First report of Cyrtogenius luteus in Italy
In summer 2009, specimens of a bark beetle which was later identified as Cyrtogenius luteus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were trapped in the international harbours of Venice (Marghera) and Chioggia in the Veneto region, Northern Italy. In summer 2010 and 2012, many other specimens were caught again in the same harbours. In summer 2011, C. luteus was caught in traps located in the semi-urban areas in Martellago and San Biagio di Callalta, respectively at about 15 km and 40 km from the closest harbour (Marghera). It is noted that all specimens were collected in traps and that no dying or trees that recently died were found to be infested by C. luteus. This is the first time that C. luteus is reported from Italy and from Europe. C. luteus is a bark beetle which occurs in Asia (at least in China (Yunnan), Japan, Taiwan and Thailand) on pine trees (Pinus spp.). No data is available on its biology and impact on forest trees.
Interestingly, its introduction has recently been reported from Uruguay where it was first detected in December 2009 in the department of San José in Pinus pinaster and P. taeda. In 2010, it was also found in the departments of Rocha, Paysandú, Durazno and Tacuarembó. Following its initial finding in 2009, a monitoring programme was implemented and showed that the captures of C. luteus were more abundant and stable in the southern region, and increasing in the north. In Uruguay, C. luteus was found in commercial plantations of P. taeda, P. elliotii and P. pinaster. It is noted that although C. luteus appears to behave as a secondary pest in Asia (attacking only dying or dead trees), several infested areas with dead P. taeda trees were reported in Uruguay.
Sources
Beaver RA, Liu LY (2010) An annotated synopsis of Taiwanese bark and ambrosia beetles, with new synonymy, new combinations and new records (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Zootaxa 2602, 1-47.
Bright DE, Skidmore RE (2002) A Catalog of Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera). Supplement 2 (1995-1999), NRC Research Press, 511 pp.
Faccoli M, Simonato M, Toffolo EP (2012) First record of Cyrtogenius Strohmeyer in Europe, with a key to the European genera of the tribe Dryocoetini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). Zootaxa 3423, 27-35 (abst.).
Gómez D, Martínez G, Beaver RA (2012) First record of Cyrtogenius luteus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the Americas and its distribution in Uruguay. Coleopterists Bulletin 66(4), 362-364 (abst.).