Space-time interactions between gypsy moth and associated entomopathogens in newly established populations

TL;DRAbstract

Two major pathogens infect gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.) [Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae]) in North America: the gypsy moth nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) and the fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga. Both pathogens can regulate gypsy moth populations, minimize the duration and intensity of gypsy moth outbreaks, and thus be important biological control agents. However, limited empirical studies exist on how long it takes these pathogens to follow gypsy moth invasions. This issue is of particular importance for areas newly colonized by the gypsy moth and has broader implications in the context of natural enemy-victim interactions. We conducted field studies in Wisconsin in 2005, 2006, and 2007 along the leading edge of the gypsy moth population front to quantify the temporal and spatial lag between newly established gypsy moth populations and presence of E. maimaiga and LdMNPV. Prior-year gypsy moth density was a significant predictor of E. maimaiga (P<0.01) and LdMNPV (P=0.04) presence,

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper