<i>Ips acuminatus</i> kills pines in southern Finland

• Main Author: Siitonen, Juha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finnish Society of Forest Science 2014-01-01
• Series: Silva Fennica
• Online Access: https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/1145

Recently dead Scots pines ( L.) apparently killed by (Gyllenhal) were observed in Sipoo, southern Finland, in summer 2013. This record was unexpected and in contradiction with what is currently known about the distribution and aggressiveness of the species in Finland. The aim of this study was to survey a larger area in Uusimaa region, to find out whether occurs frequently in recently dead pines, and whether inhabited trees share some common tree- or site-level characteristics. Galleries of were found in most of the studied trees. A total of 96 inhabited trees were found in 21 separate sites. Colonized pines were typically large (average DBH 30â±â9 cm) trees located in relatively open pine-dominated heathland stands at half-open, sun-exposed spots. The whole upper part of the trunk with thin bark was usually occupied. Galleries of L. or Hartig occurred only in few cases in the same trees, indicating that the trees had died later in the summer. Galleries of the jewel beetle F. were found in 13 trees. Trees colonized by often occurred as small groups, with generally 1­â12 trees (average 3 trees), but in one exceptional group there were no less than 35 trees. It is possible that the hot and dry summers during the 2000s have increased the susceptibility of pines to insect damage, and have contributed to a population growth of .Pinus sylvestrisIps acuminatusI. acuminatusI. acuminatusTomicus piniperdaT. minorPhaenops cyaneaI. acuminatusI. acuminatus