Predominant nitidulid species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) associated with spring oak wilt mats in Minnesota

Abstract

Nitidulids are primary vectors of the oak wilt pathogen, Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, in the north-central United States. Species of adult nitidulids associated with different ages of oak wilt fungus mats on red oaks (Quercus rubra L. and Quercus ellipsoidalis E.J. Hill) during spring in east-central Minnesota were determined. The exoskeletal surfaces of representative specimens were assayed for the presence and abundance of the pathogen. Six species comprised 94% of 2542 adults, representing at least 12 species, collected between 1994 and 1996. Of these six species, Colopterus truncatus Randall and Epuraea corticina Erichson were the most abundant ones on immature mats (94% of 154 nitidulids). They were also more abundant than the other species on mature mats (77% of 868 nitidulids). Carpophilus sayi Parsons was the most common species (28% of 1134 nitidulids) on aging mats, while Carpophilus sayi and three Glischrochilus species (Glischrochilus sanguinolentus (Oliv.), Glischrochilus fasciatus (Oliv.), and Glischrochilus quadrisignatus Say) were predominant on declining mats (80% of 214 nitidulids). Multiple numbers of individuals of each species were commonly found on the mats. The smaller bodied species, C. truncatus and E. corticina, had the lowest numbers of fungal propagules on their bodies, while the highest incidence and numbers of viable propagules were found for the three largest bodied species (Glischrochilus spp.). These results are important to elucidating the principal nitidulid species involved in successful transmission of the pathogen in Minnesota.