The First Record of <i>Monochamus saltuarius</i> (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) as Vector of <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i> and Its New Potential Hosts in China

Pine wilt disease was first discovered in Dongtang town, Liaoning Province, China, in 2017. However, no record of <i>Monochamus alteratus</i> existed in Fengcheng, where <i>M. saltuarius</i> is an indigenous insect, and no experimental evidence has thus far indicated that <...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Min Li, Huan Li, Ruo-Cheng Sheng, Hui Sun, Shou-Hui Sun, Feng-Mao Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/9/636
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Summary:Pine wilt disease was first discovered in Dongtang town, Liaoning Province, China, in 2017. However, no record of <i>Monochamus alteratus</i> existed in Fengcheng, where <i>M. saltuarius</i> is an indigenous insect, and no experimental evidence has thus far indicated that <i>M. saltuarius</i> can transport the <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i> in China. In this study, we investigated whether <i>M. saltuarius</i> is a vector of <i>B. xylophilus</i> in China. On the sixth day after eclosion, beetles began to transmit nematodes into the twigs. The transmission period of nematodes is known to be able to last for 48 days after beetle emergence. In laboratory experiments, <i>M. saltuarius</i> fed and transmitted <i>B. xylophilus</i> not only on pines but also on other non-<i>Pinus</i> conifers. The non-<i>Pinus</i> conifers preferred by <i>M. saltuarius</i> for feeding are <i>Picea pungens</i>, <i>Picea asperata</i>, and <i>Abies fabri</i>. The experimental results show that <i>M. saltuarius</i> functions as a vector of <i>B. xylophilus</i> in northeast China.
ISSN:2075-4450