Quantifying emergence phenology of the exotic European woodwasp (Sirex noctilio F.) and its parasitoids in North America

The invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, has had a devastating impact on commercial pine plantations wherever it has been introduced in the southern hemisphere. Since its first detection in North America 5 years ago, it subsequently has been found in four states and two Canadian provinces. Previous research based on trap captures of adults has described seasonal abundance of Sirex noctilio but the low resolution of this approach leaves many questions about phenology unanswered. To develop predictive phenological models for S. noctilio and its parasitoids, we cut nine 0.5-meter bolts from fifteen trees each of the two major hosts, red pine (P. resinosa) and Scot’s pine (P. sylvestris) from two sites across New York in early spring. Bolts were placed in rearing tubes in an outdoor insectary at ambient environmental conditions. Emergence of Sirex adults and its parasitoids were recorded daily through the duration of the flight season. Temperature data was collected from on-site data-loggers and used to develop phenological models.