SEASONAL ECOLOGY OF THE EUROPEAN CRANE FLY < TIPULA PALUDOSA) AND SPECIES DIVERSITY OF THE FAMILY TIPULIDAE ON GOLF COURSES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA

The European crane fly (ECF), Tipula paludosa Meigen (Diptera: Tipulidae), has been reported in several new sites in North America recently, and has been described as an insect pest on golf courses in several areas. This study was conducted from 2003 and 2004 on four golf courses located in the Quebec City area (Canada) with the objectives to identity Tipulidae assemblages to species level and to determine the spatial distribution and temporal occurrence of the ECF. Larvae, pupae and adults were scouted weekly from May to early Oct. A total of 35 species of Tipulidae,' representing four genera, were identified. Two new species were recorded for Quebec, Nephrotoma cornicina L., and the Marsh crane fly Tipula oleracea L. ECF was the predominant species found on all sites, accounting for 43-92% of the total number of specimens collected at each golf course. ECF completed one generation per year. In our study, the fourth larval instar was sampled from mid-May to early Sept and adult peak emergence occurred during mid-Sept. Larval density varied among golf course management areas, with larvae being uncommon on tees and greens and most abundant on roughs. A principal component analysis using varimax rotation showed that larval abundance was positively related to silt, clay, Ca, Cu, K, and Mg, and negatively related to sand and uncompressed thatch thickness. This study indicates that the ECF is currently the only Tipulidae species causing turfgrass damage on golf courses in Quebec. Abbreviations: ANSP Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; ECF, European crane fly; F, fairway; G, green; GC, golf course; R, rough bordering fairway; GShigh, highest portion of green surrounds; GSlow lowest portion of green surrounds; TShigh, highest portion of tee surrounds; TSlow, lowest portion of tee surrounds; and T, tee.