Pleolophus

Townes, 1962

Pleolophus is a of established by Townes in 1962. are to Europe and have been to North America for of pests. The genus is notable for its ground-dispersing and -dependent discrimination. At least one species, P. basizonus, has been extensively studied for its and behavioral in forest .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pleolophus: //ˌpliːoʊˈloʊfəs//

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Habitat

Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands and forest trees infested by .

Distribution

to Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden recorded); to North America including Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and Michigan in the United States.

Host Associations

Neodiprion swainei Middleton - primary Most abundant for P. basizonus in North America; pest of jack pine
Tenthredinidae - infesting forest trees

Behavior

Females disperse primarily by with a mean speed of 20.9 cm per minute; they do not unless disturbed. Short and water transport while within may contribute to . Females discriminate against parasitized hosts within narrow limits (0.4–1.4 per cocoon). Mutual interference in egg laying occurs at high :host ratios. exhibit density-dependent escape reactions to high parasitoid densities, mediated by recognition of trail odors left by searching females.

Ecological Role

of pests in forest . is proportional to , contributing to natural mortality factors in host . The escape reaction to high parasitoid densities may lead to and occupation of less favorable , creating an apparent density-independent response to host populations.

Human Relevance

Used as a agent. P. basizonus was to Canada between 1939 and 1949 to supplement natural mortality factors in affecting forest trees. Established populations have dispersed up to 172 km from release sites.