Interceptions of a tree-killing bark beetle, Ips typographus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae), in the US

Sunday, November 13, 2022

2:42 PM – 2:54 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 301

Presenting Author(s)

SW

Samuel F. Ward

Assistant Professor of Insect Ecology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Co-Author(s)

EB

Eckehard G. Brockerhoff

Swiss Federal Research Institute
Birmensdorf, Zürich, Switzerland
RT

Rebecca M. Turner

Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute)
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Takehiko Yamanaka

Unit leader
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
LM

Lorenzo Marini

University of Padova
Padova, Veneto, Italy
SF

Songlin Fei

Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Andrew M. Liebhold

Research Entomologist
USDA-Forest Service
Morgantown, West Virginia

The European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.; Coleoptera, Scolytinae) poses substantial threats to spruce forests of North America if it were to invade. This species has been intercepted frequently during inspections, yet the factors that govern its prevalence in international invasion pathways remain unknown. We investigated the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of interceptions in the United States from 1914-2008. Across the study period, Ips typographus was intercepted >500 times with shipments originating from >25 countries at ports in 22 US states. Interceptions did not have a statistically detectable relationship with outbreak levels in the native range but exhibited strong seasonality, becoming less frequent during summer months. The reasons that interceptions of I. typographus appear challenging to predict, and potential changes in biosecurity practices against this beetle, will be discussed.