Host preferences of damaging pine shoot beetle species (Tomicus spp.)at pine forests of Aladağ (Bolu) province

Two Tomicus (Col: Curculionidae) pine shoot beetles, Tomicus minor (Hartig.) and Tomicus piniperda (L.), are considered the most destructive pests of pines stands in Turkey. At high population densities, due to their feeding in the shoots of pine trees may lead to substantial shoot and subsequent growth losses. In this study, it is aimed to determine which tree species forest shooters prefer for shoot damage, to determine the distribution of this damage on the crown part of the tree, to evaluate the insect epidemic in terms of population and shoot characteristics in the unit area of tree taxa. For this purpose, at an altitude of Ebe black pine and three different altitudes of scots pine and black pine species forest, six sample pine trees were selected in each altitude in the Bolu-Aladağ forests. Bark beetles were identified and counted on at least fourteen of the current year shoots, which were taken in a square meter on the south parts of a tree crown on the usually northern slopes. Pure pine stands can be exposed to up to four times shoot attacks compared to mixed fir and pine stands. Tomicus minor in black pine and Tomicus piniperda in scots pine are preferred by primary bark beetles attacks. The most vulnerable taxa as the number of attacked shoots per square meter in tree crowns are Ebe black pine, Anatolian black pine and Scots pine, respectively. The needle length and diameters of current year attacked shoots was greater than non-attacked shoots. The number of Bark beetles indivudial increase as the shoot position higher on tress. As a result, by taking into consideration of these species-specific trends for colonization density and feedings, integrated pestmanagement plans can be designed which help prevent or reduce losses caused to both the timber and nursery industries.