Damage severity of wood-destroying insects according to the Bevan damage classification system in log depots of Northwest Turkey

Mesut Yalcin,Besir Yuksel,Caglar Akcay,Ali Kemal Ozbayram,Cihat Tascioglu

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70696-6

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine damage severity of wood-destroying insects on logs stored in forest depots. The Bevan damage classification (BDC) system, developed in 1987, was utilized to determine damage severity in log depots in 21 locations throughout seven provinces in Turkey. Pheromone traps were placed in those locations at the beginning of April in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore some stored wood within the log depots were checked and split into small pieces to collect insects that damage wood. The BDC system was used for the first time to measure the severity of insect damage in log depots. Twenty-eight families, 104 genera and 123 species were identified in this study. Based on the BDC system, the highest damage was found from the Cerambycidae and Buprestidae families. Arhopalus rusticus was determined as the insect responsible for the highest amount of damage with 8.8% severity rating in the pheromone-trapped insects group. When the stored wood material was considered, Hylotrupes bajulus was found to be the cause of the highest damage. The lowest damage values were among the predator insects (Cleridae, Trogossitidae, Cantharidae) and those feeding on fungi colonized on the wood (Mordellidae, Cerylonidae, Nitidulidae). Some other predator insects of the Tenebrionidae family (Uloma cypraea, Uloma culinaris, Menephilus cylindricus) and Elateridae family (Lacon punctatus, Ampedus sp.) exhibited relatively higher damage severity values since they had built tunnels and made holes in the stored wood material. When the environmental factors were considered, the Buprestidae family exhibited a very strong positive relationship (p < 0.005) with insect frequency distribution (r = 0.922), number of species (r = 0.879) and insect density (r = 0.942). Both families showed the highest number and frequency during July and August, highlighting the importance of insect control and management during these months.

Highlights

Insects are one of the most important biological factors that destroy wood m aterials[1]
The highest damage index values of insects collected from the pheromone traps were recorded as Arhopalus rusticus (9%), Monochamus galloprovincialis (8.5%), Ips sexdentatus (7.2%), Acanthocinus aedilis (6.9%), Rhagium inquisitor (6.8%), Acanthocinus griseus (6.2%), Buprestis dalmatina (5.1%), Lacon punctatus (5%), Buprestis haemorrhoidalis (3.6%), Camponotus vagus (3.3%), Hylotrupes bajulus (3%), Spondylis buprestoides (2.9%), and Buprestis octoguttata (2.8%)
The severity of destruction of wood-destroying insects found in log depots and stored wood material was calculated according to the Bevan damage index

Summary

Introduction

Insects are one of the most important biological factors that destroy wood m aterials[1]. Their larvae, heavily attack the bark, cambium and wood portions of soft and hardwoods[9,15] They exhibit high reproduction rates on partially burned trees after forest fires. Scolytinae (Curculionidae) (bark beetles) are secondary harmful insects that prefer trees weakened due to wind and snow load, forest fires, drought or infestation by other insects[19]. Even though they are considered secondary harmful insects, they tend to turn into primary harmful insects during their maturation into young adults by attacking healthy trees. Ambrosia beetles are an important member of this subfamily and cause degradation via fungus t ransfer[20]

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