First report of Anisandrus maiche in Ukraine
Anisandrus maiche (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) is an ambrosia beetle of Asian origin. It is reported to occur in China (Helongjiang), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Far East (Primorsky kray, Kuril Islands). It is a polyphagous species and in its area of origin, it has been recorded on the following tree species: Acer barbinerve, Acer mandshuricum, Alnus crispa, Alnus hirsuta, Alnus japonica, Betula dahurica, Corylus sieboldiana var. mandshurica, Euonymus, Fraxinus mandshurica, Juglans mandshurica, Magnolia, Phellodendron amurense, Syringa, Ulmus.
In 2007, it was found for the first time in Ukraine in the Donetsk oblast. A. maiche was caught in window-flight traps containing ethanol. Further studies conducted in 2009/2010, detected the insect in mixed forests in the oblasts of Kharkiv and Summy. In the oblast of Summy, it was caught in window-flight traps placed in mixed forest dominated by Quercus robur. In this area, it was then observed in plantations of Quercus borealis (approximately 15 years old). In the oblast of Kharkiv, A. maiche was found on Populus tremula and Quercus robur. On all sites, only females were found. No particular damage has been observed in Ukraine. This is also the first report of this species in Europe.
Interestingly, this ambrosia beetle has also been recently introduced into the USA. The first specimens were trapped in 2005 in Pennsylvania (Moon Park, Allegheny county). In 2006 and 2007, it was trapped in other locations in Pennsylvania, as well as in Ohio and West Virginia. Although this species is certainly established in these US states, it has not yet been collected from any host trees but only caught in traps.
The impact of A. maiche in urban and forest trees is not known, and for the moment no particular damage has been reported from invaded areas. However, it seems desirable to pay attention to the possible spread of this species within the EPPO region.
Sources
Rabaglia RJ, Vandenberg NJ, Acciavatti RE (2009) First records of Anisandrus maiche Stark (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from North America. Zootaxa 2137, 23-28.
Terekhova VV, Skrylnik YY (2012) Biological peculiarities of the alien for Europe Anisandrus maiche Stark (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) bark beetle in Ukraine. Russian Journal of Biological Invasions 3(2), 139-144 (abst.).
INTERNET
Bark and Ambrosia Beetles.
Purdue Extension. Department of Entomology. America’s Least Wanted Wood-Borers. Asian ambrosia beetle, Anisandrus maiche (Linnaeus). http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/WB-5.pdf
Xyleborini ambrosia beetles. An identification tool to the World Genera by J Hulcr (North Carolina State University) ; SM Smith (Michigan State University) (2010).