Scolytinae species damaging Carya illinoinensis trees in southern Brazil

Tales Poletto,Jéssica Maus Da Silva,Dayanna Do Nascimento Machado,Ervandil Corrêa Costa,Clérison Régis Perini,Marlove Fátima Brião Muniz

doi:10.1590/0034-737x202067020008

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to report two species of Scolytinae that have been damaging Carya illinoinensis trees in southern Brazil. In two Brazilian municipalities, Guarapuava in Parana State and Pantano Grande in the Rio Grande do Sul State, insects of the Scolytinae family were found damaging pecan trees. Infested tree samples were kept in the laboratory in glass tubes sealed with a voile tissue until the emergence of adults. After the adults’ emergence, the specimens were identified by their morphological characteristics and sent to a taxonomist specialized in Scolytinae family for identification. The species Xyleborus retusus was identified causing damages to pecan trees from Guarapuava while the species Xyleborus ferrugineus was identified in pecan trees from Pantano Grande. Trees injured by these insects displayed similar symptoms in both study areas. In Guarapuava and Pantano Grande, 13 and 10 trees, respectively, died due to stem lesions caused by Xyleborus spp. Thus, this study reports for Brazilian pecan growers the occurrence of Scolytinae species X. retusus and X. ferrugineus damaging C. illinoiensis plants in southern Brazil. It also emphasizes the importance of constant crop monitoring to minimize the risk of pest damage.

Highlights

IntroductionKoch is distributed naturally in a continuous area from Mexico to the state of Illinois in the United States (McWilliams, 2013)
As a consequence of the increase in the area of pecan cultivation in southern Brazil, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of insects, which cause damage to the crop (Boscardin & Costa, 2018)
This study aims to report the occurrence and damages caused by two species of Scolytinae in pecan trees in southern Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Koch is distributed naturally in a continuous area from Mexico to the state of Illinois in the United States (McWilliams, 2013). The cultivation of this species has been growing rapidly in Brazil, with new orchards established mainly in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. Pecan crops are present in numerous small farms due to their use in agroforestry systems, shading of aviaries, wood production, and ornamentation. As a consequence of the increase in the area of pecan cultivation in southern Brazil, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of insects, which cause damage to the crop (Boscardin & Costa, 2018)

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