Assessment of ips sexdentatus population considering the capture in pheromone traps and their damages under non-epidemic conditions

Abstract

one of the most important factors of natural balance in the forests are insects, which are a part of ecological diversity. Being in a constant change, forest ecosystems are affected by bark beetles in low level or wide ranged ratios. The pressure of Ips sexdentatus, one of the most important pests of conifer forests and principal species of Turkey, can be at a sensible level from time to time. In this study, it was determined that the beetles carry out two flights in the region, first flight starts around the beginning of May, this period continues until mid-June, second flight starts around mid-June and continues until the beginning of September. The number of beetles captured by the traps in the first and second flight period were statistically different and, also the average number of beetles in first period were more than second period. When the results of pheromone trap capturing were evaluated monthly, it was seen that the averages of June, July and August were not statistically different, meanwhile May average was statistically different from other months. No significant difference were found between the averages of I. sexdentatus captured by the pheromone traps in sunny and shaded aspect. No dying due to beetle damage was found on the trees in the study area after the flight of beetles, however, the damage ratio of the beetle was identified as 16.38% in a hectare. A statistically significant difference was found between the specified diameter classes in terms of beetle damage.