Heavy metal concentrations in males and females of three pine diprionids (Hymenoptera)

Authors

• Kari Heliövaara
• Rauno Väisänen
• Eero Kemppi
• Martin Lodenius

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33338/ef.83479

Abstract

Heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Fe, Ni, Cd) in the cocoons of three gregarious pine diprionids, Gilpinia socia, Diprion pini and Neodiprion sertifer, were compared between the species and sexes. The sawflies were reared in the laboratory in colonies from the first instar larvae, being fed on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestis) needles collected from a heavily polluted or a relatively unpolluted site. The levels of copper, iron and nickel were two to three times as high in N. sertifer as in the two other species. Cadmium showed bioaccumulation in all three species. In N. sertifur and G. socia reared on polluted needles, the metal concentrations were higher in males than in females.