Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius)

Barnouin, Thomas, Soldati, Fabien, Roques, Alain, Faccoli, Massimo, Kirkendall, Lawrence R., Mouttet, Raphaëlle, Daubree, Jean-Baptiste & Noblecourt, Thierry, 2020, Bark beetlesand pinhole borers recently ornewly introduced toFrance (Coleoptera Curculionidae, Scolytinae and Platypodinae), Zootaxa 4877 (1), pp. 51-74 : 60-61

- Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius)

( Fig. 2E )

Distribution. Most likely native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas (Gohli et al. 2006), X. ferrugineus has spread to the temperate parts of the eastern United States as well as to the tropical regions of Africa, Oceania and Asia ( India, Taiwan, and Yemen) ( Rabaglia et al. 2006; Knižek 2011b; Smith et al. 2020b). There is no evidence of its establishment neither in the French territory nor in Europe. The first interception in Europe dates to 1956 in the port of Hamburg ( Germany) on elm logs coming from Canada ( Cola 1971). It was subsequently intercepted in 1966 and 1968 in the port of Ancona ( Italy) in logs coming from western Africa ( Cola 1973. In France, only one individual has been intercepted, in the port area of La Rochelle.

New records: CHARENTE-MARITIME – La Rochelle, port area, interception trap baited with ethanol 100%, (-) α-pinene, and a pheromone blend for longhorn beetles, 26.IX.2016, 1 ind., URZF leg .

Biology and ecology. X. ferrugineus is a highly polyphagous species reported from more than 200 host plants, including both angiosperms and gymnosperms ( Schedl 1963; Wood & Bright 1992; Wood 2007). In the temperate United States, it is recorded mainly on oaks ( Quercus ), beech ( Fagus ), ash ( Fraxinus ), hazel ( Corylus ), pines ( Pinus ) and many cypresses ( Cupressaceae ). As with X. affinis and X. bispinatus , this ambrosia beetle is extremely common wherever it is found. It usually breeds in small stems as well as in large logs of dead, dying or cut trees but can be found in recently killed standing trees as well ( Wood 2007; Kirkendall pers. obs.).

Damage and infestation risk. X. ferrugineus (probably mixed with X. bispinatus ) is causes cosmetic damage to newly harvested timber in forests, on wood piles and in sawmills ( Wood 2007). The sapwood can be completely discolored. It is probably the most destructive species of wood harvested in the forested areas of South America . Like all ambrosia beetles, X. ferrugineus carries symbiotic fungi, some of which are pathogens, particularly to cocoa ( Theobroma cacao ) ( Wood 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff (2.2 mm). A. dorsal view; B. lateral view. Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff (2.8 mm). C. dorsal view; D. lateral view. Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius) (2.4 mm). E. dorsal view. Xyloterinus politus (Say) (3.4 mm). F. dorsal view. Length of specimens in brackets. (Photos: Fabien Soldati).