Spatial distributions of the European woodwasp (Sirex noctilio) and native mortality agents at a pine plantation in the Adirondacks

The non-native European woodwasp (Sirex noctilio) has caused considerable economic damage in pine plantations in the Southern Hemisphere and has recently established in northeastern North America. In New York State, it is currently an innocuous forest insect pest and primarily attacks stressed or surpressed Scott's (Pinus sylvestris) and red pine (P. resinosa). A leading hypothesis for its limited success in the northeast is that direct and indirect interactions with native pine mortality agents negatively affect development of S. noctilio.  Here, we model the spatial distribution and co-occurance of S. noctilio, native insects, and fungal pathogens. We conducted annual fall surveys at a pine plantation in the Adirondacks over a four year period to identify the location and composition of pine mortality agents. We test if S. noctilio occurs more or less frequently with co-colonizing bark beetles, woodborers, and native fungi, Armillaria mellea and Heterobasidion annosum. We analyze across-stand and within-tree patterns and how they co-vary with environmental and biotic parameters.