Susceptibility of Trees to Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Abstract
Loblolly and shortleaf pines on one study site in the North Carolina piedmont were subjected to attack by varying numbers of southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann. Shortleaf pines appeared to be the more susceptible host on this site. Resin flow rate was significantly lower and length of the hypersensitive lesion resulting from inoculation of the trees with the blue-staining fungus Ceratocystis minor (Hedgecock) Hunt was significantly longer in shortleaf pines successfully attacked by 2,000 SPB compared with shortleaf pines unsuccessfully attacked by 2,000 SPB. Loblolly pines attacked by ca. 2,000 SPB had similar resin flow rates and longer hypersensitive lesions than did shortleaf pines unsuccessfully attacked by 2,000 beetles. Overall, shortleaf pines either had a high resin flow rate or a long hypersensitive response, whereas in loblolly pines, the two variables were positively correlated.

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