New braconid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on bark beetles in Ihtimanska Sredna Gora Mountain, Bulgaria

Abstract

In 2020, two braconid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were found as parasitoids of bark beetles in Pinus sylvestris plantations in Ihtimanska Sredna Gora Mt. Coeloides bostrichorum Giraud was reared from stem samples attacked by Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor in the region of Krushovitsa vill. (State Forestry Enterprise Elin Pelin), and Dendrosoter middendorffi (Ratzeburg) – by Ips acuminatus, Pityophthorus pityographus and Pityogenes bistridentatus in the region of Krushovitsa vill. and Golema Rakovitsa vill. (State Game Enterprise Aramliets). Coeloides bostrichorum caused 7.4% mortality of T. piniperda and T. minor, and Dendrosoter middendorffi – 5.6-12.5% of Ips acuminatus, 5.6% of P. bistridentatus, and 2.8% of I. acuminatus, P. pityographus and P. bistridentatus. In the total braconid parasitoid complex, D. middendorffi was the dominant species with a relative share of 87.5%.