Occurrence of Gregarina typographi (Apicomplexa, Gregarinidae) and Metschnikowia typographi (Ascomycota, Metschnikowiaceae) in Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) populations in Kastamonu (Turkey)

Abstract

In this study, Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) populations from Kastamonu (Turkey) were investigated for the occurrence of entomopathogens. Two species were encountered in the duration of this study and these were Gregarina typographi (Apicomplexa, Gregarinidae) and Metschnikowia typographi (Ascomycota, Metschnikowiaceae). Within the I. sexdentatus samples used in this study total infection rate of the pathogens G. typographi and M. typographi was calculated as 28.9%. Measurements of the Metschnikowia species identified from I. sexdentatus were, as follows: mean length 16.86±2.2 μm and mean width 2.8±0.3 μm (n = 125). The ascospores of this pathogen were characteristically needle-shaped and therefore, easily distinguishable under the light microscope. The occurrence rate for the ascomycete pathogen (M. typographi) was 3.1%. The gregarine pathogen measured 108.1-203.5 μm and was identified as Gregarina typographi. The occurrence rate for the Gregarine pathogen was 25.8%. The first report for Turkey (Kastamonu) of an ascomycete fungus, Meschnikowia typographi from the pine bark beetle Ips sexdentatus (Boerner) is given in this study. © Medwell Journals, 2009.