Influences of Post-fires on Subsequent Population of Japanese Pine Sawyer Beetles, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Masson Pine Forests

[Objective]Both fire and insect outbreaks are considered as important natural disturbance factors in many forest ecosystems,yet few studies have addressed the effects of fires on subsequent insect outbreaks.[Method]In this paper,tree mortality,larval density and vertical distribution were measured through field investigation and sampling method to evaluate the short-term response of Japanese pine sawyer beetle,Monochamus alternatus Hope to Masson pine,Pinus massoniana Lamb.in the second year after the fire in Jiangxi Province,China.[Results]compared with unburned Masson pine forest,burned Masson pine forest suffered from higher tree mortality and more pine trees were attacked by M.alternatus.Burned Masson pine tended to harbor much higher larval density further up along the trunk than unburned pine trees,and most individuals distributed in the middle section and middle-lower section of the trunk.[Significance]The results confirmed that Masson pine forest after being damaged by non-lethal fires were more susceptible to attacks by Japanese pine sawyer beetles,displaying higher population density and higher vertical distribution position.The study will provide an important guideline for the managers of Masson pine forests suffering from fires and pest invaded areas.