Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff, 1868

Barnouin, Thomas, Soldati, Fabien, Roques, Alain, Faccoli, Massimo, Kirkendall, Lawrence R., Mouttet, Raphaëlle, Daubree, Jean-Baptiste & Noblecourt, Thierry, 2020, Bark beetlesand pinhole borers recently ornewly introduced toFrance (Coleoptera Curculionidae, Scolytinae and Platypodinae), Zootaxa 4877 (1), pp. 51-74 : 60

- Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff

( Figs. 2C, 2D )

Distribution. This recently reinstated species was previously confused with X. ferrugineus ; it is presumably native to the Neotropics where it occurs widely ( Kirkendall & Jordal 2006), X. bispinatus has spread to much of the Americas with tropical timber trade ( Faccoli et al. 2016a).After the first finding in Sicily ( Italy) in 2014 ( Faccoli et al. 2016a), France is the second European country colonized by this insect. Detected on trees in eight localities in two years, this ambrosia beetle is already considered established in Sicily ( Faccoli et al. 2016a). In France, its occurrence for the moment is still limited to the municipality of Nice, where five individuals were trapped in two localities. Although this needs to be confirmed, it is possible that this species is established in France.

New records: ALPES-MARITIMES – Nice, Mont Boron, interception traps baited with ethanol 20%: 1 ind. from 23.V. to 07.VI.2017, 1 ind. from 04.VII. to 18.VII.2017 and 1 ind. from 12.IX. to 26.IX.2017, DSF leg.; Nice, castle, bottle trap: 1 ind. from 20.VI. to 05.VII.2017 and 1 ind. from 01.VIII. to 22.VIII.2017, DSF leg .

Biology and ecology: X. bispinatus is a polyphagous species, but following the long period of synonymy with X. ferrugineus its host plants remain uncertain ( Kirkendall & Jordal 2006; Faccoli et al. 2016a). X. bispinatus is an ambrosia beetle infesting only dying or recently dead trees ( Faccoli et al. 2016a). In Florida, X. bispinatus breeds in avocado ( Persea americana Mill. ), Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg and Australian Palm ( Wodyetia bifurcata Irvine ) ( Atkinson et al. 2013); it has also been recorded from oak ( Quercus ) and big-leaf mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla King ) ( Faccoli et al. 2016a). In Sicily, X. bispinatus has been observed only in wild and cultivated common figs ( Ficus carica ) ( Faccoli et al. 2016a), while in France the host plants are currently unknown. In Sicily, it was always found in figs that were massively infested by C. dilutus , another invasive scolytine recently detected in France.

Damage and infestation risk: X. bispinatus , like most Xyleborini , should be considered a secondary pest attacking only dead, dying or very stressed trees ( Faccoli et al. 2016a). However, like all Xyleborini , this insect carries symbiotic fungi, some of which could be pathogenic for certain host trees ( Carrillo et al. 2013; Beaver 2013; Vannini et al. 2017).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff (2.2 mm). A. dorsal view; B. lateral view. Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff (2.8 mm). C. dorsal view; D. lateral view. Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabricius) (2.4 mm). E. dorsal view. Xyloterinus politus (Say) (3.4 mm). F. dorsal view. Length of specimens in brackets. (Photos: Fabien Soldati).