The European wood wasp Sirex noctilio: Distribution, hosts and parasitoids recovered in Tunisia. Mejri, M., Naves, P., De Sousa, E., and Ben Jamâa, M.L. (Tunisia / Portugal)

oleh: Manel Mejri, Pedro Naves, Edmundo De Sousa, Mohamed Lahbib Ben Jamâa

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Institution of the Agricultural Research and Higher Education 2016-06-01

Deskripsi

Sirex noctilio is an invasive wood wasp pest in North America and in the southern hemisphere. Despite some reports on its presence in Tunisia, no further studies were undertaken on its distribution, hosts or potential associated parasitoids. In this paper, we confirmed the presence of S. noctilio in Tunisia, its widespread in several newly defined locations and its associated pine hosts. This species was widely distributed in the northern forests of Aleppo, maritime and stone pine and seemed to be absent in monospecific forests of Aleppo pine in semi-arid locations. The life cycle was completed within one year. Two parasitoid species emerged from S. noctilio-attacked logs which were identified as belonging to Ibalia and Rhyssa genera. Due to the apparent low abundance of S. noctilio and its absence in the semi-arid locations, risks of phytosanitary problems attributed to this species are of limited importance in Tunisian forests.