THE BIOLOGY OF IPS CALLIGRAPHUS AND IPS GRANDICOLLIS (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) IN JAMAICA

Abstract

AbstractIps calligraphus (Germar) has previously been recorded from Jamaica but this is the first record of Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) in the island. In Jamaica, both bark beetles attack 5 species of Pinus, 4 of which had not been previously recorded. The beetles thrive mainly on freshly cut logs and weakened trees, but recently they have been rising to economic importance in plantations. Successful attack on live trees is enhanced by mass aggregation of dispersing adults during invasion. Some adults may re-emerge after a phase of oviposition and disperse to new food sources. There is degeneration of flight muscles during oviposition, and regeneration to allow for another dispersive flight. In I. calligraphus attacking Pinus caribaea there was a mean of 26.74 ± 6.86 (mean ± SE) eggs per gallery, while in I. grandicollis there was 19.29 ± 3.04. The proportion of females at emergence was 0.57 ± 0.03 and 0.05 ± 0.02 in I. calligraphus and I. grandicollis, respectively.