The effects of the wood-boring Oncideres humeralis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) on the number and size structure of its host-plants in south-east Brazil

Abstract

Beetles of the family Cerambycidae can girdle stems and larvae bore live or dead stems of their host plants (Linsley 1961), and when they use active tissues (e.g. xylem), can affect the development and survivorship of their hosts (Nowak et al. 2001). Moreover, borer attack can rapidly stress host plants (Matter 2001), often killing them (Nowak et al. 2001). Consequently, they can cause changes in size structure of the plant population, depending on the intensity of attack and plant survival rates (Caraglio et al. 2001). Cerambycids of the genus Oncideres (Lamiinae) present the most specialized behaviour in host-plant use, in which the female cuts stems with its mandibles and prepares the oviposition site above the cut portion by perforating the bark and then inserting eggs (Caraglio et al. 2001, Rice 1989, 1995).