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1. Competition and predation are important components of biotic resistance, which helps define the invasibility of an ecosystem. 2. To search for evidence of biotic resistance to the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, in North America, cages were used to experimentally exclude the community of associates (natural enemies and competitors) from infested logs. Specifically, the study assessed S. noctilio brood production in pine forests in Ontario and New York, where there was a rich existing community of associates (other wood borers, bark beetles and associated fungi, and parasitoids), and in South Africa, where siricid wasps and pines are not native and a similar associate community is not present. In addition, in Ontario, associates were excluded by size, and for different periods of time to identify important associates and their temporal dynamics. 3. Evidence was found that biotic factors limit S. noctilio in North America, whereby exclusion of natural enemies and competitors had a positive influence on the abundance or presence of S. noctilio brood in Ontario and New York. This influence was absent in South Africa. 4. It is unclear which member(s) of the associated insect community in North America were most important in limiting S. noctilio brood production, although they probably acted quickly (< 2 weeks) following S. noctilio oviposition. 5. Further study is needed to determine whether associates have limited S. noctilio populations in pine forests throughout northeastern North America, and which specific natural enemies and/or competitors are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of temporal interactions between native insects and alien invaders can be facilitated by the ability to forecast adult emergence. We used field-collected adult emergence data of Sirex noctilio Fabricius ( Hymenoptera: Siricidae), a woodwasp native of Eurasia that has recently invaded northeastern North America, and Sirex nigricornis Fabricius, a woodwasp native to North America, to develop and test cumulative degree-day ( CDD) models. Five data sets were collected each in Ontario, Canada ( S. noctilio) and Louisiana, USA ( S. nigricornis) over 4 years; three data sets were used to develop models and two were used to test them. Males and females of each species were modelled separately. After testing several potential temperatures, chosen thresholds for CDD were 0 °C lower threshold and 25 °C upper threshold for both Sirex spp. We used a three-parameter Gompertz growth function to model Sirex spp. emergence against CDD. Models predicted 10% emergence of S. noctilio in Ontario after 1 239 and 1 280 CDD, for males (start date = 1 April; R2 = 0.91) and females (start date = 1 April; R2 = 0.86), respectively. Models predicted 10% emergence of S. nigricornis in Louisiana after 3 980 and 5 016 CDD, for males (start date = 1 May; R2 = 0.83) and females (start date = 1 March; R2 = 0.73), respectively. Cumulative degree-day models predicted 10 and 90% emergence of woodwasp populations with less error (1-13%) than they did 50% emergence (5-27%). For both Sirex spp., male emergence began a few days before and concluded at about the same time as that of females. In southern Ontario, models predict that S. noctilio adults will be in flight between 1 015 and 2 430 CDD (1 April start date for CDD; from early- July until mid- September). In Louisiana, models predict that S. nigricornis adults will be in flight between 3 854 and 4 700 CDD (1 May start date for CDD; from early- October until late- November). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]