Distribution of the invasive ambrosia beetle Anisandrus maiche (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Switzerland and first record in Europe of its ambrosia fungus Ambrosiella cleistominuta

• DOI: 10.3897/alpento.8.117537
• Publication Date: 2024-03-18T16:31:55Z
• Authors: José P. Ribeiro-C...; Simone Prospero; Ludwig Beenken; Peter H. W. Biede...; Simon Blaser; Manuela Branco; Yannick Chittaro; David Frey; Doris Hölling; Sezer Olivia Kaya; Miloš Knížek; Jana Mittelstrass; Beat Ruffner; Andreas Sanchez; Eckehard G. Brock...
• Keywords: Ambrosia beetle; Ambrosia

Ambrosia beetles are highly successful as invaders because they often transported internationally with wood packaging and other products their inbreeding mating systems facilitates establishment of invading populations. In 2022, two independent insect surveys in canton Ticino (southern Switzerland) revealed the widespread occurrence invasive ambrosia beetle Anisandrus maiche (Kurentzov, 1941) from southern to central-upper Ticino. This species is native east Asia has previously been found a non-native United States, Canada, western Russia, Ukraine and, 2021, northern Italy. Here, we present results several trapping studies using different trap types (bottle traps, funnel traps Polytrap intercept traps) attractants map distribution species. total, 715 specimens A. , all female, were trapped, identity selected individuals was confirmed by morphological molecular identification based on three mitochondrial nuclear markers (COI, 28S CAD). Trap samples early April September 2022 intervals four weeks showed that flights occurred mainly June mid-August. Isolation fungal associates trapped alive presence species, including fungus Ambrosiella cleistominuta known mutualist . The comparing DNA sequences its nuclear, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene reference NCBI BOLDSYSTEMS. represents first record Europe. Of isolated Ticino, Fusarium lateritium note there possibility could act vector this plant pathogen. We highlight research needs should be addressed gain insight into potential impact these overcome problems heteroplasmy COI invasion population genetics beetles.