Egypt. J. Plant Prot. Res. Inst. (2019), 2 (1): 103-112 Egyptian Journal of Plant Protection Research Institute www.ejppri.eg.net Factors affecting on infestation of apple trees with pinhole beetle, Hypothenemus eruditus (Scolytinae: Curculionidae: Coleoptera) at Menoufia Governorate, Egypt Batt, M.A. Wood Borers and Termites Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. ARTICLE INFO Abstract: Hypothenemus eruditus Westwood (Scolytinae: Article History Curculionidae: Coleoptera) is considered the most Received: 14 / 1 / 2019 widespread and abundant scolytine in the world. The aim of Accepted: 10 / 3 /2019 this is to study the effect of the factors, moisture content of ________________ apple branches, different heights from ground surface and Keywords dominant weather factors on infestation of apple trees with H. Hypothenemus eruditus, eruditus. The results indicated, these factors obviously Coleoptera, Curculioni- detected the following: dae, Scolytinae and apple 1) The highest infestation was recorded for branches with trees. 26.9% moisture content for cutting branches to 7days ago. 2) The highest number of entrance holes recorded for branches at height 150- 200cm. 3) Population fluctuation of H. eruditus beetle during activity periods revealed that the beetles are abundant all year. The number of attracted beetles to intact apple branches, estimated by number of entrance holes, appeared six and five peaks of population density during two successive years of study (2017 and 2018). 4) Seasonal activity of attracted beetles detected that the highest percentages of entrance holes were recorded during the summer followed by the spring or autumn then the winter. The highest monthly percentage of entranced beetles recorded 15.63% during July (2017) and 14.67% during August (2018), while the lowest percentage showed at January of both two seasons. Weather factors showed clear different effects on population fluctuation of beetles Introduction from an unusually broad range of host The pinhole beetle, Hypothenemus species and plant tissues and is abundant in eruditus Westwood (Scolytinae: most tropical and subtropical regions, and Curculionidae: Coleoptera) (tiny beetle) is consequently, it is widely collected considered a “super-generalist,” recorded (Wood ,1982). It is one of the important 103 Egypt. J. Plant Prot. Res. Inst. (2019), 2 (1): 103-112 pests that attack many species of fruit and (Ficus carica) trees in Aydın province, wooden trees. The infestation of H. while Tuncer et al. (2017) surveyed the eruditus beetles causes the death and bark beetle H. eruditus on hazelnut dryness of infested branches and twigs, the orchards in Aydın, Mersin, Samsun color of tree branches become fading and provinces. In India, Keshavareddy et al. reddish brown. In Egypt, Willcocks (1924); (2007) recorded H. eruditus beetle for the Batt(1999b) and Hashim (2009) reported first time on jack fruits (Artocarpus that H. eruditus beetle infested mulberry, heterophyllus) trees. fig, mango and sesseban causing death to Bastos and Lima (1981) found that H. branches and twigs. As well as the pinehole eruditus [H. obscures (Miiller)] (beetles borer, H. eruditus infested citrus trees, attack shoots of Manicoba (Manihot Ficus spp, Poinciana sp, Acacia sp, glzivoii), while Zelaya et al., 1984 stated Hibscus sp, and pitosoporum sp (Hammad that H. eruditus was trapped in plantations ,1961). Also, Girgis (1987) surveyed H. of (Pinus oocarpa and Pinus caribaea) in eruditus in Alexandria, Beheira, Gharbia, Barazil. Menoufia, Qalubia and Minia Beardsley (1990) and lȌbl and Governoratesand he recorded this beetle on Smetana (2011) mentioned that some hosts plum, apple, pear, Fig sycomorus, Fig such as coffee berries, nutmeg (Myristica carica, mango, olive, citrus, white poplar, fragrans Houtt.), macadamia nuts lebbek, sessban, royal poinciana and (Macadamia sp.), cocoa, tamarind, and mulberry trees. The same author found that jackfruit were attacked by H. eruditus (H. H. eruditus attacked small branches (less obscures) pest. Other authors had listed H. than 6cm diameter) and preferred the eruditus (H. obscures) infested coffee weakened branches of several hosts berries (eg.: Da Costa Lima (1956); Le comprising fruit and wood trees. Pelley (1968); Kathleen et al. (1994) and In addition to that Batt et al. (1993) Constantino et al., 2011). recorded the H. eruditus beetles on sweet Previous studies on scolytid beetles lemon, mandarin, lemon and kumquat trees; (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) by many furthermore, they mentioned that the researchers such as Graham and Werner highest percentage of infestation recorded (1956); Chapman (1962) and (1963); at Sharkia Governorate, while the lowest Russo (1963); Charars (1976); Charars et percentage of infestation was in Beni-Suef al. (1978), Moeck et al. (1981); Girgis Governorate. The infestation percentages (1987) and Batt (1989) indicated that on pear, apple, plum, peach and apricot several factors play an essential part trees reached 37%, 28%, 19%, 13%, 3% affecting on infestation by scolytids, these respectively by H. eruditus beetles at Kafer factors included weakened, dead or healthy alaem village, Berkt El-Saba district, branches, odors constituents of wood, Menoufia Governorate (Batt,1999 a). volatile chemicals (primary attraction by In Germany, Blunck (1954) terpenes give off by the tree), physiological mentioned that Ficus sp., Citrus sp., Vitis conditions, excreta and chemical changes in vinifera (Grapevine) and Acacia sp. are host the tree tissues by attack the first beetles, as plants to H. eruditus. It is also attacked well as moisture content which has seedlings cocoa trees and caused the important role in attraction of beetles to cut damage and death to them (Batt,1999a) and logs(branches) used as host trap for is H. eruditu spread in the area from mechanical control of scolytid beetles. Michigan (USA) to Argentina (Wood Other important factors have most ,2007). influences on the infestation of orchards In Turkey, Akşit et al. (2005) fruit trees with wood borers, these factors recorded H. eruditus as a new pest on fig comprise the attack density of insect 104 Batt, 2019 population and meteorological conditions The suitable moisture content which which include field temperature and relative attracted the highest number of beetles humidity for surrounding air with the trees. (entrance holes) used to definition the The objective of the present work is suitable timing for cut the intact apple to study the effect of temperature, relative branches as host traps. humidity, moisture content, height of The intact apple branches (1.5diameter) attacked branches on infestation of H. were cut and left to suitable timing to eruditus beetles to apple trees at Menoufia obtain required moisture content, the Governorate, Egypt. As well as the branches were divided to cuttings (50cm possibility to use the apple branches as host length). Each five cuttings were hanged on traps (logs) to control of this pest. branches of tree at different heights of Materials and Methods regions (0-50, 50-100,100-150, 150-200, Infested apple orchard (about 5 200-250 and 250-300cm) for 20 trees and feddans, 12 years old) with pinehole left 2 weeks, the number of entrance holes beetles, H. eruditus, was chosen at Al- at each height were recorded to definition Khatatba location, Sadat district, Menoufia the suitable height to attract the highest Governorate during October 2016. The number of beetles. experimental area not treated with any After definition the suitable height, 20 chemical treatments throughout the period groups from intact branches with suitable of this work. The current study is interested timing of cut (each group contain 5 cutting with definition each of the suitable moisture x 50cm length) were hanged on 20 infested content of apple branches, suitable height to trees at suitable height, these groups were attract the highest number of beetles, the replacing each 2 weeks. Continued determine the seasonal activity and examination was made, the weakly number population fluctuation of beetles under of entranced holes was recorded throughout effects of field temperature and relative the period from the first of January 2017 to humidity. the ending December 2018. To determine the suitable moisture The seasonal activity and population content of apple branches for attract the fluctuation of attracted beetles and the beetles, intact apple branches of about 1.5 effect of dominant factors of field diameter were cut on different periods (28, temperature and relative humidity on beetle 21, 14, 7,3 and 0 days) and divided to population was studied. Statistical analysis cuttings of 50cm length. One cutting from of obtained data was made according SAS each period was gathered to making one program (2003). group tied together. 20 groups were tied on Results and discussion the trunk of infested trees with H. 1.The effect of moisture content of apple eruditus (each group on infested tree), these branches on number attracted beetles: groups were examined continually for The number of attracted H. 2weeks and the entrance holes in each eruditus beetles was determined with cutting were recorded. The moisture number of entrance holes in apple branches contents corresponding with the number of cut on different periods as a result in the days after cutting were determine using change of moisture content to attacked heat oven at 105 C° and percentage of branches.The number of entrance holes at