First report of Ips calligraphus and I. grandicollis in China
Ips calligraphus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EPPO A1 List) and I. grandicollis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EPPO A1 List) are first reported from China. This is also the first record of these American species in Continental Asia. From 2016 to 2018, specimens suspected to be I. calligraphus and I. grandicollis were collected from traps with ethanol as a sole lure in Zhuhai (province of Guangdong) China. A specific survey was conducted in 2019 in the area of Zhuhai. I. calligraphus was found at four sites and I. grandicollis was found at two sites. The authors consider that the fact that all samples came from traps over a limited area supports the hypothesis of a recent introduction. The host plant of I. calligraphus from Zhuhai was identified as slash pine Pinus elliottii (an American species widely grown in this area) using DNA barcoding of gut contents from trapped individuals.
The situation of Ips calligraphus and I. grandicollis in China can be described as: Present, not widely distributed (only reported from Guangdong).
Sources
Li Y, Johnson AJ, Gao L, Wu C, Hulcr J (2021) Two new invasive Ips bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in mainland China and their potential distribution in Asia. Pest Management Science (early view) https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6423