ABSTRACT
Northern Red Oak, Quercus rubra L., is an important component in the upland oak forests in the eastern United States. Because information on the insects associated with Q. rubra is fragmented and often incomplete, the objective of this study was to survey the insect fauna at three sites (Beetree Ridge, Mt. Sterling, Rich Mt.) in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in 1992-95, and at one site at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in 2001. These four sites represent elevation gradients ranging from 262-1465 meters. The canopy of one randomly selected tree per site was sampled monthly using a Dyna-fog Golden Eagle fogger. Specimens (<16,000) were collected, processed, and identified with data recorded into a Biota® database for the sampling periods. Species diversity was assessed using the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index. Highest species diversity and abundance was recorded for Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera, respectively. Of the 163 species identified, the highest number specimens (42.2% of total collected) was obtained at the Rich Mt. site (841 meters). Specimens of the Asiatic oak weevil (Cyrtepistomus castaneus (Roelofs)) comprised 17.8% of all specimens collected. Results of this study may be helpful in developing management strategies in northern red oak dominated forests to enhance Tennessee forests.
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA