Effect of Pinewood Nematode Density on Tethered Flight of Monochamus carolinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

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Abstract
Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier) beetles infested with the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, were tethered and flown upon emergence from host logs. The mean (±SD) number of nematodes carried per beetle was 7,933 (±16,997) with a mean flight time of 18.6 (±11.4) min. Larger beetles exhibited longer flights and carried more nematodes. The density of nematodes in the beetle had a slight negative influence on flight capability. The sex of the beetle had no effect on flight duration or the number of nematodes carried.