DETECTION OF BURSAPHELENCHUS MUCRONATUS ASSOCIATED WITH ACANTHOCINUS GRISEUS ON PINUS NIGRA IN THE NORTHWESTERN TURKEY

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Edirne Province, Turkey for the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Wood samples were collected from declining black pine trees. Nematodes were extracted from wood samples and insect specimens were collected. Nematodes were observed and identified microscopically and molecularly with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was not detected, but B. mucronatus  was found in very high numbers with an average up to 300 nematodes/g of wood shaving.  Acanthocinus griseus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) was detected to be associated with B. mucronatus as a potential vector. This is the first report of B. mucronatus association with A. griseus in Turkey.