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Type material of the described species of Ascopus Marshall, 1951, Oreosecus Marshall, 1950, Perarogula Hoffmann, 1963 and Rhadinocopes Hustache, 1931 was examined and their taxonomic status is discussed. Oreosecus Marshall, 1950 and Rhadinocopes Hustache, 1931 are proposed as junior synonyms of Tapinomorphus Hartmann, 1904, Perarogula Hoffmann, 1963 is proposed as a junior synonym of Ascopus Marshall, 1951. Rhadinocopes curvipes Hustache, 1931, R. echinatus Marshall, 1951 and Perarogula lamottei Hoffmann, 1963 are transferred as valid species to the genus Ascopus, Rhadinocopes alticola Hustache, 1939, R. orientalis Hustache, 1931 and Oreosecus porculus Marshall, 1950 are transferred as valid species to the genus Tapinomorphus. Lectotypes of Rhadinocopes orientalis Hustache, 1931 and Rhadinocopes alticola Hustache, 1939 are designated. Ascopus girardi sp. nov. from Guinea, Mt. Nimba, is described and compared with all other species of the genus. Male and female genitalia of Ascopus are described and illustrated for the first time. A key to Ascopus species is presented.

BACKGROUND Root-feeding beetles, particularly Hylastes spp., Hylobius pales Herbst and Pachylobius picivorus Germar, increase in abundance in stressed forest stands and vector Grosmannia and Leptographium spp. fungi, which contribute to southern pine decline (SPD) in the southeastern United States. This study examined changes in the relative abundance of root-feeding beetles in response to mechanical thinning and clear-cut of even-age loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands in central Alabama and Georgia every 2 weeks during a 30 month study in 2009–2012. RESULTS The most abundant bark beetles were Hylastes salebrosus Eichhoff, H. porculus Erichson and H. tenuis Eichhoff. The relative abundance of the Hylastes spp. significantly increased after thinning treatments at all five sites. An initial decrease in Hylastes spp. occurred in response to clear-cut in some plots, but they typically recovered 2 months later and were stable for the remainder of the study. CONCLUSION This study reports on the relative abundance responses of pathogen-vectoring root-feeding beetles to a thinning and clear-cut treatment in P. taeda stands. Thinning treatments conducted during the summer and winter may increase the relative abundance of Hylastes spp., vectors of Leptographium and Grosmannia spp., which are known to contribute to SPD by triggering plants to release defensive volatile compounds. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry