Parameters of Pinus sylvestris health condition and Ips acuminatus population in pure and mixed stands of Sumy region

Abstract

Outbreaks of bark beetles have increased in recent years in various regions. Pine engraver beetle (Ips acuminatus (Gyllenhal, 1827); Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is most common in the pine forests of many European countries. Research on its biology and spread carried out in different natural conditions, phases of pest outbreak and considered various parameters to characterize the population of the pest and forest health condition. The aim of the research was to compare the health condition of Scots pine stands and population parameters of I. acuminatus in its two generations in pure and mixed stands in Polissya and Forest-steppe parts of Sumy region. Research was carried out in 2017 in the pure Scots pine stands and mixed stands with Scots pine and other forest species in Polissya (State Enterprise "Seredyno-Budsky Agroforest Economy"; State Enterprise "Seredyno-Budsky Forest Economy") and Forest-steppe parts (State Enterprise "Velykopysarivske Agroforest Economy"; State Enterprise "Okhtyrske Forest Economy") of Sumy region at 26 sample plots. In sample plots, parameters of forest health condition and bark beetle population were assessed in June and in September, after completion of development of spring and summer generation of I. acuminatus.  By most of the parameters assessed, significant differences between sample plots in Forest-Steppe and Polissya parts of Sumy region were not found. In pure Scots pine stands the mean area of bark beetles’ foci and bark beetles’ production were larger in Forest-steppe in June, and the density of Ips acuminatus nuptial chambers in June and September. In pure Scots pine stands the area of I. acuminatus focus, the number of colonized trees, the proportion of recently died trees, health condition indices, the density of egg galleries and nuptial chambers as well as young beetle’s production increased from June to September. In mixed stands the focus area, the number of colonized trees and health condition index increased insignificantly, and population parameters of I. acuminatus decreased from June to September. Pure Scots pine stands changed the health condition from "severely weakened" to "drying up" in three months, and mixed ones remained in the "weakened" category. In pure pine stands, the density of egg galleries and beetles of the young generation increased for three months from the lower limit of a moderate level to a high level, the density of nuptial chambers – from low to a high level. In mixed stands, all population parameters of I. acuminatus correspond to a low population level. The parameters characterizing the investigated foci of I. acuminatus in the Sumy region significantly correlated with the participation of pine in the stand composition, and in September the correlation is closer than in June. The data obtained indicate the feasibility of creating predominantly mixed pine stands.