Host plant selection by Cerambycidae in two different strata in association with seasonality and physical wood characteristics in a tropical dry forest

Abstract

Abstract1. There is little information on tropical dry forests regarding cerambycids and their relationship with seasonality, vertical stratification, and physical characteristics of the wood they require to develop.2. In this work, we determined whether cerambycids in a tropical dry forest of central Mexico differed in the selection of oviposition sites in two different strata throughout two seasons; the relationship between the time of exposure of branches and the emergence of cerambycids; the emergence of these insects in relation to the physical characteristics of the wood and its relationship with stratification and seasonality; and if there was a seasonal shift between strata by cerambycids. Branch segments from 81 woody plant species were cut and exposed to allow the cerambycids to oviposit; the branches were harvested in four 2‐month periods and placed in emergence chambers. For each plant species, we measured the density, decomposition rate, and offered volume of wood.3. There was a greater quantity of generalist species of stratum (15) and season (12), and we found six important habitat indicator species: three species were significantly associated with the canopy and the dry season, two species preferred the dry season but not strata, and one species preferred both strata in the dry season and the ground during the rainy season. Cerambycid species generally selected soft and ephemeral wood resources.4. Branch selection by cerambycids in Central Mexico is not random choice; it is determined by season, stratum, density, and especially by host type, decomposition, and volume. Finally, there is a greater abundance of cerambycids in the ground and a greater richness of species in the canopy.