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<p>The rising temperatures and declining precipitation in Copperbelt province are linked to shifts in the population dynamics of major insect species, including stem borers, such as <i>Phoracantha</i> beetles. However, the temporal patterns of interactions between climate fluctuations and beetle population dynamics through oviposition are still poorly understood as they are understudied. The present study assessed the effects of meteorological variables on <i>Phoracantha</i> beetle oviposition over four (4) years (2016–2019) in planted Eucalyptus plantation within Chati Forest Reserve, a forest important for provision of products and services, such as timber, fuel, raw material, food and medicine contributing to the livelihood and income of rural communities. The forest also provides environmental regulating services (carbon storage and sequestration) in the Copperbelt region. The oviposition process was evaluated through counting of the laid eggs collected using the fiber strip traps method, while inference on the influence of meteorological factors was drawn using data obtained from local weather stations. Results revealed a strong positive Spearman correlation (<i>r</i> = 0.6877, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) of egg abundance with temperature among the studied climatic factors. Although to a lesser extent, relative humidity (<i>r</i> = 0.22, <i>p</i>&lt;0.05) precipitation (<i>r</i> = 0.3726, <i>p</i>&lt;0.05) and evapotranspiration (<i>r</i> = 0.3534, <i>p</i>&lt; 0.05) showed weak relationship to oviposition. The influence of climatic factors on beetle fecundity considerably varied across seasons, with more favorable conditions for beetles’ proliferation found in February and December, while June and July appear the lesser favorable months in the conditions of the study area. The effects of climate variables on beetle oviposition appear to increase gradually from one year to another during the studied periods. The findings of the current study provide useful insights for the broader understanding of the potential effects of climatic factors that influence <i>Phoracantha</i> beetle outbreaks and their variability in space and time in Chati Forest Reserve, which could help in developing contextualized pest management strategies.</p>

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Effects of meteorological variables on the oviposition of Phoracantha species in planted Eucalyptus grandis trees in Copperbelt province, Zambia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月29日

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  • Obote Shakacite,
  • Vincent R. Nyirenda,
  • Jules Christian Zekeng,
  • Theodore M. Mwamba,
  • Stephen Syampungani

摘要

The rising temperatures and declining precipitation in Copperbelt province are linked to shifts in the population dynamics of major insect species, including stem borers, such as Phoracantha beetles. However, the temporal patterns of interactions between climate fluctuations and beetle population dynamics through oviposition are still poorly understood as they are understudied. The present study assessed the effects of meteorological variables on Phoracantha beetle oviposition over four (4) years (2016–2019) in planted Eucalyptus plantation within Chati Forest Reserve, a forest important for provision of products and services, such as timber, fuel, raw material, food and medicine contributing to the livelihood and income of rural communities. The forest also provides environmental regulating services (carbon storage and sequestration) in the Copperbelt region. The oviposition process was evaluated through counting of the laid eggs collected using the fiber strip traps method, while inference on the influence of meteorological factors was drawn using data obtained from local weather stations. Results revealed a strong positive Spearman correlation (r = 0.6877, p < 0.05) of egg abundance with temperature among the studied climatic factors. Although to a lesser extent, relative humidity (r = 0.22, p<0.05) precipitation (r = 0.3726, p<0.05) and evapotranspiration (r = 0.3534, p< 0.05) showed weak relationship to oviposition. The influence of climatic factors on beetle fecundity considerably varied across seasons, with more favorable conditions for beetles’ proliferation found in February and December, while June and July appear the lesser favorable months in the conditions of the study area. The effects of climate variables on beetle oviposition appear to increase gradually from one year to another during the studied periods. The findings of the current study provide useful insights for the broader understanding of the potential effects of climatic factors that influence Phoracantha beetle outbreaks and their variability in space and time in Chati Forest Reserve, which could help in developing contextualized pest management strategies.