Hurricanes and phytophagous insects: Disturbance effects on the abundance of an invasive insect

Abstract

Hurricanes are known to affect plants and animals and their interactions. Usually, hurricanes defoliate trees and reduce the abundance and density of arthropods. The parasitic arthropod Holopothrips tabebuia was first reported in Puerto Rico in 2006. By 2007, it had established populations on two hosts: Tabebuia aurea and Tabebuia heterophylla. In September 2017, Hurricane María defoliated both hosts. This study aimed to determine the effects of a powerful hurricane on the abundance of this parasite and its relationship with its hosts. Although Hurricane María caused greater defoliation in T. aurea than in T. heterophylla, the post-hurricane abundances and densities of the parasite were much lower in both hosts. A negative correlation between the damage to the host caused by the hurricane and the infestation by the parasite was found. Evidence supports that hurricanes indeed have a negative effect on the dynamics of H. tabebuia and its relationship with its hosts.