Distribution and Trophic Associations of Herbivorous Bark Beetles of the Genus Thamnurgus Eichhoff (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the Volga Region and in the Urals

Entomological Review - Based on the author’s and literature data, three species of the scolytid genus Thamnurgus Eichhoff, 1864 associated with herbaceous plants are reported from the Volga...     

Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae) of Northwest Russia: History of the Study,Composition and Genesis of the Fauna

Entomological Review - An essay of the fauna of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in five federal subjects of Northwest Russia is presented. The species composition of scolytids...     

Taxonomic changes in palaeotropical Xyleborini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Following the recent reclassification of the Palaeotropic xyleborine genera (Hulcr and Cognato in press), additional species are transferred to correct genera or synonymized based on analysis of their morphological characters. The following species are given new combinations: Debus amphicranoides (Hagedorn), comb. n., Debus birmanus (Eggers, 1930), comb. n., Debus dolosus (Blandford, 1896), comb. n., Debus eximius (Schedl, 1970), comb. n., Debus interponens (Schedl, 1954), comb. n., Debus robustipennis (Schedl, 1954), comb. n., Debus spinatus (Eggers, 1923), comb. n., Microperus alpha (Beeson, 1929), comb. n., Microperus corporaali (Eggers), comb. n., Microperus eucalyptica (Schedl, 1938), comb. n., Microperus nugax (Schedl, 1939), comb. n., Pseudowebbia percorthylus (Schedl, 1935), comb. n., Truncaudum circumcinctus (Schedl, 1941), comb. n.THE FOLLOWING SPECIES ARE SYNONYMIZED: Arixyleborus hirtipennis (Eggers), syn. n., with Arixyleborus puberulus (Blandford); Coptoborus palmeri (Hopkins), syn. n., with Debus emarginatus (Eichhoff); Coptoborus terminaliae (Hopkins), syn. n., with Debus emarginatus (Eichhoff); Cyclorhipidion polyodon (Eggers), syn. n., with Truncaudum agnatum (Eggers); Euwallacea artelaevis (Schedl), syn. n., with Planiculus bicolor (Blandford); Xyleborinus perminutissimus (Schedl), syn. n., with Xyleborinus perpusillus (Eggers); Xyleborus exesus Blandford, syn. n., with Debus emarginatus (Eichhoff); Xyleborus fulvulus (Schedl), syn. n., with Microperus corporaali (Eggers); Xyleborus marginicollis (Schedl), syn. n., with Diuncus justus (Schedl); Xyleborus shoreae Stebbing, syn. n., with Debus fallax (Eichhoff).THE FOLLOWING SPECIES ARE GIVEN NEW STATUS: Streptocranus superbus (Schedl, 1951), restored name; Webbia divisus Browne, 1972, restored name; Webbia penicillatus (Hagedorn, 1910), restored name. Genus Taphrodasus Wood (1980) is declared not valid.     

Evaluating the Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi against the Bark Beetle,Ips stebbingi Strohmeyer (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in India

The bark beetle, Ips stebbingi Strohmeyer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is one of the most serious pests of Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jacks (Pinaceae) in Kashmir Himalaya. In order to find an effective biocontrol agent against this pest, we determined the effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi, viz. Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin, and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare et Gams against I. stebbingi in the laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 10⁹ spores of fungi in 1 ml. The insecticide (cyclone 505 EC) was also used as positive control in the experiment. The mortality caused with these fungi was recorded in treated branches and Petri dish assay. In treated branches, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae caused higher mortality, i.e., 68% and 71.25%, respectively, 10 days after treatment, and 93.10% and 88%, respectively, 20 days after treatment. The results of Petri dish assay revealed that I. stebbingi adults were highly susceptible to both treated fungal species and insecticide. However, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae caused higher percentage mortality six days after treatment, i.e., 94.16% and 100% respectively. The percentage of mortality caused by treating with insecticide was 60%. Lecanicillium lecanii was found significantly less virulent (mortality 18.33%) in all fungal treatments. Results obtained in the present study are promising and may be used as alternative means of chemical control for management of this beetle pest; however, no recommendations concerning the potential use of these fungal pathogens for forest protection can be given, and further studies are needed in this respect, especially under field conditions.

     

Small Spruce Bark Beetle Ips amitinus (Eichhoff, 1872) (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae): a New Alien Species in West Siberia

The small spruce bark beetle Ips amitinus is a widespread species in many European countries that has been actively spreading into Northern Europe in the recent decades. In Russia, I. amitinus is present in the western, northwestern, and northern regions of the European part, with a tendency for range expansion. The species was first recognized in West Siberia in 2019 by characteristic morphological features and molecular genetic analysis. This bark beetle is abundant on Pinus sibirica in Siberian pine forests located near settlements within Tomsk and Kemerovo provinces, and is also sporadically found on the Siberian spruce Picea obovata. It colonizes the upper trunk and branches of standing and windfall trees. In the outbreak foci this bark beetle causes catastrophic drying of Siberian pines, starting from the crown top. This pattern of tree drying was noted for the first time near settlements in Yashkinsky District of Kemerovo Province in 2014, and now outbreak foci of I. amitinus exist in all the Siberian pine forests in this district. The population growth of I. amitinus was probably facilitated by dry and hot summer weather in the southeast of West Siberia during the last decade, in 2011 and 2012, and also by heavy winter snowfalls leaving numerous snapped tree branches which are easily colonized by the pest. In Tomsk Province, the most active outbreak focus of I. amitinus appeared in 2018 in the Siberian pine forest near Luchanovo and Ipatovo, following an outbreak of the Siberian moth Dendrolimus sibiricus. The invasion of I. amitinus in Siberia may increase the degradation rates not only of the gene-reserve Siberian pine forests but also of other dark coniferous stands.

     

Areography of the genus Dendroctonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Mexico

Objective To analyse whether the geographical ranges of Dendroctonus species are (1) associated with factors such as host species or elevation, and (2) in agreement with Halffter's Nearctic distribution pattern. (3) To identify and discuss the factors that are likely to act as barriers to the genus’ geographical distribution. (4) To explore whether there is an association between the size of the geographical ranges of Dendroctonus species and the number of Pinus host species used by each of them, and (5) to assess if these host species are most common at the elevations preferred by the individual Dendroctonus species. Site Mexico. Methods Records of 12 species of Dendroctonus were gathered from entomological collections in Mexico. Distribution ranges were defined by using the propinquity method ( Rapoport, 1975a ). Analysed parameters were: (1) geographical distribution of single species, (2) overlapping of species ranges, (3) disjunction patterns and barriers by means of isoprobabilistic lines, based on the morphotectonic subdivision of Mexico ( Ferrusquía‐Villafranca, 1998 ), (4) spatial variation in species richness with respect to latitude and altitude, (5) size of geographical ranges, and (6) host species for each Dendroctonus species. A correlation was determined between area size and number of pine host species. Results The species ranges varied in shape and size. Geographical ranges tend to be discontinuous in shape. Composite patterns showed that disjunctions among ranges do not closely follow Mexico's morphotectonic subdivision. There are repeated discontinuities among individual distributions, which define five areas: (1) Baja California Peninsula, (2) Sierra Madre Occidental (SMOC), (3) northern Sierra Madre Oriental (SMOR), (4) Sierra Madre de Chiapas, and (5) SMOR + Faja Volcanica Transmexicana (FVT) + Sierra Madre del Sur. The isoprobabilistic lines confirm that the inner part of SMOC provides an optimal environment for the genus, and the FVT province constitutes the broader corridor for it in the country. Richness does not directly decrease or increase with latitude. Richness behaviour of the insect is not associated with that of its host. Elevation distributions showed that most Dendroctonus species move within broad margins of tolerance and species richness is concentrated in the montane interval. Dendroctonus attack 24 of the 47 Pinus species distributed in Mexico. Preferred pine species belong predominantly to Leiophyllae, Ponderosae and Oocarpae subsections. The Spearman rank correlation between area size and number of pine host species was not significant. Dendroctonus clearly belongs to a Nearctic distribution pattern (sensu Halffter, 1987 ). Main conclusions Dendroctonus is present in all montane systems of Mexico and its species coexist within a high geographical sympatry. Overlapping of species distribution appears to be the result of two elements – generalized polyphagy inside Pinus and a wide elevation tolerance within mountainous environments. This behaviour, linked to a high vagility, has allowed the genus Dendroctonus to expand its distribution across Mexico and to employ mountainous systems as corridors separated by barriers that exert a low selective filter effect.     

The Polyphagous Bark Beetle Hypothenemus eruditus (Westwood, 1836) (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Scolytinae): the First Record on Buxus Trees in Russia

Entomological Review - The formation of Hypothenemus eruditus foci is described on a tree of Buxus sempervirens ssp. colchica which died as the result of damage caused by larvae of Neoglyphodes...     

First Record of the Four-Eyed Fir Bark Beetle Polygraphus proximus Blandford, 1894 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Irkutsk Province,Russia

Entomological Review - Polygraphus proximus Blandford, 1894 is recorded for the first time for Irkutsk Province of Russia. The species was collected in the vicinity of Utulik Village in Slyudyansky...     

Bark beetles and pinhole borers (Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Platypodinae) alien to Europe

Invasive bark beetles are posing a major threat to forest resources around the world. DAISIE's web-based and printed databases of invasive species in Europe provide an incomplete and misleading picture of the alien scolytines and platypodines. We present a review of the alien bark beetle fauna of Europe based on primary literature through 2009. We find that there are 18 Scolytinae and one Platypodinae species apparently established in Europe, from 14 different genera. Seventeen species are naturalized. We argue that Trypodendron laeve, commonly considered alien in Europe, is a native species; conversely, we hypothesize that Xyleborus pfeilii, which has always been treated as indigenous, is an alien species from Asia. We also point out the possibility that the Asian larch bark beetle Ips subelongatus is established in European Russia. We show that there has been a marked acceleration in the rate of new introductions to Europe, as is also happening in North America: seven alien species were first recorded in the last decade.We present information on the biology, origins, and distributions of the alien species. All but four are polyphagous, and 11 are inbreeders: two traits which increase invasiveness. Eleven species are native to Asia, six to the Americas, and one is from the Canary Islands. The Mediterranean is especially favorable for invasives, hosting a large proportion of the aliens (9/19). Italy, France and Spain have the largest numbers of alien species (14, 10 and 7, respectively). We point out that the low numbers for at least some countries is likely due to under-reporting.Finally, we discuss the difficulties associated with identifying newly invasive species. Lack of good illustrations and keys hinder identification, particularly for species coming from Asia and Oceania.     

Susceptibility of Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Nitidulid beetles (Coleoptera) are considered to be serious pests of date palms throughout the world. They attack ripe fruit, causing it to rot, and damage is reflected in both reduced yield and lower fruit quality. The present study was aimed at an evaluation of the susceptibility to different sap beetles to entomopathogenic nematodes. We further tested nematode efficacy in pots filled with soil infested by third instar larvae of the two beetle species. In Petri dish assay, mortality levels of Carpophilus humeralis and C. hemipterus exposed to Heterorhabditis sp. IS-5 strain indicated that the latter is less susceptible to nematode infection. Exposure of both sap beetle species to different nematode strains gave moderate levels of mortality (35-65%) with the heterorhabditid strains HP88, IS-5 and IS-25. The IS-12 strain of Heterorhabditis sp. showed poor virulence (<35% mortality) against larvae of C. humeralis as well as larvae and pupae of C. humipterus. The nematode species S. riobrave showed moderate virulence (35-65%) mortality to larvae and pupae of S. humeralis as well as to larvae of C. hemipterus . Exposure of C. hemeralis to different concentrations of Heterorhabditis sp. IS-5 in pots containing soil resulted in high mortality (>65%). In contrast, the lower concentrations (500 and 1000 nematodes/pot) caused low mortality (35%) of C. hemipterus . Other heterorhabditid strains caused 95-100% mortality of C. humeralis in pot assay. The HP88 strain of H. bacteriophora and the Tx strain of Steinernema riobrave showed poor effectiveness. Incubation of different nematode strains with the C. humeralis larvae at high temperature (32 C) resulted in an increase in insect mortality with the IS-12 and IS-21 strains. Reduced mortality was recorded with the HP88 strain treatment at the higher temperature. The IS-5 and IS-12 strains were equally effective in all three soil types tested, whereas the IS-19 strain was more effective in the Almog type soil than in the others.     

Phylogeography of the bark beetle Dendroctonus mexicanus Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Dendroctonus mexicanus is polyphagous within the Pinus genus and has a wide geographical distribution in Mexico and Guatemala. We examined the pattern of genetic variation across the range of this species to explore its demographic history and its phylogeographic pattern. Analysis of the mtDNA sequences of 173 individuals from 25 Mexican populations allowed to us identify 53 geographically structured haplotypes. High haplotype and low nucleotide diversities and Tajima’s D indicate that D. mexicanus experienced rapid population expansion during its dispersal across mountain systems within its current range. The nested clade phylogeographic analysis indicates that the phylogeographic pattern of D. mexicanus is explained by continuous dispersion among lineages from the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. However, we also observed isolation events among haplotypes from the Cofre de Perote/Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt/Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt/Sierra Madre del Sur, which is consistent with the present conformation of mountain systems in Mexico and the emergence of geographical barriers during the Pleistocene.     

中国寄生于木蠹象和小蠹虫的三盾茧蜂一新种(膜翅目:茧蜂科)

记述采自黑龙江小兴安岭寄生于木蠹象和小蠹虫的茧蜂科1新种——木蠹三盾茧蜂Triaspisnanchaensissp.nov.,模式标本的正模保存于中国林业科学研究院昆虫标本馆,副模保存于东北林业大学昆虫标本室。     

Alimentary canal and reproductive tract of Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

The alimentary canal and the reproductive tract of males and females of Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari are described. The alimentary canal of H. hampei showed the crop with several spine-like structures and the midgut with few gastric caeca. We evidenced for the first time that adult females need to feed on coffee in order to produce viable eggs before and during oviposition period. The presence of air bubbles inside the anterior midgut may be due to starvation rather than the response of the environment during flying as previously reported. Two ovaries and the same structures and arrangements common to individuals of the Curculionidae beetles composed the female reproductive system. The male reproductive tract showed a significant difference with respect to other Curculionidae and even other Scolytinae species as it showed a sclerotized aedeagus with several pore-like structures in the terminal portion where sperm is released during mating.     

Mating Behavior of the Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The mating behavior of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), was observed under laboratory conditions. Pairs of adult virgin male and female beetles were placed in the wells of a polystyrene microtiter plate, one pair per well. The mating activity of each pair was recorded for 24?h. The mating behavior of the coffee berry borer was similar to that of other Scolytinae and was clearly divided into precopulatory, copulatory and postcopulatory phases. The beetles started to mate within a few hours of emergence. Repeated mating occurred during the 24-hour period and increased in frequency with age. However, we cannot address multiple matings in H. hampei, since we did not simulate the female-biased sex ratio of this species and the experimental design did not allow females to avoid additional mating attempts by males. In addition, further studies are necessary that focus on the effectiveness of sperm transmission and direct and indirect effects of multiple matings on the H. hampei females and their offspring.     

Cladistic review of generic taxonomic characters in Xyleborina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Abstract A cladistic analysis of morphological characters of the subtribe Xyleborina (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is presented. An examination of individual characters revealed little phylogenetic information in many characters currently used for delimiting genera. Phylogenetically stable characters were used for the evaluation of the contemporary generic concept. The following genera have been recovered as monophyletic: Cnestus, Dryocoetoides, Eccoptopterus, Xylosandrus, Schedlia, Sampsonius and Taurodemus. The following genera have been found to be polyphyletic: Amasa, Ambrosiodmus, Arixyleborus, Coptoborus, Coptodryas, Cryptoxyleborus, Cyclorhipidion, Euwallacea, Leptoxyleborus, Taphrodasus, Theoborus, Webbia, Xyleborinus and Xyleborus. The analysis permitted the resurrection of four genera: Anisandrus, Microperus, Pseudowebbia and Streptocranus. A number of new combinations at specific level are given: Anisandrus cornutus (Schaufuss, 1891), A. dispar (Fabricius, 1792), A. eggersi (Beeson, 1930), A. improbus (Sampson, 1913), A. longidens (Eggers, 1930), A. maiche Stark, 1936, A. obesus (LeConte, 1868), A. sayi Hopkins, 1915, A. apicalis (Blandford, 1894), A. hirtus (Hagedorn, 1904), Microperus myristicae (Schedl, 1939), M. eucalypticus (Schedl, 1938), M. huangi (Browne, 1983), M. intermedius (Eggers, 1923), M. kadoyamaensis (Murayama, 1934), Pseudowebbia armifer (Schedl, 1942), P. seriata Browne, 1963, P. squamatilis (Schedl, 1955), P. trepanicauda (Eggers, 1923), P. curvatus (Browne, 1986), Streptocranus bicolor Browne, 1949, S. bicuspis (Eggers, 1940), S. capucinulus (Schedl, 1942), S. forficatus (Schedl, 1957), S. fragilis Browne, 1949, S. longicauda Browne, 1960, S. longispinis Browne, 1986, S. mirabilis Schedl, 1939, S. usagaricus (Eggers, 1922), S. sexdentatus (Eggers, 1940). The characters most useful for generic‐level taxonomy of Xyleborina were identified and their states refined and illustrated. An accompanying illustrated multiple‐entry electronic key for the updated xyleborine classification has been published on‐line at www.scolytid.msu.edu .     

Effectiveness of different lures for attracting Ips acuminatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

1. Ips acuminatus (the sharp-toothed bark beetle, STBB) is currently considered to be one of the most serious pests of Scots pine in many European countries. STBB management is among the most challenging tasks in pine forests; the development of methods for monitoring, predicting and managing outbreaks of this bark beetle is therefore crucial.
2. Pheromone-baited traps have been widely recommended as a valuable tool for the monitoring and mass trapping of bark beetles. Although different suppliers offer a variety of STBB lures, their effectiveness has rarely, if ever, been evaluated under natural conditions.
3. We evaluated the attractiveness of three commercially available and five experimental synthetic lures by comparing the numbers of STBBs captured in white, six-funnel traps. The studies were conducted in 2017–2019 in Poland, in Scots pine-dominated forests affected by STBB outbreaks.
4. Our study demonstrated significant differences in the effectiveness of the lures. The experimental lure produced by the Witasek company (Austria) and the recently marketed lure Acumodor Micro from Chemipan (Poland) were the most attractive to STBB. Among the least effective were two commercial lures (Acuwit and Acumodor), hitherto used in Central Europe.
5. The results will be useful in developing methods for the monitoring and management of STBB populations.

     

Five new species of Triotemnus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Morocco and Yemen

Fivenew species of the genus Triotemnus from Morocco and Yemen are described. Triotemnus is a new genus of Scolytinae for the Yemen region. External morphology of the new species and all morphologically related species of the genus were studied. While the new species from Morocco are morphologically similar to the known species from the corresponding region, all three newly described species from Yemen, mainly two of them living in Socotra, are morphologically very different from all other known species of the genus. Geographical distribution and the probability of endemicity are discussed.     

A New Genus and Species of Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from the Rovno Amber

A new genus, Klesovia gen. nov., with the species K. pubescens sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are described from the Rovno amber. The new genus is closely related to Xylechinus (tribe Hylurgini) and distinguished by the wide flattened ovoid antennal club with rounded apex and the metepisternum covered with long thin sparse setae; it differs from other genera of Hylurgini in having a five-segmented funicle, four-segmented club, and large distance between the procoxa.