title: Host suitability analysis of the bark beetle Scolytus amygdali (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).
abstract: Scolytus amygdali is a polyphagous insect pest that feeds on fruit trees and forest trees. Our study assessed the host preference and reproductive potential of S. amygdali on four tree species: almond (Prunus dulcis), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), peach (Prunus persica), and plum (Prunus domestica). Females of S. amygdali produced maternal galleries that were longer on peach than the other three trees, and female fecundity was highest on peach. Females with longer maternal galleries produced more eggs, indicating a positive correlation between maternal gallery length and female fertility. The under-bark development time of S. amygdali is significantly shorter on plum (45 days) and almond (56 days) than on apricot (65 days) and peach (64 days). Despite this longer development time on peach, our results still suggest that, of the four types of tree tested, peach is the most preferred host for S. amygdali.
authors: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte,Bizerte,Tunisia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zeiri
authors: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Tropical Research and Education Center,18905 SW 280th Street,Homestead,FL 33031,USA.
authors: M Z
authors: MZ
authors: Ahmed
authors: Laboratory of Entomology, Regional Center of Research on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture,The University of Sousse,4042 Chott-Mariem,Sousse,Tunisia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Braham
authors: Department of Entomology,South China Agricultural University,510640 Guangzhou,China.
authors: B-L
authors: BL
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D027861:Prunus / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Scolytus amygdali; almond bark beetle; chronology; fruit trees; host selection; sensitivity