Search

Ambrozijske podlubnike uvrščamo med najpomembnejše tujerodne invazivne organizme. Še posebej uspešna pri osvajanju novih območij pa je vrsta Xyosandrus germanus, ki je bila leta 2000 prvič najdena tudi v Sloveniji. Namen naše naloge je bil potrditi razširjenost in ugotoviti velikost populacije X. germanus v revirju Šentvid (KE ZGS Škofljica). Vrsto smo spremljali s pomočjo pasti iz odpadnih plastenk, ki smo jih naredili sami. Postavljene so bile v treh različnih gozdnih sestojih, in sicer smo v vsakem sestoju postavili štiri pasti z različnimi vabami (etanol, denaturiran etanol, kombinacija etanola in %-pinena ter kontrolna past brez vabe), v zbirni posodi je bil konzervans etilen glikol. Pasti smo spremljali osem tednov, v obdobju med 26. 4. 2017 in 20. 6. 2017, jih tedensko praznili, ulov pa determinirali v Laboratoriju za ekološke raziskave - entomologija, Oddelka za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire BF. Ujeli smo 11.460 osebkov X. germanus, kar je v skupnem ulovu pomenilo kar 90,09 % celotnega ulova hroščev oziroma 95,30 % celotnega ulova podlubnikov. Tako številčen ulov kaže na to, da je populacija X. germanus na raziskovalnem območju velika. Poleg vrste X. germanus smo potrdili še enega tujerodnega ambrozijskega podlubnika, in sicer vrsto Gnathotrichus materiarius. Naši rezultati kažejo, da ni večjih razlik v učinkovitosti privabljanja vrste X. germanus med testiranimi vabami. Glede na število ujetih osebkov vrste X. germanus pa lahko trdimo, da so tudi doma narejene pasti iz odpadnih plastenk lahko primerno orodje za spremljanje tujerodnih ambrozijskih podlubnikov. Ambrosia bark beetles have been identified as one of the most invasive non-native organisms. The species Xylosandrus germanus, which was first recorded in Slovenia in the year 2000, is highly adaptable to novel environments. The aim of the current study was to confirm the presence and determine the actual population size of X. germanus in the Šentvid forest district (within the Škofljica local unit of the Slovenia Forest Service). Monitoring was conducted using home-made traps from plastic bottles. The traps were set in three different forest stands, namely 4 traps with different attractants (i.e. ethanol, denatured ethanol, a blend of ethanol and %-pinene and unbaited (control) trap) were set in each stand. Ethylene glycol was used as a preservative. The traps, which were monitored over an eight-week period, i.e. between 26th April 2017 and 20th June 2017, were emptied on a weekly basis, and the trap captures were subsequently determined in the Laboratory for Ecological Research - Entomology at the Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources at the Biotechnical Faculty. A total of 11,460 captured X. germanus individuals comprised 90.09 % of all the collected beetle specimens, or 95.30 % of all the captured bark beetle specimens. Such a large catch indicates that the population size of X. germanus in the research area is large. In addition to X. germanus, we confirmed the presence of another non-native ambrosia bark beetle, namely Gnathotrichus materiarius. Our results show that there are no significant differences in the efficiency of attracting X. germanus between the tested attractants. A high proportion of X. germanus specimens in the catch undoubtedly confirms that home-made traps from disposable plastic bottles represent a viable monitoring tool for the surveillance of non-native ambrosia bark beetle populations.

The East Asian ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus germanus - Blandford 1894) is an invasive species that has become successfully established in Europe and North America. In Slovenia, X. germanus was first recorded in 2000 in the western part of the country, and since 2008 the species has also been identified in other parts of Slovenia. The first economic damage was recorded in 2016 after a massive attack on recently felled logs of different tree species, spurring research into this non-native invasive species. To examine the distribution and abundance of X. germanus compared to other ambrosia beetles and to determine voltinism and the flight period of the species in our climatic conditions, we deployed 19 ethanol-baited traps from March to November 2017 in oak-, beech- and fir-dominated forest stands in central Slovenia. To verify the vertical distribution of X. germanus, traps were installed at altitudes ranging from 303 m to 941 m a.s.l. Furthermore, the impact of the ice storm that hit Slovenia in 2014 on the abundance of X. germanus was also studied. Non-native X. germanus represented 71.8% of the total catch and was significantly more abundant than the other five most common species: Xyleborinus saxesenii (20.0%), Xyleborus monographus (3.6%), Anisandrus dispar (2.5%), Trypodendron domesticum (1.2%) and Trypodendron signatum (0.6%). X. germanus was most abundant in beech-dominated stands, but the differences between forest types were not significant. The species was found along the entire altitudinal gradient. Our results indicate that the swarming of X. germanus in lowland forests may already occur by the middle of March. Maximum flying activity was observed in May and early June in forests below 600 m a.s.l. and at the end of May and in June in forests above 700 m a.s.l. Only one generation per year was observed. The ice storm positively affected the abundance of X. germanus, especially in areas where sanitary logging was delayed. Xyleborinus attenuatus was detected for the first time in Slovenia.

The purpose of the study was to develop, calibrate and validate a comprehensive phenological model for the spatiotemporal simulation of the seasonal development of the six-toothed spruce bark beetle, Pityogenes chalcographus (CHAPY). The validation dataset was acquired through monitoring of the bark beetle's phenology at eight sites in Slovenia in 2017 and 2018, along with air and bark temperature measurements. The predictions were made using air temperature from the INCA system (Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis), which is used to calculate the effective bark temperature for beetle development. Since the biology of P. chalcographus is poorly studied, a sensitivity analysis was used to pinpoint the most important model parameters. The first order (main) effect was the highest for the lower developmental threshold (DTL), while the second order (interaction, total) effect was the highest for the optimum temperature (TO). DTL was calibrated with an iterative procedure, and the best result with the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) was achieved at 7.4°C. Effective temperatures in the range between TO and the upper developmental threshold were calculated with a nonlinear function whose parameters were appropriately calibrated. The spring date threshold when the model calculation starts was calibrated with an iterative procedure and set at 9th March, which had the minimum MAE. The onset of Norway spruce infestation in spring was estimated using a lower threshold of 15.6°C for flight activity and a mean thermal sum of 216.5 degree-days (dd) from 9th March onward. The observed mean thermal sum required for total development of filial beetles was 652.8 ± 22.7°C, while the predicted mean thermal sum was 635.4 ± 31.4°C. Re-emergence of parental beetles occurred when 52.7% of the minimum thermal sum for total development was reached. The relative duration of the egg, larval and combination of the pupal and teneral adult developmental stages was 9.4%, 58.2% and 32.4%, respectively. Mass swarming concluded in the end of August when daylength was lower than 13.6 h, which was determined with the independent dataset of 1,017 pheromone traps. The diapause initiation at a daylength

International audience; The North American oak lace bug feeds on leaves of 'white oaks" in its native range. In Europe, it was first discovered in northern Italy in 2000. In recent years, it has subsequently spread rapidly and population outbreaks have been observed in several European countries. In the present study, we summarize the steps of its expansion. To predict its potential host range, we checked 48 oak species in 20 sentinel gardens in seven countries between 2013 and 2018. In total, 27 oak species were recorded as suitable hosts; 13 of them are globally new ones, 23 out of the 29 in section Quercus (similar to white oaks, an intrageneric taxonomic unit within genus Quercus), including Asian oaks, native to Japan, Korea and China, and four out of five in section Cerris (another intrageneric unit of the same genus), were accepted as hosts. None of the species in section Lobatae (red oaks) or in the Ilex group was accepted. Host records were also collected in forest stands of 10 countries. We found 11 oak species that were infested. Outbreak populations were most commonly found on Quercus robur, Quercus frainetto, Quercus petraea and Quercus cerris, comprising widespread and outstandingly important oaks species in Europe. Based on our findings, we conclude that suitable hosts for oak lace bug are present in most of Europe and Asia. This means that a lack of hosts will likely not restrict further range expansion.

Parasitoids are known to be an important factor in the population density regulation of bark beetles. In our study of the parasitoid complex of spruce bark beetles in 2011 and 2012, we collected bark samples from trees infested with I. typographus from spruce stands in the altimontane belt of Slovenia. The samples were taken at different altitudes: 450, 700 and 1230 m above sea level. A total of 9 bark beetle species and 12 parasitoid species was found. Ips typographus was most abundant, with 93% of all species of scolytids. The parasitoid species that were found belonged mainly to the Pteromalidae and Braconidae families. By far the most abundant and frequent species was Roptrocerus xylophagorum, which represented 84% of all parasitoids and was present in all study samples. Differences in species composition, parasitoid species diversity, species abundance and parasitism rate were confirmed between locations and also between both years of our study.

In September 2017, during the monitoring of the non-native ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford, 1894), one specimen of an unknown ambrosia bark beetle species was collected in Slovenia. The specimen was trapped in an ethanol-baited trap located in Klavže (46° 09´ 39˝ N, 13° 48´ 7˝ E), in the western part of Slovenia. The most characteristic feature distinguishing the specimen from other known ambrosia beetle species occurring in Slovenia was the asperities that covered the entire surface of the pronotum. Based on the scientific literature concerning the non-native bark and ambrosia beetles in Europe (Kirkendall & Faccoli 2010) and illustrated identification keys (Rabaglia et al. 2006; Faccoli et al. 2009), we identified the beetle by its morphological characteristics as Ambrosiodmus rubricollis (Eichhoff, 1875). As a result of this find, a specific monitoring was set up in 2018 in Slovenia with the aim to improve the knowledge about occurrence and distribution of A. rubricollis in this country.

We survey non-native insects species in whole territory of Slovenia. Data on non-native species were collected in field, and we also used results of projects in which we participated and with overview of literature data in scientific pub-lications. Correspondence Analysis (CA) of data was carried out with the soft-ware Statgraphics Centaurion XVI, U.S.A. Up to 254 non-native insect species are present: around 83% are phytophagous (43% feed on woody plants, 40% on other plants); around 12% are non-phytophagous; and 5% are parasitoids or predators of other insects or mammals. Among the phytophagous species, Hemiptera predominates (with 38.2%), followed by Coleoptera (29.8%) and Lepidoptera (14.5%). Non-native insects that do not feed on plants include Coleoptera (80%), Lepidoptera (6.5%), Hymenoptera (6.5%) and Diptera (6.5%). Most of phytophagous species are associated with introduction of plants on which they are specialists, but some have also shifted from introduced to native plant hosts. 36 non-native phytophagous species (14.17% of all non-native insects) have become harmful plant pests of urban trees and crops. 20 appear on woody plants, but only Dryocosmus kuriphilus, appears in urban forest areas. In the past decades species such as D. kuriphilus, Leptoglossus occidentalis, Xylosandrus germanus, Gnathotrichus materiarius, Dasineura gledichiae, Phyllonorycter issikii, Cinara curvipes, Ophiomyia kwansonis have been recorded in parks and forests. Some non-native species are spreading in Slovenian urban forests and affect economic, ecological and other forest and urban forest functions. The number of harmful insects in forests is extremely small probably due to high diversity of the forest ecosystem, where close-to-nature forest management is practiced, which retains forest’s self-regulatory ability to control pests. Such management enables for example the reduction of D. kuriphilus with expansion of its parasitoid, Torymus sinensis. We attempt to explain this phenomenon: we assume that T. sinensis was introduced in Slovenia as diapaused eggs in its host, D. kuriphilus.

In 2007–2012 we assessed dendrobiotic insects at three locations in stands of Pinus nigra, Pinus halepensis and Pinus sylvestris in Slovenia. The samples were collected from May to November using four (three in 2007) cross vane funnel traps per location with wet collecting cups and attractants. In 2007 we used ethanol+α-pinene, and from 2008 to 2010, ethanol+α-pinene, Pheroprax® (ipsdienol, cis-verbenol, 2-methylbut-3-en-2-ol) and Gallowit® (ipsdienol CAS 14434-41-4, ipsenol CAS 60894-96-4, DMWK CAS 115-18-4, cis-verbenol CAS 18881-04-4, α-pinene CAS 80-56-8, ethanol CAS 64-17-5) were used with traps 1.5 m above the ground. In 2011–2012 ethanol+α-pinene and Galloprotect 2D® (Galloprotect F: an aggregation pheromone [2-undecyloxy-1-ethanol] and Galloprotect A: kairomonal substances [ipsenol and 2-methyl-3-buten-1-ol]) were used with traps in the lower canopy. We collected 31,228 individuals from 45 beetle families. Curculinidae (Scolytinae, 23,325) were the most numerous, and the target family Cerambycidae was represented with 1945 specimens from 28 taxa and 25 species. In 2007 Spondylis buprestoides was by far the most abundant species. In 2008–2010 ethanol+α-pinene more effectively attracted S. buprestoides and A. rusticus, whereas Monochamus galloprovincialis showed a clear preference for Gallowit®. In 2011–2012 Galloprotect 2D® attracted significantly more cerambycids than ethanol+α-pinene, and M. galloprovincialis was by far the most numerous species. In addition to cerambycids, other saproxylic beetle species and also scolytine predators (mostly Cleridae, Histeridae, Trogossitidae) were found in the traps, highlighting the need to consider the potential negative impacts of the long-term monitoring of PWN vectors on species with important functional-trophic traits in forests.

The composition and variability of the terpenes and their derivatives isolated from the needles of a representative pool of 114 adult trees originating from four natural populations of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugoTurra) from the Julian Alps were investigated by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 54 of the 57 detected essential-oil components were identified. Among the different compound classes present in the essential oils, the chief constituents belonged to the monoterpenes, comprising an average content of 79.67\% of the total oil composition (74.80\% of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 4.87\% of oxygenated monoterpenes). Sesquiterpenes were present in smaller amounts (average content of 19.02\%), out of which 16.39\% were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 2.62\% oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The most abundant components in the needle essential oils were the monoterpenes -car-3-ene, -phellandrene, -pinene, -myrcene, and -pinene and the sesquiterpene -caryophyllene. From the total data set of 57 detected compounds, 40 were selected for principal-component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and cluster analysis (CA). The overlap tendency of the four populations suggested by PCA, was as well observed by DA. CA also demonstrated similarity among the populations, which was the highest between Populations I and II. Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia {[}173011, 173021]; Slovenian Research Agency {[}P4-0107, P4-0059]

The small spruce bark beetle Ips amitinus is predominantly found in the spruce forests in mountainous areas of Central Europe. Its most important host trees are Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Under favourable weather and trophic conditions, this bark beetle can become dangerous, particularly for younger trees and plantations. The climate changes that we face today can be favourable to the species, which had not been economically important in the past but is currently causing forest damage. Information about the ecological/biological characteristics of I. amitinus in the literature is rare, especially for bark beetle–fungi associations; though bark beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) species are known to be associated with variety of fungi. We investigated the factors affecting the associations of ophiostomatoid fungi with I. amitinus on Norway spruce. Material for this study was collected in the year 2010 near Dravograd, in north Slovenia, where Norway spruce trees were felled during the winter windthrow. Four hundred and forty-two samples (bark beetles and infested samples from wood discs, from two trees at 0.5 m, 6 m and 15 meters above the stump) were taken for ophiostomatoid fungi investigation. Isolation yielded a total of 625 isolates. Ophiostomatoid fungi were the most numerously represented group. Identified fungal isolates belonged to ten species. The most commonly found fungal associate was Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, followed by Grosmannia penicillata, Ophiostoma bicolor, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Grosmannia piceiperda, Endoconidiophora polonica, Ophiostoma piceae, Ophiostoma fuscum, Grosmannia cucullata, Graphium fimbriisporum. The association with O. fuscum, G. cucullata and G. fimbriisporum have not been demonstrated previously. The differences in distribution of fungi over different beetle life stages (adults, larvae, pupae) and infested wood were investigated., Mali osmerozubi smrekov pisar Ips amitinus najčešće naseljava smreku u montanskima područjima Središnje Europe. Najvažniji domaćin je obična smreka (Picea abies) i bijeli bor (Pinus sylvestris). U ugodnim vremenskim i trofičnim uvjetima, potkornjak postaje opasan, posebno za mlađa stabla u plantažama. Klimatske promjene, s kojima se suočavamo danas, mogu biti povoljne za vrste koje nisu bile ekonomski važne u prošlosti, a u zadnje vrijeme počinju pričinjavati štete u šumama. Informacije o ekološkim/biološkim obilježjima I. amitinus su u literaturi rijetke, posebice za asocijacije potkornjaka i gljiva; iako je poznato da su vrste potkornjaka (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) povezane s različitim gljivama. Istraživali smo čimbenike koji utječu na asocijacije ofiostomatoidnih gljiva s I. amitinus na običnoj smreki. Materijal za studiju bio je prikupljen 2010. godine u blizini Dravograda, na sjeveru Slovenije, gdje je u zimskim vjetrovima bila porušena obična smreka. Za izolacije ofiostomatoidnih gljiva prikupili smo 442 uzorka (kukci i zaraženo drvo - uzorci iz drvenih diskova, s dva stabla na 0,5 m, 6 m i 15 metara iznad panja). Uzeto je ukupno 625 izolata. Ofiostomatoidne gljive su bile najbrojnije zastupljene skupine. Identificirali smo deset vrsta gljiva. Najčešća je bila Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, slijedile su Grosmannia penicillata, Ophiostoma bicolor, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Grosmannia piceiperda, Endoconidiophora polonica, Ophiostoma piceae, Ophiostoma fuscum, Grosmannia cucullata, Graphium fimbriisporum. Povezanost I. amitinus s O. fuscum, G. cucullata i G. fimbriisporum bila je prvi put potvrđena. Istraživali smo razlike u pojavljivanju pojedinih vrsta gljiva u različitim stadijima života potkornjaka (adulti, ličinke, kukuljice) i zaraženih uzoraka drva.

Summary Pathogenic fungi can survive and develop in living plants, often causing diseases in the host. Some theories speculate that pathogenic ophiostomatoid fungi provide benefits to its vectors – bark beetles – by overcoming the tree's defence mechanisms. This study reports the results of an experiment in south-eastern Europe in which mature and seedling Norway spruce trees were artificially inoculated with various ophiostomatoid fungi. The aim of the experiment was to determine the relative virulence of ophiostomatoid fungi by assessing the ability of the fungi to stimulate host tree defence mechanisms through inoculation experiments. Experiments were performed by inoculation of Picea abies in seedling and mature trees. The following fungi were used in low-density and seedling inoculations: Ophiostoma ainoae, O. brunneo-ciliatum, Grosmannia cucullata and an unidentified Leptographium sp., O. bicolor, O. fuscum, O. piceae, G. penicillata and G. piceiperda. Endoconidiophora polonica was used in mass and seedling inoculations. Various characteristics such as host vitality, blue stain, lesion and resin outflow were measured before and after the trees were felled. E. polonica caused blue stain, induced large lesions and killed some of the mature trees and seedlings, confirming earlier reports that it is a strong wound pathogen. Only E. polonica, Leptographium sp. and O. ainoae caused blue stains in the sapwood of inoculated seedlings. In low-density inoculations, G. piceiperda induced intense necrosis and had higher values for all the characteristics monitored. Some of the other ophiostomatoid fungi showed a moderate level of pathogenicity. Fungi with the capacity to stimulate a host defence mechanism could play a role in the establishment of bark beetle populations.

We developed the RITY-2 phenology model for the spatial and temporal simulation of the seasonal development of Ips typographus based on the PHENIPS model and the data of Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis (INCA). Many parts of PHENIPS were improved with innovative approaches and a new model was developed. European spruce bark beetle phenology was monitored at eight study sites in 2017 and 2018, along with air and bark temperature measurements. RITY-2 predictions are based on air temperature from the INCA system, which is used to calculate the effective bark temperature for beetle development. An innovative procedure was introduced which finds most appropriate spring threshold from which calculation of the phenological model initiates. The onset of Norway spruce infestation in spring was estimated using a lower threshold of 14.5 °C for flight activity and a mean thermal sum of 53.0 degree-days (dd) from 7th March onward. The rate of brood development was calculated from the cumulative effective thermal sum of 30-min temperature data using upper and lower temperature thresholds of 38.9 and 8.3 °C, respectively, and a nonlinear function. For validation, we compared the timing of phenological events in the field with predicted events using both 30-minute recorded data from trap logs in the field and hourly data from INCA. The onset of spring swarming was estimated with a mean absolute error of 2.4 days. The onset of infestation was predicted with a mean absolute error of 4.7 days. The observed onset of emergence of filial beetles was estimated with a mean error of 0.5 dd. The model is calculated according to three scenarios that simulate different stand conditions. RITY-2 explicitly considers the strong effects of regional topography and can be used for precise monitoring of the actual state of bark beetle development at the specific model cell with a spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km. Additionally, RITY-2 simulates the number of generations, which is necessary to assess the potential impact of bark beetle outbreaks at the regional scale. The model was successfully incorporated into two web applications that serve as tools for the timely deployment of pheromone traps and trap trees for European spruce bark beetle monitoring. The possible application of the RITY-2 model for the whole of Central Europe using data from the INCA system is discussed.

Here we report the discovery of Corythucha arcuata in Slovenia in autumn 2016. Egg shells and molts of oak lace bug were found on the fallen leaves of Quercus robur in an oak forest in the village of Zakot near Brežice in the southeastern part of Slovenia. C. arcuata most likely spread to Slovenia from Croatia, where it was previously reported from the park at Lužnica Castle near Zaprešić, 14 km from the find in Slovenia, or as a hitchhiker on rail traffic running along the northern edge of infested forest. Further spread of C. arcuata to Krakovo oak forest was detected in the beginning of July 2017., O nalazu hrastove mrežaste stjenice (Corythucha arcuata) u parku dvorca Lužnica kod Zaprešića, Hrvatska, 6 km od slovenske granice, obavijestio nas je prof. Boris Hrašovec sa Šumarskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu u jesen 2016. godine. 17. 11. 2016 obavili smo potragu za štetnikom na sedam lokacijama u jugoistočnoj Slove­niji (Mokrice, Obrežje, Rigonce, Dobova, Mostec, Zakot i Bukošek). Pričvršćeno i djelomično zeleno lišće, kao i otpalo lišće Quercus robur je bilo na terenu pomno pregledano i sumnjivi uzorci su stavljeni u plastične vrećice i donijeti u laboratorij za daljnju analizu. Morfološka identifikacija je provedena na uzorku jajnih grupa na do­njoj strani lišća i svlakova ličinki (exuviae) koje su bile prisutni na otpalom lišću Q. robur. Izvršeno je mjerenje broja jaja u 9 jajnih grupa i dužina i širina 30 jajnih čahura. Jajne ljuske (čahure) i svlakovi ličinaka na otpalom lišću Quercus robur bile su na pretraženom području nađene samo u hrastovoj šumi kod sela Zakot u blizini Brežica (E, 45°54’48“ N), koji je 14 km od najbližjeg nalaza u Hrvatskoj kod dvorca Lužnica. Jajne grupe sadržale su od 12 do 61 jajnih čahura. Jajne čahure su bile vretenastog oblika i crna s apikalnim otvorom i rubnim zadebeljenjem, duge 560 μm (475-596 μm) i široke 196 μm (183-196 μm). Ličinke su bile uglavnom tamne sa prozirnim žućkastim dijelovima na obje strane tijela. Imale su brojne bodlje. Brojne katranasto crne mrlje izmeta (faeces) hrastove mrežaste stjenice nalazile su se ravnomjerno na donjoj površini hrastovog lišća na kojem su bile prisutne jajne čahure i svlakovi ličinki. C. arcuata najvjerovatnije se proširila u Sloveniju iz Hrvatske, gdje je bila opažena kod dvorca Lužnica, ili kao autostoper sa željezničkom transportom, jer sjevernu granicu šume kod sela Zakot predstavlja željeznička pruga koja vodi od balkanske regije prema srednjoj Europi. U početku srpnja 2017. ustanovili smo namnoženje C. arcuata na lokaciji prvog nalaza i širjenje vrste na područje Krakovske hrastove šume, udaljeno 17 km zračne linije od sela Zakot.

PCR-RAPD markers revealed individual variation in F. ornus. A total of 122 fragments were amplified using 7 primers and of these 97 fragments were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic loci was between 53.3% and 74.6% with an average of 63.1%. The mean gene diversity for all populations was 0.30 and the mean Shannon’s index was 0.44. Of the total genetic variation 87% was intra-population whilst 13% was inter-population. The Mantel test revealed significant correlation between genetic and geographical distance matrice. Results herein represent the first use of molecular genetic (DNA) markers to characterize genetic variation in F. ornus populations. The partition of total genetic variance indicates a relatively restricted population differentiation as expected in outcrossing species. Present and future information on genetic structure and variability in F. ornus needs to be incorporated into strategies for the preservation of genetic resources of tree species. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173011]

The attractiveness of different semio-chemicals to potential vectors of the phytoparasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was investigated in conifer forests in Slovenia. From 2007 to 2009, the presence of xylophagous beetles in Pinus nigra, P. sylvestris, P. halepensis, Picea abies and Abies alba stands was assessed at eight locations. Insects were collected at 1-month intervals during the growing season using four cross vane traps per location with a collecting container with propylene glycol and attractants (ethanol+α-pinene, Pheroprax® and Gallowit®). The trapped insects represented 24 families of the order Coleoptera, and we identified 94 species. The most numerous group was the weevil subfamily Scolytinae (76.55% of all insects collected), followed by the family Cerambycidae (8.12%), and the weevil subfamily Curculioninae (1.67%). With regard to species number, the most frequent wood-borers were Cerambycidae (24 taxa), Scolytinae (12 species) and Buprestidae (8 species). The most abundant species was Spondylis buprestoides, followed by Arhopalus rusticus, Monochamus galloprovincialis and Arhopalus ferus. At all locations, the largest catch of Cerambycidae occurred in July. The most effective attractant was ethanol+α-pinene, followed by Gallowit®; the least effective attractant was Pheroprax®. Among Monochamus species, M. galloprovincialis represented 17.54%, M. sutor 0.09% and M. sartor 0.04% of the long-horned beetles collected. Monochamus individuals were most numerous in the P. nigra stand and were attracted in the greatest numbers by Gallowit®, followed by ethanol+α-pinene. The cerambycid catch was highly correlated with the catch of non-target bark beetle predators (Cleridae, Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Trogositidae, Nitidulidae, Rhizophagidae) in the traps.

Mali osmerozubi smrekov pisar Ips amitinus najčešće naseljava smreku u montanskima područjima Središnje Europe. Najvažniji domaćin je obična smreka (Picea abies) i bijeli bor (Pinus sylvestris). U ugodnim vremenskim i trofičnim uvjetima, potkornjak postaje opasan, posebno za mlađa stabla u plantažama. Klimatske promjene, s kojima se suočavamo danas, mogu biti povoljne za vrste koje nisu bile ekonomski važne u prošlosti, a u zadnje vrijeme počinju pričinjavati štete u šumama. Informacije o ekološkim/biološkim obilježjima I. amitinus su u literaturi rijetke, posebice za asocijacije potkornjaka i gljiva; iako je poznato da su vrste potkornjaka (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) povezane s različitim gljivama. Istraživali smo čimbenike koji utječu na asocijacije ofiostomatoidnih gljiva s I. amitinus na običnoj smreki. Materijal za studiju bio je prikupljen 2010. godine u blizini Dravograda, na sjeveru Slovenije, gdje je u zimskim vjetrovima bila porušena obična smreka. Za izolacije ofiostomatoidnih gljiva prikupili smo 442 uzorka (kukci i zaraženo drvo - uzorci iz drvenih diskova, s dva stabla na 0,5 m, 6 m i 15 metara iznad panja). Uzeto je ukupno 625 izolata. Ofiostomatoidne gljive su bile najbrojnije zastupljene skupine. Identificirali smo deset vrsta gljiva. Najčešća je bila Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, slijedile su Grosmannia penicillata, Ophiostoma bicolor, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Grosmannia piceiperda, Endoconidiophora polonica, Ophiostoma piceae, Ophiostoma fuscum, Grosmannia cucullata, Graphium fimbriisporum. Povezanost I. amitinus s O. fuscum, G. cucullata i G. fimbriisporum bila je prvi put potvrđena. Istraživali smo razlike u pojavljivanju pojedinih vrsta gljiva u različitim stadijima života potkornjaka (adulti, ličinke, kukuljice) i zaraženih uzoraka drva.

A model is presented to predict sanitary felling of Norway spruce (Picea abies) due to spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus, Pityogenes chalcographus) in Slovenia according to different climate change scenarios. The model incorporates 21 variables that are directly or indirectly related to the dependent variable, and that can be arranged into five groups: climate, forest, landscape, topography, and soil. The soil properties are represented by 8 variables, 4 variables define the topography, 4 describe the climate, 4 define the landscape, and one additional variable provides the quantity of Norway spruce present in the model cell. The model was developed using the M5 � model tree. The basic spatial unit of the model is 1 km 2 , and the time resolution is 1 year. The model evaluation was performed by three different measures: (1) the correlation coefficient (51.9%), (2) the Theil’s inequality coefficient (0.49) and (3) the modelling efficiency (0.32). Validation of the model was carried out by 10-fold cross-validation. The model tree consists of 28 linear models, and model was calculated for three different climate change scenarios extending over a period until 2100, in 10-year intervals. The model is valid for the entire area of Slovenia; however, climate change projections were made only for the Maribor region (596 km2). The model assumes that relationships among the incorporated factors will remain unchanged under climate change, and the influence of humans was not taken into account. The structure of the model reveals the great importance of landscape variables, which proved to be positively correlated with the dependent variable. Variables that describe the water regime in the model cell were also highly correlated with the dependent variable, with evapotranspiration and parent material being of particular importance. The results of the model support the hypothesis that bark beetles do greater damage to Norway spruce artificially planted out of its native range in Slovenia, i.e., lowlands and soils rich in N, P, and K. The model calculation for climate change scenarios in the Maribor region shows an increase in sanitary felling of Norway spruce due to spruce bark beetles, for all scenarios. The model provides a path towards better understanding of the complex ecological interactions involved in bark beetle outbreaks. Potential application of the results in forest management and planning is discussed.

Samples of dying branches from 121 trees of Quercus pubescens, Q. cerris, and Q. petraea were taken from 102 sites in Seslerio autumnalis-Quercetum petraeae and Ostryo-Quercetum pubescentis forests. After nine months’ rearing in eclectors, branches were cut to 20-cm sections, and signs of infestation as well as larvae and adult insects were noted. We analysed 395 sections of branches from Q. pubescens, 125 sections from Q. cerris, and 85 sections from Q. petraea. We found 44 adult insects: 45% were from the Cerambycidae family (Callimus angulatus ssp. angulatus, Poecilium alni, and Exocentrus adspersus), 18% were from the Scolytinae subfamily (Scolytus intricatus, Xyleborus dispar), 4% from the Buprestidae family (Coraebus florentinus), 4.5% from the Cleridae family (Tilloidea unifasciata), and 28.5% from other families. In addition, 145 larvae were found: 50% from the Cerambycidae family, 39% from the Buprestidae family, 4% from the Scolytinae subfamily, and 7% from other families. Significant difference in the abundance of adult insects and larvae with regard to the diameter of branch sections and the host species were found. 78% of dying branches showed signs of infestation. Species of the Buprestidae, Scolytinae, and Cerambycidae represent important factors in the decline in oak vitality in the lower Karst region of Slovenia.

We have collected published data and carried out pilot studies on European nettle tree (Celtis australis) entomofauna in Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary. Seven taxa of Lepidoptera (Libythea celtis, Nymphalis polychloros, Archips xylosteana, Erannis defoliaria, Caloptilia fidella, Phyllonoricter millierella and Hyphantria cunea), one cerambycid (Neoclytus acuminatus) and one hemipteran (Metcalfa pruinosa) were found. Two species of Lepidoptera (L. celtis and P. millierella) are monophagous on the leaves of C. australis. The other recorded species are also known on other woody hosts. For N. polychloros, A. xylosteana, E. defoliaria, C. fidella and N. acuminatus European nettle tree is a new host plant. The monophagous species of butterflies on C. australis have appeared more frequently in the last decade. The results are intended to predict whether this tree species is suitable for introduction on a wider scale in pine plantations of Pinus nigra affected by climatic extremes, pests and diseases, such as sphaeropsis blight (Diplodia pinea). Taking into the account the potential rise and growing impact of European nettle defoliators, which, according to some projections will prosper in the future due to global warming, some reservations arise and reduction of C. australis viability are to be expected., U radu se iznose sažete spoznaje o herbivornoj entomofauni običnog koprivića (Celtis australis) u Sloveniji i Hrvatskoj, gdje je autohton, te u Madžarskoj gdje ga je unio čovjeka. Smisao provedenog istraživanja temeljen je na ideji intenzivnijeg uvođenja koprivića u reforestaciji i zamjeni pionirskih vrsta na kraškim područjima u kojima recentno dolazi do značajnih zdravstvenih problema, primjerice u kulturama crnog bora koje se suše pod utjecajem suše, kukaca i fitopatogenih gliva (npr. Diplodia pinea). Imajući u vidu moguće rizike ovog pristupa, kroz prikupljene i konzultirane literaturne izvore i vlastita nova opažanja revidiran je status koprivića kao drvenaste vrste u svjetlu njegove štetne entomofaune.Dobro su poznate opće spoznaje o rasprostranjenju i osnovnim ekološkim obilježjima običnog koprivića, pa u tom smislu znamo da je to bjelogorično drvo porijeklom iz Sredozemlja, Male Azije, Krima i područja od Kavkaza do Irana. Obični koprivić vrsta je otporna na sušu, vjetar i onečišćenje zraka u gradovima i može izdržati temperature do –15 ° C. Voli svjetlo, pješčana tla, suh i topao kraški teren. Prema svim svojim ekološkim zahtjevima spada u vrlo prikladnu vrstu drveća za pošumljavanje krša i suhih terena.Raščlamba prikupljene i dostupne literature o štetnicima na običnom kopriviću u Sloveniji, Hrvatskoj i Madžarskoj definirali smo početnu bazu već opisanih vrsta, koje smo zatim procjenjivali u svjetlu vlastitih terenskih istraživanja. Na lokalitetu Dekani, u blizini Kopra (Slovenija), u rujnu 2011. godine uzorkovali smo 15 grana C. australis s vidljivo oštećenim lišćem (mine) radi determinacije uzročnika. 2013. godine pregledali je šire područje submediteranske zone Slovenije i Hrvatske i analizirali simptome napada štetnih organizama na C. australis. Iduće sezone, 5. svibnja 2014, u mjestu Brseč, u blizini Opatije (Hrvatska) u urbanom okolišu zabilježili smo jaku defolijaciju (Slika 1). Ponovno smo uzeli uzorke 18 grana koprivića zajedno sa zatečenim gusjenicama različitih vrsta leptira. Slijedio je laboratorijski uzgoj i determinacija do razine vrste.Istraživanjem je sveukupno utvrđeno sedam vrsta leptira (Libythea celtis, Nymphalis polychloros, Archips xylosteana, Erannis defoliaria, Caloptilia fidella, Phyllonoricter millierella, Hyphantria cunea), jedna vrsta kornjaša (Neoclytus acuminatus) (Slika 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 19) i jedna vrsta polukrilaca (Metcalfa pruinosa). Dvije vrste leptira (L. celtis i P. millierella) monofagne su na lišću C. australis, druge vrste utvrđenih istraživanjem imaju i druge vrste domaćina. Vrste N. polychloros, A. xylosteana, E. defoliaria, C. fidella i N. acuminatus po prvi puta su utvrđene kao štetnici C. australis i trebaju se dodati na već poznati popis štetnika običnog koprivića. Istraživanjem je također utvrđeno da su se monofagne vrste kukaca češće pojavljivale na kopriviću u posljednjem desetljeću. Prikupljeni rezultati predstavljaju bolji temelj strategiji zamjene problematičnih kultura crnog bora koje se suše pod utjecajem fitopatogenih gliva (npr. Diplodia pinea) s intenzivnijim pošumljavanjem običnim koprivićem. U posljednje vrijeme, a to je istraživanjem potvrđeno, javljaju se u povećanom intenzitetu neki već otprije poznati štetnici koprivića, ali i neke do sada nezabilježene štetne vrste. Povećana pojava defoliatora na C. australis, koji će, prema nekim projekcijama klimatskih kolebanja prosperirati u budućnosti zbog globalnog zatopljenja, mora se uzeti u obzir.Sadnja monokultura C. australis na suhim i toplim pozicijama vjerojatno će i dodatno povećati rizik od prenamnažanja nekih vrsta kukaca u tim sastojinama. Visoka koncentracija biljke hraniteljica nerijetko je glavni čimbenik njihovih gradacija, bilo da je riječ o monofagnim štetnicima koji neposredno ovise o količini dostupne hrane za koju su specijalizirani (L. celtis and P. millierella) ili generalistima (N. polychloros, A. xylosteana, E. defoliaria, C. fidella and N. acuminatus i dr.), koji se lako prilagođavaju trofičnom izobilju u obliku novounešenog domaćina.

Discovery and development of new antibiotics is still very important because of the constant appearance of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. The broth microdilution test was applied for screening of antibacterial activity in extracts of higher and endophytic fungi. Among tested extracts, three possessed significant antibacterial activity: extracts of mushrooms Amanita virosa. (Fr.) Bertill. (Amanitaceae) and Cortinarius praestans. Cordier (Cortinariaceae) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. and Staphylococcus aureus., respectively, and extract of endophytic fungus Trucatella hartigii. (Tubeuf) Steyaert (Amphisphaeriaceae) against Enterococcus faecalis. and S. aureus.. The extract of Truncatella hartigii. was further analyzed by one- and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography, and the position of the active compound was determined on the chromatogram.

U jesen 2011. g. pronađene su mine na listovima graničice (Hemerocallis spp.) u Ljubljani, Slovenija. Mine su bile zapažene na lišću više kultivara vrsta Hemerocallis fulva, H. lilioasphodellus i nekim drugim Hemerocallis vrstama. Sakupljeni minirani listovi s ličinkama uzgajani su u laboratoriju i izašla imaga determinirana su kao Ophiomyia kwansonis. Godine 2012. mine su nađene na lokaciji Veliko Trebeljevo (23 km zračne udaljenosti od Ljubljane), Šmihel u blizini Pivke (50 km od Ljubljane), arboretum Volčji Potok – Radomlje (20 km od Ljubljane) i u Podturnu kod Dolenjskih Toplica (54 km od Ljubljane). Imaga štetnika nađena su na domaćinu od svibnja nadalje. Muha je autohtona na Tajvanu i u Japanu, odakle je unešena u Sjedinjene Američke Države i determinirana 2011. godine. U novim staništima lisni miner graničice ponaša se kao strana vrsta, štetna za vrste roda Hemerocallis, pa predviđamo njeno brzo širjenje u Europi. U radu se daje i osvrt na fitosanitarni značaj O. kwansonis za ukrasne vrste graničica, kao i za autohtone šumske zajednice u kojima se pojavljuje H. lilioasphodellus u Sloveniji i mogućnosti za usporenje njezinog širenja. Ovo je prvo izvješće o pojavi O. kwansonis u Sloveniji i Europi., The daylily leafminer Ophiomyia kwansonis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) was found in autumn 2011 at 4 localities in Ljubljana (2 private gardens, public park Tivoli and Botanical garden of University of Ljubljana) (locations: X=101090, Y=459525; X=100891, Y=461620; X=101037, Y=461344; X=99737, Y=462774). In 2012 it was found in the next six new locations: two in Ljubljana (Rimska road and Koseze), in the village Veliko Trebeljevo approx. 25 km air distance from Ljubljana, near the village Šmihel by Pivka, approx. 50 km from Ljubljana, Podturn near Dolenjske Toplice approx. 54 km from Ljubljana and arboretum Volčji Potok near Radomlje approx. 20 km from Ljubljana (locations: X=100496, Y=461632; X=103238, Y=459190; X=96365, Y=480155; X=56886, Y=436145; X=117053, Y=469814; X=66391, Y=503581). The adults were found on the daylilly plants from the end of May till October, when our observation ceased. This is the first report of O. kwansonis in Slovenia and in Europe as a pest of Hemerocalis spp. Its larvae bore longitudinal, whitish, meandering tunnels in the leaves of Hemerocallis plants (ophionoms), weakening them and reducing their ornamental value. Natural distribution of the species is Japan and Taiwan and in 2006 it was noticed in the United States of America where it is still spreading. The fly was not identified until 2011 and thus no legislative measures to prevent its spread were put in place. According to the observations from the USA O. kwansonis is a pest that causes economic damage in different species and ornamental varieties of Hemerocallis. Our preliminary and unsystematic observations show, that in Slovenia, due to the air distance spread of more than 70 km, the suppression of O. kwansonis is not possible any more. The introduction and the spread of this new pest again confirms the inefficiency of the phytosanitary system of the USA and of the European Union. To the authors knowledge no official measures against the pest were put into force in the EPPO region nor in the European phytosanitary system by the middle of October 2012, although the EPPO and SCPH were informed about the confirmation of the determination by the dipterologist dr. Michael von Tschirnhaus on 6th July 2012. Daylily trade is the probable pathway of the pest since hibernation occurs mostly underground in the lower parts of withered leaves, which are attached to dormant stolons in trade. Pest status of Ophiomyia kwansonis officially declared by the NPPO of Slovenia is: Transient: non-actionable.

Rad donosi najnovije podatke o rasprostranjenosti i domaćinima lipinog moljca minera Phyllonorycter issikii: u Aziji je autohton u trima, u Europi se raširio u 20 država. Domaćini su u području rasprostranjenosti moljca domaće vrste lipa (Tilia spp.), u Europi su domaćini uz domaće lipe i njihovi hibridi, isto tako i egzotične vrste lipa. U Sloveniji je otkriven godine 2006. U razdoblju od 2007.–2008. godine provedeno je istraživanje napadnutosti različitih vrsta roda Tilia (Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. tomentosa, T. sp.1, T. sp. 2) u šest ekoloških regija na 22 lokaliteta urbanog prostora. Ukupno smo analizirali 918 listova, a mjerenje svojstava lišća provedeno je skeniranjem i izračunom programom Digimizer 3.0.0.0., MedCalc Software. Lipin moljac raširen je na području cijele Slovenije. Oštećenost lišća, odnosno gustoća populacije moljca bila je najveća u Predalpskoj, Predpanonskoj i Alpskoj ekološkoj regiji. Mine su najveće u Predalpskoj, Alpskoj i Predpanonskoj ekološkoj regiji. Od autohtonih lipa na prvom je mjestu po oštećenosti T. cordata (91,47 %,) slijedi T. platyphyllos (21,72 %), onda T. tomentosa (0,41 %). Daleko najveća oštećenost javlja se na hibridnoj lipi T. sp. 1 (512,50 %). Oštećenost lišća bila je u razdoblju istraživanja visoka i u prosjeku je iznosila 87,80 %; godine 2007. iznosila je 116,3 %, a godine 2008. 66,5 %. Površina mina na lišću bila je veća u 2007. nego u 2008. godini (39 mm2 u odnosu na 21,4 mm2). Pretpostavljamo da se lipin moljac pojavio u Sloveniji prije 2006. godine, imajući u vidu rasprostranjenost vrste na cijelom području. Zbog relativno velike oštećenosti lišća domaćina, predstavlja značajnog štetnika vrsta roda Tilia u parkovima i park-šumama urbanih područja., From 2007 to 2008, a study of presence of the lime leafminer (Phyllonorycter issikii) in Slovenia and an attack of different species of the genus Tilia (Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. tomentosa, T. sp.1, T. sp. 2) in six ecological regions at 22 sites in urban areas was carried out. The aim of the study was to determine the extent of lime leafminer in Slovenia and investigate whether the localities, ecological region, hosts species and years affect the moth population density, the damage to the leaves, and the number and surface of mines in the leaves of different host plants. A total of 918 leaves were analysed; measuring the characteristics of leaves (average leaf area, total number of mines, the average size of mine) was done by scanning, and calculations with the program Digimizer 3.0.0.0., MedCalc Software. Ph. issikii is present throughout Slovenia. Damage to leaves and moth population density was greatest in the Pre-alpine, Pre-panonic and Alpine ecological regions; the largest mines were in the Pre-alpine, Alpine and Pre-panonic ecological regions. Among native limes, the most commonly damaged is T. cordata (91.47%), followed by T. platyphyllos (21.72%), then T. tomentosa (0.41%). By far the greatest damage was appearing on the hybrid lime T. sp.1 (512.5%). Damage to the leaves in the period of investigation was high: 87.8% on average; in 2007, it amounted to 116.3% in 2008 to 66.5%. The surface of mines in the leaves was higher in 2007 year than in 2008 (39.3 mm² compared to 21.4 mm²). According to the size (surface) of mines, the results showed that there were statistically significant differences between sites in relation to surface of mines on a leaf. The largest surfaces of mines were in the leaves at the locations 19 (Vrt oddelka-Ljubljana), 20 (Pernica) and 21 (Ižakovci); there were significant differences between ecological regions in relation to the surface of mines on a leaf. Larger surfaces of mines were identified in the Pre-alpine region (92.2 mm²) and the Alpine region (59.6 mm²). There are significant differences between tree species in relation to surface of mines on a leaf; greater surfaces of mines were found on the leaves of T. sp.1 (165.3 mm²); finally there are significant differences between years in relation to surface of mines of the leaves. Surface of mines were larger in 2007 compared to 2008. There were significant differences between sites in relation to the number of mines on a leaf; sites 19 (Vrta oddelka – Ljubljana) and 21 (Ižakovci) (5.1 and 3.9) stand out in this regard. There were also significant differences between ecological regions in relation to the number of mines; the Pre-alpine region (2.9) is predominant. There were also significant differences between tree species in relation to the number of mines on a leaf; species 4 (T. sp.1) (5.13) stands out in this regard. Finally, there were significant differences between years in relation to the number of mines on a leaf. This number was higher in 2007. Ph. issikii was discovered in Slovenia in 2006, but we assume that it appeared in Slovenia prior to 2006, considering the distribution of species throughout the country. Due to the relatively large amount damage to the host leaves, we believe that Ph. issikii is a significant pest species of the hosts from the genus Tilia in parks and trees in park-like forests in urban areas. This paper also gives recent data on the range and hosts of the lime leafminer; in Asia, it is indigenous in three countries, while in Europe it has expanded in 20 countries. In natural distribution, its hosts are local species of linden (Tilia spp.); in Europe its hosts are also linden hybrids, as well as exotic species of limes.

Eutypella canker of maple, caused by the pathogen Eutypella parasitica , has recently been reported for the first time in Europe. A rule-based model of Eutypella parasitica spread risk in Europe is presented. This model incorporates the effects of spatial and temporal variability of multiple variables on pathogen spread and establishment. Model predictions are based on current knowledge of host susceptibility, pathogen reproduction and pathogen transmission, with particular regard to the host species’ distribution and climate suitability. Maps of host species’ distributions and monthly weather conditions were spatially analyzed in a Geographic Information System using the magnitude and direction of each variable’s effect on disease spread. Spread risk predictions were computed for each month and averaged to generate a cumulative risk map. The model was calibrated using data on the natural distribution of Eutypella canker in North America. Extensive areas covering the natural distribution of maples in Europe are at considerable risk from the Eutypella parasitica infection. The most endangered regions are broad areas of the Balkans, the Apennines, France, Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

In this paper, we analyze the phenology of spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus and Pityogenes chalcographus) in the Dinaric mountain forests of southwestern Slovenia. The study of Ips typographus took place from 1986 to 2000, while that of P. chalcographus took place from 1993 to 2000 in an area characterized as a Dinaric Fir-Beech forest community (Abieti - Fagetum dinaricum) on the Karst plateau (447-751 m above sea level). On the studied area Norway spruce (Picea abies) has been planted between 60 and 90 years ago on approximately 1000 ha. Frequent catastrophic weather conditions are characteristic for this area, followed by an increased trophic capacity of the forest for the various bark beetle species. The population density of spruce bark beetles was monitored at 5 locations at varying exposures using commercial pheromones (Pheroprax® ; ; and Chalcoprax® ; ; ) in traps under the trade name Theyson. Both species studied (Ips typographus and Pityogenes chalcographus) have a relatively high abundance and have two main generations per year ; both species may also produce two sister generations. Data on some environmental factors as well as data on bark beetle catches have been collected and then analyzed to model the dependence of spruce bark beetle catches on the environmental factors. The machine learning methodology of liner regression as well as model tree induction was used for this purpose. The following attributes were used to analyze the occurrence of both species of bark beetle: position (NW, NE, W, E, N, S), age of pheromone, number of days since last monitoring, average monthly temperature, monthly precipitation, month, and previous number of bark beetles. There was a strong correlation between a high population density of I. typograpus and North (N) and West (W) positions, and a high density of populations of P. chalcographus and North (N) and East (E) positions.

The geographical variation of terpenes of Pinus nigra populations from southwestern Europe was studied. Terpenes from the foliage of 16 populations from Corsica, Herault (France) and the East Pyrenees (France and Spain) were analyzed. A total of 42 terpenes were detected, with alpha-pinene the dominant monoterpene and germacrene-d and caryophyllene the dominant sesquiterpenes. The differences in quantitative content of selected compounds clearly divide populations into two basic geographical groups: on one side the populations from Herault and the East Pyrenees and on the other the populations from Corsica. beta-Phellandrene and delta-cadinene have the greatest influence on this global discrimination. Some trees and populations show a similarity although they belong to different geographic locations. The similarity of some trees from Herault and the East Pyrenees and trees from Corsica points to their common origin (Corsica). Our results confirm the hypothesis that the afforestation of Herault and the East Pyrenees was also performed with black pine from Corsica. null

In September 2009, specimens of Ips sexdentatus were captured using black cross vane traps in an old stand of Pinus halepensis Miller at Dekani in the submediterranean ecological region of Slovenia. Twenty-four per cent of them carried phoretic mites, and six taxa of mites were collected directly from their bodies: Cercoleipus coelonotus, Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus, Histiostoma ovalis, Trichouropoda polytricha, Uroobovella varians and Vulgarogamasus lyriformis. All of these species are documented here for the first time as associated with the six-spined engraver beetle in Slovenia. Both D. quadrisetus and V. lyriformis are predatory on bark beetle eggs and larvae and could be useful in biological control programmes. Moreover, H. ovalis may be an important vector of fungal spores of ophiostomatoid pathogenic fungi.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B3E36510-4687-42B8-BDCC-3912A2AB9EE0

O nalazu hrastove mrežaste stjenice (Corythucha arcuata) u parku dvorca Lužnica kod Zaprešića, Hrvatska, 6 km od slovenske granice, obavijestio nas je prof. Boris Hrašovec sa Šumarskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu u jesen 2016. godine. 17. 11. 2016 obavili smo potragu za štetnikom na sedam lokacijama u jugoistočnoj Slove­niji (Mokrice, Obrežje, Rigonce, Dobova, Mostec, Zakot i Bukošek). Pričvršćeno i djelomično zeleno lišće, kao i otpalo lišće Quercus robur je bilo na terenu pomno pregledano i sumnjivi uzorci su stavljeni u plastične vrećice i donijeti u laboratorij za daljnju analizu. Morfološka identifikacija je provedena na uzorku jajnih grupa na do­njoj strani lišća i svlakova ličinki (exuviae) koje su bile prisutni na otpalom lišću Q. robur. Izvršeno je mjerenje broja jaja u 9 jajnih grupa i dužina i širina 30 jajnih čahura. Jajne ljuske (čahure) i svlakovi ličinaka na otpalom lišću Quercus robur bile su na pretraženom području nađene samo u hrastovoj šumi kod sela Zakot u blizini Brežica (E, 45°54’48“ N), koji je 14 km od najbližjeg nalaza u Hrvatskoj kod dvorca Lužnica. Jajne grupe sadržale su od 12 do 61 jajnih čahura. Jajne čahure su bile vretenastog oblika i crna s apikalnim otvorom i rubnim zadebeljenjem, duge 560 μm (475-596 μm) i široke 196 μm (183-196 μm). Ličinke su bile uglavnom tamne sa prozirnim žućkastim dijelovima na obje strane tijela. Imale su brojne bodlje. Brojne katranasto crne mrlje izmeta (faeces) hrastove mrežaste stjenice nalazile su se ravnomjerno na donjoj površini hrastovog lišća na kojem su bile prisutne jajne čahure i svlakovi ličinki. C. arcuata najvjerovatnije se proširila u Sloveniju iz Hrvatske, gdje je bila opažena kod dvorca Lužnica, ili kao autostoper sa željezničkom transportom, jer sjevernu granicu šume kod sela Zakot predstavlja željeznička pruga koja vodi od balkanske regije prema srednjoj Europi. U početku srpnja 2017. ustanovili smo namnoženje C. arcuata na lokaciji prvog nalaza i širjenje vrste na područje Krakovske hrastove šume, udaljeno 17 km zračne linije od sela Zakot.

Pine processionary moth, Thaumetopea pityocampa, is a model insect indicator of global warming, the northwards and upwards range expansion of this Mediterranean species being directly associated with the recent warming up. The knowledge about the drivers of moth expansion is synthesized. A first standardized mapping of the northern expansion edge, from Western Europe to Turkey, is presented, then detailed for 20 countries of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, including future trends. Additional data about the responses of the other Thaumetopoea species are given. Finally, the chapter points out the importance of the man-mediated introductions in the expansion process. © Éditions Quæ, 2015.

The first local outbreak of the field web-spinning sawfly (Cephalcia arvensis) appeared in 2009 on one location on 106 ha in the northern part of Slovenia in a stand of 60-90-year-old Picea abies and on 600-800 m a. s. l. In the period from 2009 to 2011 the density of the prepupae, bio-ecology and defoliation of the trees were studied.The density of the population of prepupae of Cephalcia species was studied on the six plots in the soil samples (25 x 25 x 20 cm). In 2009 it was high (average = 595 individuals/m2 of soil), while in 2010 the average number of prepupae was lower for 68%. The collected data of soil and air temperatures indicate their impact on the beginning of the emergence of Cephalcia species in 2011; we found that it had started in large number when the average daily temperature was 14.7 °C and the average soil temperature was 8.7 °C. In the autumn of 2009, six circular plots (50 x 50 m each) were defined where the defoliation of the crowns of 88 conifer trees with the breast height over 10 cm was estimated. The defoliation of P. abies has grown over two years; in 2009, the average defoliation was 28%, and in 2010 it was 32%., U Sloveniji je prvi jak napad ose predivice iz roda Cephalcia (Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Pamphilidae) zabilježen u srpnju 2009. godine na padini Riflov vrh (koordinate: x = 492607, y = 155471) iznad grada Prevalje u sjevernom dijelu Slovenije. Napadnuto područje prostiralo se na površini od 106 ha u 60–90 godina staroj sastojini obične smreke (Picea abies) smještenoj na sjevernoj padini s nagibom 20 % i nadmorskoj visini između 600 i 800 metara. Drvna zaliha varira između 321 m3/ha i 408 m3/ha, s udjelom smreke u drvnoj zalihi od 70% te s pojedinačnom primjesom obične bukve (Fagus sylvatica), gorskog javora (Acer pseudoplatanus), gorskog jasena (Fraxinus excelsior), običnog bora (Pinus sylvestris) i europskog ariša (Larix decidua). Ova staništa pripadaju kiselim bukovim šumama, s pripadnom šumskom zajednicom Omphalodo-Fagetum.U Europi je poznato više od 10 vrsta roda Cephalcia koje uzrokuju defolijacije četinjača unutar porodice Pinaceae, posebno na vrstama roda Picea, Pinus, Larix, a povremeno i Cedrus i Abies. Štete uzrokuju ličinke koje se hrane iglicama i tako kroz višegodišnje defolijacije mogu oslabiti četinjače, smanjiti njihov prirast i stvoriti uvjete za dodatnu štetu zbog drugih biotskih i abiotskih čimbenika.Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi dominirajuću vrstu roda Cephalcia koja je uzrokovala defolijaciju na sjeveru Slovenije i istražiti neka njena bioekološka obilježja (temperature aktivacije najvažnijih fenoloških razdoblja), brojnost pretkukuljica u tlu i utjecaj vrsta Cephalcia na defolijaciju drveća.U 2009. i 2010. godini prikupljeni su uzorci tla (25 ˟ 25 ˟ 20 cm) s površina ispod krošanja na šest lokacija, raspoređenim uzduž cijele padine, a s namjerom taksonomske identifikacije i fotografiranja pretkukuljica različitih vrsta roda Cephalcia. Na taj je način ukupno fotografirano i identificirano 147 jedinki.Broj pretkukuljica u uzorcima tla 2009. godine iznosio je od 160 do 944 jedinki/m2 tla, dok je brojnost pretkukuljica iz 2010. godine bila manja, ali još uvijek visoka i iznosila je od 64 do 320 primjeraka/m2 tla. Prema Battisti i Rodeghiero (1988), intenzitet defolijacije pri kojoj nastaje štetni učinak na smreci nastaje kada brojnost iznosi 20 pretkukuljica/m2 tla. Na lokaciji Prevalje 2010. godine prosječan broj pretkukuljica iznosio je 189 jedinki/m2 tla, što upućuje na posljedičnu defolijaciju.Determinacija vrsta na temelju prikupljenih pretkukuljica ukazala je na dominaciju vrste C. arvensis (71 %). Ostatak pretkukuljica pripadao je drugim vrstama roda Cephalcia ili ih se zbog nejasnih uzoraka nije moglo preciznije odrediti.U proljeće 2012. godine s entomološkim mrežama hvatana su živa imaga i taksonomski identificirani. Sva imaga pripadala su vrsti C. arvensis. Identifikacije je potvrdio prof. dr. Andrea Battisti sa Sveučilišta u Padovi.Temperature zraka i tla važni su čimbenici koji dominantno utječu na bionomiju vrsta roda Cephalcia. Podaci s meteorološke stanice Šmartno pri Slovenj Gradcu preuzeti su za razdoblje 2007–2010. od Agencije Republike Slovenije za okoliš (ARSO), dok su 2010. godine na lokaciji Prevalje izmjerene temperature tla na dubini 20 cm s digitalnim termometrima ‘T-button’ thermometers (T-buttons, Dallas Semiconductor, USA; preciznost 0,1 °C, 0,1 %).Temperatura tla ima jak utjecaj na dinamiku populacije ovih osa pa primjerice temperatura ispod 0 °C kroz duže razdoblje može rezultirati povećanim mortalitetom pretkukuljica. U provedenom istraživanju temperatura tla nije imal utjecaja na njihov mortalitet s obzirom da se niti jednom nije spustila ispod 0 °C. Drugi razlozi za smanjenje brojnosti pretkukuljica su predatori iz porodice Soricidae, te entomopatogene gljive koje nisu bile predmet ovog istraživanja.Fenološki važne temperaturne vrijednosti povezane s pojavom imaga Cephalcia vrsta utvrdili smo praćenjem početka pojave odraslih osa u travnju 2011. godine detaljnim pregledom prizemnog rašća i drveća sve do prestanka njihovog nalaza. Za svaki dan u ovom razdoblju utvrdili smo prosječnu dnevnu zračnu temperaturu na visini 2 m od tla i temperaturu tla na dubini 20 cm. Prva imaga pojavila su se 20. travnja, kada je prosječna dnevna temperatura iznosila iznad 12 °C, a u većem broju 23. travnja (prosječna dnevna temperatura 14,7 °C, temperatura tla 8,7 °C), sve do 9. svibnja. Nakon tog datuma pa sve do 19. svibnja pojava imaga je oslabila i nalažena su tek pojedinačne ose.Brst smrekinh iglica i posljedični gubitak asimilacijskog aparata važan je indikator vitalnosti stabala te je rezultat utjecaja različitih biotskih i abiotskih čimbenika. Unutar područja najjače zahvaćenog defoliacijom, 2009. godine izabrali smo 6 površina (svaka 50 50 m), te svakom stablu iznad 10 cm prsnog promjera procijenili postotak defolijacije krošnje. Isti postupak ponovljen je 2010. godine. 2009. godine prosječna defolijacija krošanja na istraženim lokacijama iznosila je 26 %, a 2010 godine 32 %, što ukazuje na pogoršanje vitalnosti napadnutih smreka.Sve gradacije C. arvensis u Europi dogodili su se u smrekovim sastojinama, naročito u smrekovim kulturama. Budući da u Sloveniji postoji mnogo ovakvih sastojina, a uslijed recentnih promjene klimatskih čimbenika, primjerice porasta temperature i smanjena količina oborina u razdoblju kada se smrekine ose predivice roje i ženke odlažu jaja, u šumama Slovenije možemo očekivati učestalija prenamnoženja populacija ovih štetnika.

Ophiostomatoid fungi can severely affect the health and economic value of Norway spruce trees (Picea abies). Although the diversity of ophiostomatoid species and their associations with insects have been well-investigated in central and northern Europe, little is known about the conditions in south-eastern Europe. This study aims to study the assemblages of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with three bark beetle species (Ips typographus, Ips amitinus, and Pityogenes chalcographus) that infect Norway spruce in Slovenia. Bark beetles were sampled in four phytogeographic regions in Slovenia. The fungi found on the bark beetles were identified based on morphology, DNA sequence comparisons of ITS regions and phylogenetic analysis. The species compositions of the fungal associates of the three insect species were compared and the pairwise associations of the occurrence of the fungal species were analysed. Thirteen different species were found. The most commonly encountered fungal associates of the beetles were Ophiostoma bicolor, Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, Grosmannia piceiperda, Ophiostoma ainoae, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, and Grosmannia penicillata. The composition of the fungal associates differed among the bark beetle species, but not among the phytogeographic regions. This study confirms that ophiostomatoid species are common associates of the investigated bark beetle species. Many ophiostomatoid species have strong host associations. I. typographus and P. chalcographus can act as effective vectors for O. bicolor, O. ainoae, G. piceiperda and O. brunneo-ciliatum, whereas I. amitinus often carries G. piceiperda and C. minuta in Slovenian forests.