Ips calligraphus, (Germar, 1824)

Mas, Hugo & Johnson, Andrew J., 2023, First Reported Detection of Ips calligraphus (Germar) and Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a Port of Entry and its Surrounding Forest in Spain, The Coleopterists Bulletin 77 (4), pp. 501-506 : 503-504

IPS CALLiGRAPHUS (Germar, 1824) ( Figs. 1–5 )

Material Examined. SPAIN • 1 ♂; Valencia; 02 Aug. 2019; 39.44490°, −0.32514°; Hugo Mas leg.; “ 02/08/2019 RAT10 PORTVLC2”; UFFE :36857 • 1 ♂; Valencia; 39.45055°, −0.32436°; 02 Aug. 2019; Hugo Mas leg.; “ 02/08/2019 RAT9 PORTVLC1”; LSFCV Collection : 00123 • 1 ♂; El Saler (Valencia); 39.38801°, −0.33057°; 01 Aug. 2019; Hugo Mas leg.; “ 01/08/2019 RAT12 ENTVLC”; LSFCV Collection : 00124 .

Diagnosis. Six pairs of spines on edge of elytral declivity. Punctures visible on discal interstriae 2 and 3 as compared to I. sexdentatus , which has none ( Douglas et al. 2019).

Remarks. All specimens were retrieved from traps run during 2 July to 1–2 August 2019, at three different localities, up to 4 km apart. No additional specimens were collected in any other traps, which were run with the same lure for three years after this collection. Visual surveys in the vicinity also found no specimens or evidence of this species in the surrounding trees.

Of the traps which collected these specimens, traps RAT9 and RAT10 were placed within the Port of Valencia, and trap RAT12 was placed within the closest surrounding forest (Devesa de l’Albufera, that could certify the establishment of the species. Five additional traps were deployed in response to the detection (“IpsSaler1” to “IpsSaler5”, Table 1), plus four more as part of a cerambycid survey ( Table 1), all of which did not detect any additional Ips species. Since no additional specimens were collected, we conclude that it is unlikely that the specimens are part of an established introduction.

El Saler, Valencia), located approximately 4 km south of the Port of Valencia. This forest is a mature, natural pine forest of Pinus halepensis Miller. It is an irregular-aged stand with a dominant height of the tree layer of 10 m. Other pine species appear as companions in a much lower proportion and mainly from reforestation: Pinus pinea L., Pinus pinaster Aiton , and Pinus canariensis C. Sm. ex DC. This forest covers an area of 100 ha, runs parallel to the coastline, separated only a few meters from the sea, and it grows on sandy soil. It is a forest with a high horizontal rainfall and a very leafy shrub layer consisting mainly of Pistacia lentiscus L. ( Anacardiaceae ), Rhamnus alaternus L. ( Rhamnaceae ), Quercus coccifera L., Quercus ilex L. ( Fagaceae ), Hedera helix L. ( Araliaceae ), and Smilax aspera L. ( Smilacaceae ).

After the I. calligraphus capture during August 2019, several field surveys were carried out through 2021 to search for possible damage to the vegetation

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Ips calligraphus collected in Valencia, Spain (UFFE:36857). 1) Dorsal view; 2) Lateral view; 3) Ventral view; 4) Frontal view; 5) Oblique declivital view. Total length: 5.8 mm.