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Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal, 1999 (amended)
Ips typographus
EOL Text
Ips typographus (Linnaeus,1758) or as it is commonly known, the 8-toothed spruce bark beetle, is one of the most commonly encountered of the bark beetles (family Scolytidae). It is also potentially one of the most destructive, reaching pest proportions when outbreaks occur.It prefers to attack trees already suffering damage from adverse weather conditions, though it can attack living and healthy trees if populations reach pest proportions.It mainly lives in the bark of the Christmas tree, Norway spruce (Picea abies) but will attack other pines and larches.The chambers created by the larvae of this beetle can be seen in the thin bark and the surface of the wood, which is a behavioural characteristic unique to this species.Like most bark beetles it is small, 4.2mm–5.5mm and bears a series of 4 ‘teeth’ along the base of each elytra (wing case) from which it gets its name.
Distribution
This species is found throughout Europe and northern Asia. Although outbreaks have occurred in the UK, this species is not currently recorded here, but is regularly intercepted at ports.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Dr Beulah Garner, Natural History Museum |
Source | No source database. |
The study of host-pathogen interaction, as well as the vector (Ips typographus) is one of the key tools in managing pest outbreak and damage to the Norway spruce. Research into genomics will help scientists to understand what genes are important for resistance to the host.Molecular study will help to isolate resistant as well as susceptible stands of Norway spruce which in turn will inform pest management for the future.Pest management of Ips typographus can be carried out effectively and in an environmentally-friendly manner by methods of control based on scientists' knowledge of insect-chemical communication. The development of negative semiochemical signals away from host selection of the bark beetle have proved more successful in some cases than the more traditional approach of mass trapping with pheromones.Natural enemies such as the Eurasian 3-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) predate on the larvae of bark beetles. Though successful in maintaining equilibrium amongst species, natural enemies such as this bird could not mitigate the effects of a serious pest outbreak.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Dr Beulah Garner, Natural History Museum |
Source | No source database. |
The beetle introduces a fungus, Ceratocystis polonica - the blue-stain fungus - to the tree, which interferes with the tree’s resin production. Without this resin the tree is unable to repel potential beetle pest attack. This is why it is more advantageous to the beetle to attack damaged or dying wood. When the beetle is forced to attack live stands, its population must be larger in number to introduce enough fungus to attack a living tree, which under normal circumstances, would be able to produce enough defensive resin to fend off the attack. This is achieved by the aggregation pheromone produced by the males, (methyl butenol and cis-verbenol) though females can produce some cis-verbenol.The pheromone is also used to attract mates. The male usually enjoys a harem of up to 4 females. The male prepares a ‘nuptial chamber’ beneath the bark to make way for the female to excavate larval tunnels, along which she will lay her eggs. This is a linear ‘gallery’ of chambers which increase in size as the larvae grow bigger. The tunnels radiate at right-angles from the central chamber and reach between 10cm to 20cm in length. They are usually 3-armed but can also be multi-branched.These tunnels are excavated in the phloem layer which is 2–4mm thick. The phloem transports sugars and amino acids throughout the tree, providing nutrition for root development and needle growth.The male regulates the number of females by blocking the entrance hole with his spiny rear end. This ensures there is no adverse competition amongst the larvae and also prevents other pest attacks on the vulnerable soft-bodied larvae.The female lives for approximately 3 weeks in which time she is capable of laying approximately 50 eggs. Egg production is temperature-dependant, with the low threshold at approximately 11°C. For juvenile development, optimum temperature is approximately 30°C.This beetle’s life-cycle from reproduction to adulthood (full metamorphosis) is completed between 7–11 weeks.A key to its success is its ability to complete more than one generation per year, dependant on favourable temperature.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Dr Beulah Garner, Natural History Museum |
Source | No source database. |
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ips+typographus |
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Ips typographus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Ips typographus feeds within cambium of Picea
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Ips typographus feeds within cambium of Pinus
Ips typographus is generally associated with damaged trees, windblown from gales or recently felled trees. If there is a plentiful source of this type of habitat, population numbers can increase rapidly, causing the beetles to move on to nearby healthy tree stands. It is at this point that the beetle becomes a serious pest.Signs of infestation include:
- exit holes (2–3mm)
- frass - the debris left behind from the beetles’ excavation
- very small tubes of resin extruding from the bark
It is Ceratocystis polonica, a fungus carried by the beetle which causes blue stain in the spruce and causes the most severe damage, rather than the gallery boring itself. This blue stain fungus will kill healthy trees, and also stain the wood blue, thereby reducing the value of commercial stock. This is what makes this beetle a well-known economically important pest.The damage becomes evident within a few weeks of infestation, and in standing trees needles will first turn yellow and then brown as they defoliate.With global temperatures rising, this beetle can now inhabit altitudes beyond its original range (dispersal flights are initiated at 20°C and larval development as low as 8°C). This has implications for ecosystem management.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Dr Beulah Garner, Natural History Museum |
Source | No source database. |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 12
Specimens with Barcodes: 14
Species With Barcodes: 1
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.
Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.
See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen.
Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.
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United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ips+typographus |
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ips+typographus |