juglans), and 61 (Fagus). The chi-square test indicated no signifi­cant difference in the frequency of trap-nest use among these trees by either wasps or bees. However, 55 trap-nests were provisioned by Passaloecus spp. determined by closure materials, aphid remains, and prepupae. P. areolatuswas found in 40 trap-nests and P. cuspidatus was found in 5 trap-nests. The respective distribution of Passaklecus among these trees was 17, 28, 10 (Juglans), and 0 (Fagus). While 61 trap-nests were provisioned by trap-nesting wasps and bees at the Fagus station, none was used byPassaloecus. The X2 II) test for differences in frequency of habitat selection among tree species by Passaloecus was highly significant (X2 =30.03, df =3, p .001). Competition is an unlikely explanation for the absence of Passaloecus from the Fagus station. The arrays of trap-nest users, other than Passaklecus spp., among these sta­tions were similar. Other factors may account for the absence of Passaloecus Table 2. - Tree selection by three Passaloecus species, 1986. JuglansPassaloecus species Obs. Exp. cuspidatus 18 20.36 monilicomis 16 12.21 areolatus 49 34.61 X2 - 23.66, df -2, P < .0005 2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 25, No. 1 [1992], Art. 8https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol25/iss1/81992 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 53 Table 3. -Tree species frequency and equency of trap-nest use by Passaloecus cuspidatus, 1987_ Tree species Pinus Juglans Fraxinus Others Tree Frequency Use Frequency 14 (28.57%) 55 (66.27%) 22 (44.90%) 19 (22.89%) 8 (16.33%) 5 (6.02%) 5 (10.20%) 4 (4.82%) X2 57.99, df = 3, p < .0005 spp. from Fagus, e.g. a lack of natural nesting cavities, lack of appropriate closure material (resin, frass, and loose bark), or absence of aphids. During the 1987 season th  establishment of trap-nesting stations was based upon the relative abundance of tree species at the study site. This differed significantly from station selection in 1986, when Pinus were system­atically excluded. Tree species distribution for 49 trap-nesting stations estab­lished in 1987 was: Pinus-14, Juglans 22, Fraxinus-8, and others (Ulmus, Acer, and Populus) -5. The respective frequencies of trap-nest use by P. cuspi­datus among these trees were: Pinus-55, Juglans-19, Fraxinus-5, and others-4 (Table 3). The chi-square (I) t st statistic indicated a highly signifi­cant habitat selection among tree species by P. cuspidatus. Pinus stations were clearly preferred by this sphecid. LITERATURE CITED Bohart, R. M. and A. S. Menke. 1976. Sphecid wasps of the World. University of California Press, ix + 695 pp. Danks, J. V. 1971. Biology of some stem-nesting aculeate Hymenoptera. Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London. 122:323-399. Fricke, J. M. 1991a. A trap-nest design for small trap-nesting Hymenoptera. Great Lakes EntomoL 24(2):121-122. Fricke, J. M. 1991b. Trap-nest bore diameter preferences among sympatric Passaloecus spp. (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Great Lakes Entomol. 24:123-125. Fye. R. E. 1965. The biology of the Vespidae. Pompilidae and Sphecidae from trapnests in northwestern Ontario. Canadian Ent. 97:716-744. Krombein. K V_ 1967. Trap-nesting Wasps and Bees: Life Histories, Nests, and Associ­ates. Smithsonian Press, Washington D.C. vi + 570 pp. Vincent, D. L. 1978. A revision of the genus Passaloecus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in America north of Mexico.Wasmann J. BioI. 36:127-198. 3Fricke: Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by <i>PasPublished by ValpoScholar, 1992

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Influence of Tree Species on Frequency of Trap-Nest Use by \u3ci\u3ePassaloecus\u3c/i\u3e Species (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

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