Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) at the southernmost borderline of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in Greece

Το φλοιοφάγο έντομο Pityogenes chalcographus L. αποτελεί ένα από τα κύρια βλαπτικά έντομα της υποοικογένειας Scolytinae, που είναι ευρέως εξαπλωμένο στην Ευρώπη. Ο κύριος ξενιστής του εντόμου είναι η ερυθρελάτη (Picea abies) ενώ επίσης μπορεί να αναπτυχθεί επι- τυχώς σε αρκετά ακόμη είδη κωνοφόρων όπως το πεύκο (Pinus sp.), το έλατο (Abies alba), η λάρικα (Larix decidua) και η ψευδοτσούγκα (Pseudotsuga douglasii). Παρά το γεγονός ότι η φυσική εξάπλωση του εντόμου συμπίπτει με αυτή του κύριου ξενιστή του, το P. chalcographus δεν έχει καταγραφεί ούτε και παγιδευτεί στο δάσος ερυθρελάτης στην Ελατιά Δρά- μας, που αποτελεί το νοτιότερο άκρο της φυσικής, αυτόχθονης εξάπλωσης της ερυθρελάτης. Στα πλαίσια της έρευνας εγκαταστάθηκαν στο δάσος της Ελατιάς πέντε φερομονικές παγίδες, οι οποίες περιείχαν την προσελκυστική ουσία chalcogran. Ο συνολικός αριθμός των φλοιοφά- γων εντόμων που συγκεντρώθηκαν μετά το πέρας της περιόδου που οι παγίδες ήταν στο πεδίο, ανήλθε σε αρκετές χιλιάδες ατόμων. Η ερυθρελάτη που αναπτύσσεται στο φυσικό δάσος της Ελατιάς βρίσκεται σε οριακό περιβάλλον όσον αφορά τις συνθήκες ανάπτυξής της, γεγονός που επιτείνεται και από την κλιματική αλλαγή, η οποία γίνεται ακόμη πιο εμφανής σε τέτοια περιβάλλοντα. Η συνδυαστική δράση αυτών των δύο παραγόντων μπορεί να καταστήσει την ερυθρελάτη ιδιαίτερα ευάλωτη στην προσβολή του P. chalcographus, γεγονός που θα μπο- ρούσε εν δυνάμει να θέσει σε κίνδυνο και τα ενδημικά είδη πεύκου της Ελλάδας, καθώς το φλοιοφάγο αυτό έντομο έχει την δυνατότητα ανάπτυξης σε μια πλειάδα ξενιστών.The six toothed bark beetle, Pityogenes chalcographus L. (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) is a widely distributed pest in Europe, infesting mainly Norway spruce (Picea abies) as well as other conifer species such as Pinus sp., Abies alba, Larix deciduas, L. sibirica and Pseudotsuga douglasii. Even though the distribution of this bark beetle coincides that of its main host tree, P. abies, the occurrence of P. chalcographus has never been recorded in the spruce forest of Elatia-Drama, Northern Greece, which is the southernmost area of the natural, autochthonous distribution of P. abies. In this study we installed five pheromone traps baited with chalcogran dispensers in the forest of Elatia. The total number of bark beetles attracted to these traps exceeded several thousands of individuals. Norway spruce trees growing in the natural forest of Elatia demonstrate low vigor, something that can be attributed to the marginal environmental conditions in concert with the effects of climate change. The combination of these factors inhibits the regular growth of spruce, rendering trees more susceptible to the attack of P. chalcographus

The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soils from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small-scale arable fields

The aim of this study was to compare the species composition and the intensity of entomopathogenic fungi occurrence in the soil from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small farmlands. The study material consisted of soil samples taken from a mid-field woodlot and an adjacent small-scale arable field in three different localities in the vicinity of Siedlce. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soil using two methods: the insect bait method and the selective medium. The comparative study showed that the soil from mid-field woodlots was characterized by a richer species composition of entomopathogenic fungi than of adjacent arable fields. A total of six fungal species representing the anamorphs of Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were isolated from the soil collected from mid-field woodlots: B. bassiana, B. brongniartii, M. anisopliae, M. flavoviride, I. farinosa and I. fumosorosea. The presence of only three species was reported in the farmland soil: B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and I. fumosorosea. This fact confirms the important role of semi-natural habitats as a source of biodiversity of entomopathogenic fungi in agricultural landscape. It was found that entomopathogenic fungi together formed more colony-forming units in the soil from arable fields than that of neighbouring mid-field woodlots. B. bassiana was the species of fungus which infected more bait insect larvae and formed significantly more colony-forming units (CFU) in the soil from mid-field woodlots than that of farmland in the localities studied, whereas the trend was the opposite in the case of I. fumosorosea and M. anisopliae. Given the presence of entomopathogenic fungi in the farmland soil in the three test places together, it was found that I. fumosorosea was dominant in the soil from the two arable fields, where this fungus infected more G. mellenella larvae and formed significantly more CFUs than the other species of fungi. M. anisopliae was the second most frequently isolated farmland species

Novel morphological and genetic markers for the discrimination of three European Pityokteines (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) species

Background and Purpose: The three palearctic species Pityokteines spinidens, P. curvidens and P. vorontzowi are main pests on Abies species and their impact on Abies stands is increasing. As the three scolytid species, particularly females, are difficult to distinguish, this study aimed to find additional morphological characters for identification. Further, part of the mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced to develop a significant barcode marker for future use. Material and Methods: All three bark beetle species were collected from logs in Croatia (Litori} and Trako{}an), in order to quantify the number of strial and interstrial punctures. Insect DNA was extracted and PCR products were purified, directly sequenced, aligned and analyzed by MP analysis and Bayesian analysis. Results and Conclusion: The number of punctures in the first and second interstriae between the elytral base and the sutural tubercle proved to be a valuable tool for the differentiation of P. spinidens from P. curvidens and P. vorontzowi. This morphological feature was consistent with the number of punctures which varied for the first and the second interstriae in P. spinidens compared to P. curvidens and P. vorontzowi. The mitochondrial COI gene provided another means in the discrimination of Pityokteines species, revealing that P. curvidens and P. vorontzowi are sister species

Infection, course of disease and action of Canningia tomici in Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Background and purpose The pine shoot beetles Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor are secondary tree pests attacking weakened Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra. Outbreaks occasionally occur, causing considerable economic damage. The microsporidian pathogen Canningia tomici infects T. piniperda as its principal host. Bioassays were used to study the infectivity of C. tomici to both beetle species, as well as vertical transmission, and effects on survival and fecundity. Materials and methods Field collected beetles from several locations in Austria (Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria), Finland (Hyytiälä), Poland (Sękocin), the Czech Republic (Stará Boleslav), and Croatia (Korenica) (3410 T. piniperda, 413 T. minor) were dissected and evaluated for the presence of C. tomici. Uninfected beetles for infection experiments were only collected from the Austrian sites.Canningia tomici spores were extracted from the infected organs of T. piniperda by dissection and host tissue grinding. The number of spores suspended in water was counted in a hemocytometer. Infection experiments began with T. piniperda and T. minor as soon as parental beetles were available in the field in spring, or filial beetles were emerging from infested log sections in the laboratory. To test the effect of maturation feeding on infection success, filial beetles of both species were either inoculated immediately after emergence from a log section, or were allowed to feed on P. sylvestris twigs for several days first. Filial beetles were kept in Petri dishes containing P. sylvestris twigs at 8°C and long-day conditions (16L:8D) during the maturation feeding period. Afterwards, they were removed from the twigs, starved for 24 hours, and then inoculated with a 1-µl spore suspension or water. All beetles checked daily until death, dissected and inspected for the presence of C. tomici spores. All data were analyzed with the software program. Frequency data sets were compared using Chi-square analysis. Multiple comparisons were controlled for Type I errors using the Bonferroni method. The datasets of multiple dependent scale variables were analysed using the LM multivariate procedure, testing the effects of the following factors: year, temperature, inoculation, successful infection, maturation feeding, and sexResultsThe overall prevalence of C. tomici in T. piniperda was 1.9%, with significantly more female T. piniperda infected. No infections were observed in T. minor. After feeding spore suspensions to parental and filial T. piniperda and T. minor, between 0% and 67% of the beetles were successfully infected, regardless of the incubation temperature or the beetles’ sex. The beetles’ survival time was significantly influenced by the incubation temperature and the successful infection; in filial beetles the maturation feeding period was also an important factor. A lower incubation temperature and a successful infection caused both species and generations to survive longer.Conclusion We conclude that when C. tomici infects the reproductive organs of its hosts, this extends the host\u27s lifespan, leading to better reproduction, transmission, and survival of the pathogen in host populations. This is also reflected by higher infection rates of T. piniperda in Finland and Poland, as compared to Austria.</p

Shallow Genetic Structure among the European Populations of the Six-Toothed Bark Beetle Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

The six-toothed bark beetle, Ips sexdentatus, is one of the most abundant scolytid species of the central and southern European countries. It mostly feeds on Pinus sp., whereas during population outbreaks it can also attack Picea sp. In spite of its broad distribution, its phylogeography has never been studied before. To do that, we employed an mtDNA marker on 489 individuals that covered most of its native range in Europe. Geographic distribution of the 86 haplotypes showed that at least three glacial refugia have played a significant role in shaping the currently observed pattern of genetic divergence in Europe, without excluding the contribution of minor refugial areas that acted in a similar manner. The revealed shallow structure can be considered an artifact of factors that reduced intraspecific diversity, at the same time favoring gene flow. As such, biological traits of the species itself (flying ability and host preference) and even human-mediated transport of wood seem to be the most prevailing and probable reasons that gave rise to the observed pattern.Austrian Science Fund FWF (project number P26749-B25)

Welche Vor- beziehungsweise Nachteile ergeben sich durch die kommunale oder private Verwaltung der Ressource Wasser?

„Wasser“ – heißt Leben! Kein Leben ohne Wasser! Und dennoch ist der Mangel der kostbaren Ressource Wasser in vielen Ländern dieser Erde Todesursache Nummer Eins, obwohl die Vereinten Nationen 2010 auf politischer Ebene das Wasser zu einem Menschenrecht erklärten. Vergleicht man die heutige Wassersituation der Dritte-Welt- und Entwicklungsländer mit der von Österreich, wird man unweigerlich feststellen, dass wir in einem Land leben, das als „Wasserparadies“ bezeichnet werden kann. Angefangen von der ausgezeichneten Wasserqualität, über die hervorragende Wasserinfrastruktur, die eine dementsprechend, weitreichende Versorgung der Menschen ermöglicht, bis hin zu den äußerst strikten und auflagenreichen Wasserkontrollen, kann Österreich von sich behaupten, eines der besten Wässer weltweit zu besitzen. In primär Dritte-Welt- und Entwicklungsstaaten ist von alledem so gut wie nichts vorhanden. Neben schlechter Wasserqualität, ist vor allem die fehlende, aber dringend notwendige Wasserinfrastruktur ein großes Problem. Durch Schmutz und Krankheiten verseuchte Brunnen und Wasserstellen bieten oftmals die einzige Alternative, um den täglichen Wasserbedarf zu stillen. Auf europäischer Ebene wird versucht, mittels Wasserrichtlinien und Wasserverordnungen, ein positives Beispiel für einen gemeinsamen, länderübergreifenden Erhalt, für die wertvolle Ressource Wasser, abzugeben. Neben fehlender Wasserinfrastruktur, schlechter Wasserqualität und der zunehmenden Wasserverknappung können Wasserprivatisierungen ein zusätzliches Problem für Staaten darstellen. Großkonzerne, wie zum Beispiel der weltgrößte Nahrungsmittelkonzern Nestle, haben längst die Bedeutung des Wassers für sich entdeckt. Damit nicht genug: Wasser wird durch gezielte Vermarktung zum Produkt erklärt, das einen Preis haben muss. Sämtliche Wasserquellen dieser Erde dienen der Profit- und Gewinnmaximierung Weniger und werden im wahrsten Sinn des Wortes zur Geldquelle für Unternehmen umfunktioniert. Viele Konflikte, die heute auf der Welt ausbrechen, haben ihren Ursprung auch in einer ungelösten Wasserfrage. Kämpfe um die Aufteilung der kostbaren Ressource Wasser vermehren sich stetig und werden auch in Zukunft weiter zunehmen. Letztendlich trägt auch der Klimawandel, durch extreme Trockenperioden einerseits oder extreme Überschwemmungen andererseits, sein Übriges dazu bei, dass auch in Zukunft die Wassersituation auf der Erde angespannt bleiben wird. In Anbetracht einer Übermenge an Wasser, wie im Falle Österreichs, mag dies paradox erscheinen, aber dennoch sind wir heute schon auf der Jagd, nach den letzten Wasserreserven dieser Erde.Water is the lifeblood of our planet. Nevertheless, the lack of this precious resource is the number one cause of death in many countries around the world, despite the fact that the United Nations recognised access to clean drinking water as a human right in 2010. When comparing the current water situation between developing countries and Austria, it is evident that we live in a country which could be called “Water Paradise”: the excellent quality of drinking water, combined with outstanding water facilities, which make water widely available to its inhabitants, as well as strict and comprehensive water controls, Austria can claim to have one of the best water supplies in the world. Unfortunately, this infrastructure does not exist in developing countries; they continue to struggle with the problems associated with this lack of infrastructure and poor water quality. Water contaminated with disease-causing organisms is often the only possibility available to satisfy the local people’s demand for water. The European Union wants to set a positive example by implementing water directives and water ordinances which ensure that this precious resource is available to all at a collective, transnational level. In addition to the lack of water facilities, poor water quality and increasing water shortages, another problem is the privatisation of water. Large corporations, for example the world’s largest food corporation, Nestle, have discovered the importance of water. That is not all: Due to selective advertising by these corporations, water is classified as a product, which has a price. Now many water springs around the world are serving corporations in their quest for profit maximisation. Many conflicts in today’s world are caused by unsolved water issues. Disputes concerning the distribution of this precious resource will continue to increase in the future. Finally, climate change will also influence the water situation on Earth; on the one hand with extreme droughts, and on the other hand with extreme floods. In the case of Austria, which has an abundant supply of water, this may seem paradoxical; however, today we are all in pursuit of the planet’s available water resources

Występowanie grzybów entomopatogenicznych w glebach z zadrzewień śródpolnych i sąsiadujących z nimi małoobszarowych pól uprawnych

The aim of this study was to compare the species composition and the intensity of entomopathogenic fungi occurrence in the soil from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small farmlands. The study material consisted of soil samples taken from a mid-field woodlot and an adjacent small-scale arable field in three different localities in the vicinity of Siedlce. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soil using two methods: the insect bait method and the selective medium. The comparative study showed that the soil from mid-field woodlots was characterized by a richer species composition of entomopathogenic fungi than of adjacent arable fields. A total of six fungal species representing the anamorphs of Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were isolated from the soil collected from mid-field woodlots: B. bassiana, B. brongniartii, M. anisopliae, M. flavoviride, I. farinosa and I. fumosorosea. The presence of only three species was reported in the farmland soil: B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and I. fumosorosea. This fact confirms the important role of semi-natural habitats as a source of biodiversity of entomopathogenic fungi in agricultural landscape. It was found that entomopathogenic fungi together formed more colony-forming units in the soil from arable fields than that of neighbouring mid-field woodlots. B. bassiana was the species of fungus which infected more bait insect larvae and formed significantly more colony-forming units (CFU) in the soil from mid-field woodlots than that of farmland in the localities studied, whereas the trend was the opposite in the case of I. fumosorosea and M. anisopliae. Given the presence of entomopathogenic fungi in the farmland soil in the three test places together, it was found that I. fumosorosea was dominant in the soil from the two arable fields, where this fungus infected more G. mellonella larvae and formed significantly more CFUs than the other species of fungi. M. anisopliae was the second most frequently isolated farmland species.Celem podjętych badań było porównanie składu gatunkowego i nasilenia występowania grzybów entomopatogeniczych w glebach z zadrzewień śródpolnych i sąsiadujących z nimi pól uprawnych. Materiał do badań stanowiły próby gleby pobrane w trzech miejscowościach w okolicach Siedlce z dwóch środowisk: zadrzewienia śródpolnego i sąsiadującego z nimi małoobszarowego pola uprawnego. Grzyby owadobójcze izolowano z gleby stosując metodę owadów pułapkowych (z użyciem larw Galleria mellonella) oraz podłoże selektywne. Przeprowadzone badania porównawcze wykazały, że gleby spod zadrzewień śródpolnych charakteryzowały się bogatszym składem gatunkowym tych grzybów. Z gleby pobranej spod zadrzewień śródpolnych na larwy G. mellonella wyizolowano w sumie sześć gatunków grzybów, były to: B. bassiana, B. brongniartii, M. anisopliae, M. flavoviride, I. farinosa i I. fumosorosea. W glebie z pól odnotowano obecność tylko trzech gatunków: B. bassiana, M. anisopliae i I. fumosorosea. Fakt ten potwierdza istotną rolę środowisk seminaturalnych jako źródła bioróżnorodności grzybów owadobójczych w krajobrazie rolniczym. Stwierdzono że, grzyby entomopatogeniczne łącznie tworzyły więcej jednostek infekcyjnych (CFU) w glebie z pól uprawnych niż sąsiadujących z nimi zadrzewień śródpolnych. Stwierdzono, że grzyb B. bassiana zainfekował więcej larw owada pułapkowego i tworzył istotnie więcej jednostek infekcyjnych w glebach z zadrzewień śródpolnych niż pól w badanych miejscowościach, natomiast w przypadku I. fumosorosea i M. anisopliae odnotowano tendencję odwrotną. Biorąc pod uwagę występowanie grzybów entomopatogennych w glebie z pól uprawnych w trzech badanych miejscowościach łącznie, stwierdzono, że w glebie z dwóch pól uprawnych dominował I. fumosorosea. W glebach tych zainfekował on więcej larw G. mellonella i tworzył istotnie więcej jednostek CFU niż pozostałe gatunki grzybów. Drugim najczęściej izolowanym gatunkiem z pól uprawnych był M. anisopliae