Fig tree xylophagous pest’s effects in the Bejaia region (central-north Algeria)

Keywords: orchards, Ficus carica, bark beetles, Hypocryphalus scabricollis,, Algeria

Abstract

In response to alerts from farmers in Bejaia region (central-north Algeria) about the decline of their fig trees, a survey was conducted between 2019 and 2021 in the main localities known for fig crops. Hypocryphalus scabricollis (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae:  Scolytinae) was identified as the causal agent of fig tree decline in the region. This species is reported for the first time in Algeria. Here, a morphological description and main biological traits of this species are given. Distribution of H. scabricollis in the Bejaia region is illustred, and an overview of its behaviour, symptoms and damage caused to the host plant, and their potential impact in commercial fig production is discussed. This work aims to provide a preliminary database to the scientific community about this xylophagous pest of fig trees and to alert regional and national policy makers to take it seriously and address emerging bark beetle problems before it is too late.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

A. S. W. B. (1996). Annuaire statistique de la wilaya de Bejaia. Direction de la planification et de l’environnement et de l’aménagement du territoire de la wilaya de Bejaia. Ed. 1995, 22 p.
Allen, C. D., Macalady, A. K., Chenchouni, H., Bachelet, D., McDowell, N., Vennetier, M., Kitzberger, T., Rigling, A., Breshears, D. D., Hogg, E. H., Gonzalez, P., Fensham, R., Zhang, Z., Castro, J., Demidova, N., Lim, J. H., Allard, G., Running, S. W., Semerci, A., & Cobb, N. (2010). A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 259(4), 660-684. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.09.001
Belokobylskij, S. A., and Maeto, K. (2009). Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Japan. Natura optima dux Foundation. https://miiz.waw.pl/periodicals/inne_publikacje/doryctinae-intro.pdf
B. N. D. R. (1980). Bureau National d'Études pour le Développement Rural. Etude d’inventaire des terres et forêts du Nord de l’Algérie (Bejaia). Rapport général, 205 p.
Chouaki, S., Bessedik, F., Chebouti, A., Maamri, F., Oumata, S., Kheldoun, S., Hamana, M., Douzene, M., Bellah, F., & Kheldoun, A. (2006). Deuxième rapport national sur l’état des ressources phytogénétiques. INRAA, Algérie. https://www.fao.org/3/i1500e/Algeria.pdf
Cutajar, S., and Mifsud, D. (2017). Good agricultural practice (GAP) for fig tree cultivation. Plant Protection Directorate. https://agrikoltura.gov.mt/en/phd/Documents/guidelines/figTreeBookletOnlineEN.pdf
Faccoli, M., Campo, G., Perrotta, G., & Rassati, D. (2016). Two newly introduced tropical bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) damaging figs (Ficus carica) in southern Italy. Zootaxa, 1, 189-194. https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4138.1.10
Gaaliche, B., Ben Abdelaali, N., Mouttet, R., Ben Halima-Kamel, M., & Hajlaoui, M. R. (2018). Nouveau signalement de Hypocryphalus scabricollis (Eichhoff, 1878) en Tunisie, un ravageur émergent sur figuier (Ficus carica L.). EPPO Bulletin, 48(1), 164-166. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12459
Kadik, B. (1987). Contribution à l'étude du Pin d'Alep (Pinus halepensis Mill.) en Algérie: écologie, dendrométrie, morphologie. Office des Publications Universitaires.
Khelifa, R., Deacon, C., Mahdjoub, H., Suhling, F., Simaika, J. P., & Samways, M. J. (2021). Dragonfly Conservation in the Increasingly Stressed African Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.660163
Kirkendall, L. R., Biedermann, P. H. W., & Jordal, B. H. (2015). Chapter 3 - Evolution and Diversity of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles. In F. E. Vega and R. W. Hofstetter (Eds.), Bark Beetles (pp. 85-156). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-417156-5.00003-4
Kirkendall, L. R., and Faccoli, M. (2010). Bark beetles and pinhole borers (Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Platypodinae) alien to Europe. ZooKeys, 56, 227-251. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.56.529
McDowell, N. G., Fisher, R. A., Xu, C., Domec, J. C., Hölttä, T., Mackay, D. S., Sperry, J. S., Boutz, A., Dickman, L., Gehres, N., Limousin, J. M., Macalady, A., Martínez-Vilalta, J., Mencuccini, M., Plaut, J. A., Ogée, J., Pangle, R. E., Rasse, D. P., Ryan, M. G., Sevanto, S., Waring, R. H., Williams, A. P., Yepez, E. A., & Pockman, W. T. (2013). Evaluating theories of drought-induced vegetation mortality using a multimodel–experiment framework. New Phytologist, 200(2), 304-321. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12465
Mifsud, D., Falzon, A., Malumphy, C., Lillo, E. d., Vovlas, N., & Porcelli, F. (2012). On some arthropods associated with Ficus species (Moraceae) in the Maltese Islands. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta, 5, 5-34. https://www.societaentomologicaitaliana.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/08.pdf
Mifsud, D., and Knížek, M. (2009). The Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta, 2, 25-52. https://l1nq.com/ne7KI
Raffa, K. F., Aukema, B. H., Bentz, B. J., Carroll, A. L., Hicke, J. A., Turner, M. G., & Romme, W. H. (2008). Cross-scale Drivers of Natural Disturbances Prone to Anthropogenic Amplification: The Dynamics of Bark Beetle Eruptions. BioScience, 58(6), 501-517. https://doi.org/10.1641/b580607
Rassati, D., Lieutier, F., & Faccoli, M. (2016). Alien Wood-Boring Beetles in Mediterranean Regions. In T. D. Paine and F. Lieutier (Eds.). Insects and Diseases of Mediterranean Forest Systems (pp. 293-327). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24744-1_11
Wood, S. L., and Bright, D. E. (1992). A Catalog of Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera), Part 2: Taxonomic Index. Volume B. Great Basin naturalist memoirs, 13, 835-1557. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/144043
Published
2023-06-10
How to Cite
Chelli, A., Oudjiane, A., Zebsa, R., Razi, S., Boussad, F., & Boudalia, S. (2023). Fig tree xylophagous pest’s effects in the Bejaia region (central-north Algeria). Revista De La Facultad De Agronomía De La Universidad Del Zulia, 40(2), e234022. Retrieved from https://mail.produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/agronomia/article/view/40315
Section
Crop Production