Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)

Eastern larch beetle Dendroctonus simplex LeConte has been outbreaking for the past two decades in the Great Lakes region of North America, impacting approximately 400,000 hectares of eastern larch Larix laricina (tamarack) forest in Minnesota, United States, alone. Range expansions of some Dendroct...

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Main Authors: Rose M. Picklo, Erika Eidson, Brytten Steed, Brian H. Aukema
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1490888/full
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author Rose M. Picklo
Erika Eidson
Brytten Steed
Brian H. Aukema
author_facet Rose M. Picklo
Erika Eidson
Brytten Steed
Brian H. Aukema
author_sort Rose M. Picklo
collection DOAJ
description Eastern larch beetle Dendroctonus simplex LeConte has been outbreaking for the past two decades in the Great Lakes region of North America, impacting approximately 400,000 hectares of eastern larch Larix laricina (tamarack) forest in Minnesota, United States, alone. Range expansions of some Dendroctonus species driven by climate change have occurred across North America as rising temperatures increase climatically suitable habitats across latitudes and elevations. The range of eastern larch beetle is currently sympatric to that of its host, eastern larch, but the insect could, in theory, eventually access ranges of other species of Larix native to North America. We compared host suitability of two potential novel hosts, western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larch (Larix lyalli Parl.) against the beetle’s native host, eastern larch, using a reproductive success experiment conducted in cut bolts of all three species. We measured fertility, maternal gallery length, and offspring size and lipid content as metrics of reproductive success. We found beetles could reproduce in both novel Larix species, with subalpine larch having high levels of success compared to the beetle’s native host, eastern larch. These findings suggest that subalpine larch may be at risk should a range expansion of eastern larch beetle occur.
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spelling doaj-art-ca57b4788e7a4837a8e6afab35a087562024-11-19T14:29:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2024-11-01710.3389/ffgc.2024.14908881490888Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)Rose M. Picklo0Erika Eidson1Brytten Steed2Brian H. Aukema3Aukema Forest Entomology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United StatesIdaho Department of Lands, Forest Health, Coeur d'Alene, ID, United StatesUnited States Forest Service, R1/R4 Forest Health Protection, Missoula, MT, United StatesAukema Forest Entomology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United StatesEastern larch beetle Dendroctonus simplex LeConte has been outbreaking for the past two decades in the Great Lakes region of North America, impacting approximately 400,000 hectares of eastern larch Larix laricina (tamarack) forest in Minnesota, United States, alone. Range expansions of some Dendroctonus species driven by climate change have occurred across North America as rising temperatures increase climatically suitable habitats across latitudes and elevations. The range of eastern larch beetle is currently sympatric to that of its host, eastern larch, but the insect could, in theory, eventually access ranges of other species of Larix native to North America. We compared host suitability of two potential novel hosts, western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larch (Larix lyalli Parl.) against the beetle’s native host, eastern larch, using a reproductive success experiment conducted in cut bolts of all three species. We measured fertility, maternal gallery length, and offspring size and lipid content as metrics of reproductive success. We found beetles could reproduce in both novel Larix species, with subalpine larch having high levels of success compared to the beetle’s native host, eastern larch. These findings suggest that subalpine larch may be at risk should a range expansion of eastern larch beetle occur.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1490888/fullbark beetlenovel hosthost screeningrange expansionLarix laricina
spellingShingle Rose M. Picklo
Erika Eidson
Brytten Steed
Brian H. Aukema
Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
bark beetle
novel host
host screening
range expansion
Larix laricina
title Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
title_full Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
title_fullStr Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
title_full_unstemmed Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
title_short Eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte) as a potential threat to western (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) and subalpine larches (Larix lyalli Parl.)
title_sort eastern larch beetle dendroctonus simplex leconte as a potential threat to western larix occidentalis nutt and subalpine larches larix lyalli parl
topic bark beetle
novel host
host screening
range expansion
Larix laricina
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1490888/full
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