First Report of the Larch Longhorn (Tetropium gabrieli Weise, Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Spondylidinae) on Larix spp. in Lithuania.

Jūratė Lynikienė,Audrius Menkis,Adas Marčiulynas,Vytautas Tamutis,Artūras Gedminas

doi:10.3390/insects12100911

Abstract

Simple SummaryTetropium gabrieli is a longhorn beetle that usually attacks weakened larch trees. During prolonged summer droughts, T. gabrieli can form outbreaks, causing damages to larch stands. Although it is known in several European countries, in Lithuania it was detected for the first time in 2019. The detection of T. gabrieli indicates potential secondary damages to European larch and other larch species growing in the area.Tetropium gabrieli is known to be native to the Alps in Europe where it breeds in European larch (Larix decidua), but it has spread to other areas and was reported in Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Belorussia. Although T. gabrieli is considered an important secondary pest of Larix spp., it can be particularly harmful to trees subjected to abiotic stress. Here we report that in Lithuania, T. gabrieli was for the first time captured in 2019 using sticky traps attached to Larix spp. trees. Two adult beetles were trapped at two different sites in central Lithuania, and this was in the period between 10th of May and 5th of June. Regarding potential threats caused by this insect pest, this new finding requires special attention, particularly on its biology, ecology, and local distribution.

Highlights

The Holarctic genus Tetropium Kirby, 1837 (Cerambycidae, Spondylidinae) includes only a limited number of species
Among the destructive Tetropium species, T. gabrieli (Weise, 1905) was reported being native to the Alps in central Europe where it breeds in European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) [7,8]
In contrast to T. castaneum and T. fuscum, which are characterized by polyphagia on different coniferous trees, T. gabrieli is strictly associated with Larix spp. and only occasionally found in other coniferous trees [10,11,12]

Summary

Introduction

The Holarctic genus Tetropium Kirby, 1837 (Cerambycidae, Spondylidinae) includes only a limited number of species. In Lithuania, there are two reported Tetropium species, namely T. castaneum (Linnaeus, 1758) and T. fuscum (Fabricius, 1778) [3]. Both of these are considered as important secondary pests of Picea spp. and Pinus spp. trees across their distribution range [4,5,6]. Among the destructive Tetropium species, T. gabrieli (Weise, 1905) was reported being native to the Alps in central Europe where it breeds in European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) [7,8]. The planting of Larix spp. outside its natural range of distribution has enabled T. gabrieli to spread and establish itself in several European countries, including Poland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belorussia [1]

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