Difference of Gall Formation Rates and Parasitic Rates of Thecodiplosis japonensis (Diptera: Ceidomyiidae) Larvae in Pine Forests around Urban and Mountain Villages

Abstract

This study analyzed and compared the damage rate, natural parasitic rate, and the morphological characteristics of Thecodiplosis japonensis larvae, which inhabit forest areas as control areas to large urban areas in 2018 and 2019. This research was conducted to provide basic data for the management of Thecodiplosis japonensis, which harm pine needles, and the results were as follows. First, the gall formation rate of Thecodiplosis japonensis collected from urban areas was upper-crown 35.59% and 34.25%, mid-crown 25.57% and 27.95%, and lower-crown 25.34% and 26.61%; the gall formation rate of Thecodiplosis japonensis was in the order of upper-crown＞mid-crown＞lower-crown in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In the control areas, the gall formation rates of Thecodiplosis japonensis in mountain villages in 2018 and 2019 were upper-crown 17.72% and 21.78%, mid-crown 13.85% and 16.97%, and lower-crown 15.12% and 15.79%; thus, in the order of upper-crown＞lower-crown＞mid-crown. The number of larvae in the galls of needles damaged by Thecodiplosis japonensis was as follows: the average number of larvae in the pine trees of urban areas was 9 and 8 in the upper-crown, 7 and 8 in the mid-crown, and 6 and 7 in the lower-crown respectively. This shows that the number of larvae was fewer in the lower-crown than the upper-crown, and that the number of larvae was higher in 2018 than in 2019. For natural parasitic rate of Thecodiplosis japonensis, the gall formation rate and natural parasitic rate of Thecodiplosis japonensis were surveyed; the natural parasitic rate was 12.5% and 11.8% in urban areas while the rate was 21.7% and 20.9% in mountain villages in respectively in 2018 and 2019.