engleski

Occurrence of pathogens in outbreak populations of Pityokteines spp. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in silver fir forests

The aim of this research was to identify pathogens in field populations of the genus Pityokteines from Croatia with special reference to their spatial distribution throughout the country. Pathogens occurrence was studied in 5, 968 adult specimens of three silver fir bark beetle species: Pityokteines curvidens, P. spinidens and P. vorontzovi. Four pathogen species were observed in different tissues of their hosts. The pathogens Canningia spinidentis and Menzbieria sp. were found only in P. spinidens, while Chytridiopsis typographi and Gregarina sp. were also present in P. curvidens and P. vorontzovi. Multiple infections were observed in all three beetle species where gregarines occurred together with C. typographi and in combination with C. spinidentis in the specimens of P. spinidens. All pathogen species found in this research are first descriptions on host Pityokteines spp., except Canningia spinidens. Data presented in this study show possible candidates for further tests to utilize pathogens as microbial control agents against fir bark beetles in the future.

Abies alba; Insect pathogens; Pityokteines spp.; Canningia spinidentis; Chytridiopsis sp.; Gregarina sp.

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