Common name: Vector of the Pine Wilt Nematode
Scientific name: Monochamus galloprovincialis
Order: Coleoptera
Affects: Pine forests
Main season: End of Spring, Summer and Autumn
Cerambycidae or longhorn beetles are from the Coleoptera family that have strictly phytophagous habits. Amongst them, the most important species feed on wood plant tissues.
The Monochamus genus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) is part of the Monochamini tribe, which is made up of more than 600 species grouped into almost 100 genera. It is a family with phytophagous habits. There are many species of forest interest that feed on wood plant tissues and the majority of them are saproxylic insects. These species carry out very important roles in the forest ecosystem and are essential to the matter and energy cycles in forests.
The Monochamus genus is made up of 150 species all over the world, although they are mostly in Equatorial Africa where many species attack the coffee and cocoa plants. In the mild forests of the Holarctic region, the Monochamus species live on top of conifers.
On the Iberian Peninsula, the Monochamus genus is made up exclusively of two species: Monochamus sutor (Linneo 1758), and M. galloprovincialis (Olivier 1795). M. sutor is a species of the Palearctic region, reaching as far as Japan. It is rare to the Iberian Peninsula because it is only found in the Pyrenees. The second species, M. galloprovincialis, is much more common and is distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin, central Europe, the Caucasus region, Siberia, Mongolia and China. On the Iberian Peninsula, they live on almost all of the Pinus, including the Abies and Picea. species. . Some evidence seems to indicate that there is very little preference for Pinus pinea. on the Iberian Peninsula.
The adults attack the bark and phloem of growing branches and the larvae have phloem-xylophagous habits. None of the species of the Monochamus genus reproduce on healthy trees, but they are attracted to stressed, dying or recently deceased trees. They are also attracted to freshly cut wood, favoured by previous attacks from Ipini bark beetles (Orthotomicus e Ips). In fact, the kairomonal attractant used to attract the species, consists of kairomones that have been produced by the host and kairomones produced by the bark beetles that attack the tree, mainly ipsenol.
When Monochamus colonises these trees which already have a previously established population of bark beetles, it then acts as what is known as an expert predator or intraguild predator.
This means that the Monochamus larvae will feed on the phloem and other bark beetle larvae found inside the trees, regardless of them already living there. This extra protein intake is very likely to provide the Monochamus larvae with some sort of advantage over those that do not consume it (Mas, 2016).
The female lays her eggs in fissures with a characteristic cone shape or bite mark, excavated in the bark of suitable trees.
Male
Female
The larvae are apodous, more or less cylindrical, and have a thickening on the cephalic segments that partly hide the head. In the beginning, they feed on phloem and cambium. Later on, they enter inside the xylem and build a U-shaped gallery that ends in a pupal chamber, from which they emerge through a circular bore hole. Once the young adult has emerged, it goes through a period of sexual maturity in which it feeds on the soft bark of small branches, brachyblasts, phloem and pines shoots.
M. galloprovicialis is therefore a non-aggressive insect. It is a very minor species that brings important benefits to the functioning of the forest ecosystem. It would not be of much interest if it were not for the fact that M. galloprovincialis had been identified as the vector of the Pine Wilt Disease, caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Portugal in 1999 (Sousa et al. 2001). Nowadays, it is the main vector of the disease on the Iberian Peninsula. Interaction between both organisms is a relationship of mutual interest, obligatory for the nematode and facultative for the beetle. This is because the nematode needs the beetle for its transport and dispersal. The beetle benefits from the death of the forest caused by the nematode, because it means an increase in host material where to place its eggs.
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus eis a phytosanitary quarantine species introduced into Europe in 1999 when it was detected on the Setubal peninsula, in Portugal. Since then, it has spread out so much, that practically the entire territory of mainland Portugal has been declared a demarcated area.
In Spain, four outbreaks have been detected since 2008, all close to the Portuguese border. Three of them in the province of Cáceres and the remaining one in Pontevedra. Three of the outbreaks are considered to be under control and the other completely eradicated.
The only vectors that have been shown to be effective in transmitting B. xylophilus, are species of the Monochamus, specifically seven species: M. carolinensis, M. mutator, M. scutellatus and M. titillator in North America; M. alternatus y M. saltuarius in Northeast Asia and M. galloprovincialis in Europe.
Therefore, one of the fundamental tools for controlling this disease is the control of its vector, as it is the only way to transmit the nematode from one tree to another.
Research carried out within the framework of the European project REPHRAME has shown that the most effective trap for capturing Monochamus galloprovincialis is the CROSSTRAP® (Álvarez et al, 2014), including for capturing this insect live. Capturing live insects is the best way to assess whether they carry nematodes, because when the insect dies, the nematodes leave the vector.
For the detection and monitoring of Monochamus galloprovincialis in nematode-free areas, 1 CROSSTRAP® should be placed every 20 hectares. These traps should be separated at least 1000 m from each other. On surfaces of less than 20 hectares, at least one trap should be placed per forest stand or forest mass.
Phenology of Monochamus galloprovincialis
To protect small circular areas or wood stockpiles, use 3 to 10 traps surrounding the area. The traps should be placed in areas with good visibility, such as forest edges, forest trails or fire-breaks. Particularly windy places should be avoided, as the wind makes it difficult for the insects to fly and could damage the traps.
A detection trap system should cover the environmental variability of the monitored forest. In general, traps should be installed and operational between April and December.
A CROSSTRAP® trap and the ECONEX MONOCHAMUS ATTRACTANT 60 DAYS kairomone diffusers, that will hang on the trap using the holes on one of the PVC sheets.
The diffusers are in a blister pack, with a duration of 60 days. They are individually packaged in an aluminium sachet with labelled specifications. Once taken out of the packaging, the diffusers need no activation or opening , just placed correctly on the trap.
ECONEX MONOCHAMUS ATTRACTIF 60 DAYS 1UNIT
Kairomone diffusers for the attraction of both sexes of the species Monochamus galloprovincialis, with a duration of 60 days in normal field conditions.
Code: UIPHOVA195
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 134/2014
For its correct functioning, it is recommended to use it with the CROSSTRAP® MINI trap, a state-of-the-art trap to catch coleopteran insects during flight. This trap has been developed in an R&D project (University of Murcia - ECONEX) with the aim of developing traps and attractants for forest insects.
These traps consist of a polypropylene lid with a central carabiner attached to a stainless-steel spring and two reinforced PVC sheets anchored at the top to the lid by four stainless steel springs that serve as shock absorbers against strong winds, thus helping to avoid damage to the trap. At the bottom, the reinforced PVC sheets are attached by steel springs to a removable polypropylene funnel with a 30 cm diameter. At the end of the funnel lies the container for holding the captured insects.
The sheets, the funnel and the collector are treated with a slippery product that considerably increases the catches and prevents them from escaping.
The funnel is made of polypropylene, 30 cm in diameter, and consists of two equal halves that can be easily assembled.
The trap can be operational for up to 10 years, due to its high-strength construction and components. The unfolded trap measures 33 cm in diameter by 106 cm in height.
The trap can be used with two types of collector: CROSSTRAP® WET COLLECTION CUP (with slider) 1L for wet catches, and CROSSTRAP® DRY COLLECTION CUP (with slider) for dry use or live catches.
CROSSTRAP® MINI WITH WET COLLECTION CUP (with slider)
Trap for coleopteran insect interception during flight.
Code: UIPFETA226
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 153/2013
CROSSTRAP® MINI WITH DRY COLLECTION CUP (with slider)
Trap for coleopteran insect interception during flight.
Code: UIPFETA204
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 153/2013
The CROSSTRAP® WET COLLECTION CUP (with slider) 1 L for retaining captured insects is located at the bottom of the funnel. It has a capacity of approximately 1 litre (11 cm diameter x 13.5 cm high).
The CROSSTRAP® DRY COLLECTION CUP (with slider) is designed to hold the captured insects is located at the bottom of the funnel. It has a capacity of approximately 1 litre (11 cm diameter x 13.5 cm high) and is fitted with a stainless-steel mesh at the bottom to allow rainwater to drain away.
Wet catches allow precise identification of the captures. For this purpose, it is recommended to fill the collector with 10 ml of 10 or 20 % diluted propylene glycol or, if necessary, car antifreeze. This liquid serves both as a kill agent and as a preservative, as long as it is not diluted too much by rain, in which case it should be replaced.
CROSSTRAP® WET COLLECTION CUP (with slider) 1 L
Wet catch collector located at the bottom of CROSSTRAP® traps.
Code: UIPFETA311
CROSSTRAP® DRY COLLECTION CUP (with slider)
Trap collector for dry use, or live traps, located at the bottom of the CROSSTRAP® traps.
Code: UIPFETA157
CROSSTRAP® DRY COLLECTION CUP
View from below
The diffusers must be stored in their original packaging in a cool and dry place and separated from food and drinks.
To preserve the diffusers for long periods of time, it is recommended to keep them in the refrigerator at 4 o C in which case they will last for 2 years. Or they can be kept in the freezer at -20 o C for 4 years.
ECONEX MONOCHAMUS ATTRACTANT 60 DAYS
Corrugated cardboard box of 150 units (30 packs of 5 units).
Box size: 0.60 x 0.40 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 16.40 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 1.20 x 0.80 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 335 kg.
Pack of 5 units
Box of 150 units.
(30 packs x 5 units)
CROSSTRAP® WITH WET COLLECTION CUP (with slider)
Corrugated cardboard box of 8 units.
Box size: 0.60 x 0.80 x 0.48 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 13.20 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 8
Pallet size: 1.20 x 0.80 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 116 kg.
Box 0f 8 units.
CROSSTRAP® WITH DRY COLLECTION CUP (with slider)
Corrugated cardboard box of 8 units.
Box size: 0.60 x 0.80 x 0.48 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 13.20 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 8
Pallet size: 1.20 x 0.80 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 116 kg.
Box of 8 units.
ECONEX CATALOGUE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR FOREST PESTS
Catalogue in PDF format with 94 pages. An essential reference book about the biological behaviours of the main forest insect populations. It also includes solutions from ECONEX to solve the problems caused by these insects through the use of traps and specific attractants.
Download the catalogue by clicking on the image.
ECONEX MONOCHAMUS ATTRACTANT LEAFLET
The leaflet can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking on the image.
ECONEX GREEN AREAS LEAFLET
Leaflet in PDF format that can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
www.greenareas.e-econex.eu
ECONEX LEARNING CENTER
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