Scolytids associated with a population of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild)

Abstract

Black wattle cultivation is an important source of income in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Due to lack of information concerning the insect fauna in this kind of environment, this paper aims to analyze on a quali-quantitative basis the scolytid species associated with a population of Acacia mearnsii De Wild, in order to identify species that may cause damage to this species. For this, 36 􀃀ight-interception ethanolic traps were installed in a plantation located in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The species Hypothenemus eruditus, Xyleborinus saxeseni, Hypothenemus sp.2, Microcorthylus quadridens, and Corthylus pharax were the most representative within the population. The Xyleborini tribe was among the most frequent and, as it has species that cause damage, it deserves attention with regard to potential outbreaks. There was no signi􀂿cant correlation between abundance of the most sampled species and climate variables.

Keywords

• Coleopterans
• Forest pests
• Woodboring beetle