Intra- and interspecific variations in flight performance of oak-associated Agrilinae (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) using computerised flight mills

Abstract

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWSeveral Agrilinae species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are secondary pests of broadleaf forests, and some of them are also major invasive pests. These thermophilous borers are expected to be favoured by climate change and the global deterioration of forest health, and ultimately expand their range and damage. Flight behaviour and performance of these insects are poorly known despite their critical role in dispersal inside and outside native ranges and their relevance for management purposes. This study aimed to assess intra- and interspecific variability in active flight of several Agrilinae species and effects of sex and mass on this variability to contribute to filling this gap. We assessed the flight performance of eleven species associated with oaks (nine Agrilus, one Coraebus and one Meliboeus) plus one Agrilus species associated with the herbaceous layer. Computer-monitored flight mills were used to measure flight parameters, including periods, durations, distances and velocity in 250 beetles. Overall, flight capacities were rather homogeneous among species, with a dominance of poor flyers and only Coraebus undatus showed outstanding performance. Beetles generally performed several short flight bouts within one trial, and only a few individuals sustained long flight. The maximal total distance covered across multiple assays until death ranged from 170 to 16 097 m depending on the species, with a median between 35 and 966 m (excluding individuals that never flew). On top of this interspecific variability, flight distances also varied greatly among individuals, but were not influenced by sex. Preflight body mass had mixed effects depending on the species, presumably related to different dispersal patterns. In our experimental conditions, most species had limited average dispersal capacities over multiple flight trials. Overall, dispersal over long distances and colonisation events probably depend mainly on a small proportion of individuals which largely exceeded the median performance.