Researches On Feedıng Relatıons Between Dendroctonus micans 

and  Its Predator Rhizophagus grandis

^XArtvin Regional Directorate of Forest- 08000 Artvin 

Abstract

Natural balance has been reestablished after control efforts for a bark beetle known as Dendroctonus micans that caused important damage in spruce forests of Turkey and Georgia in the past.  In the laboratories of Artvin Regional Directorate of Forest, about 3,384,060 Rhizophagus grandis was produced from 1985 to 2009 and released as 20-30 per hectare in areas with intense population in order to fight biologically against the damaging insect. These efforts have succeeded as the balance has been reestablished for most of the forested areas in the region. Laboratory and field studies show that one single larva of Rhizophagus grandis (Gyll) feeds on 3 to 6 Dendroctonus micans (Kug.) adults until it becomes an adult. First cycle Rhizophagus grandis larvae that hatches from the egg attacks as a group of 5 to 10 on the already weak  Dendroctonus micans by the adult Rhizophagus grandis. Rhizophagus grandis that already fed, will feed individually later on. Adults usually feed on individually but they can also feed on as groups consisting of 2-3 to3- 4.

Both adults and larvae of Rhizophagus grandis do not consume all the larvae of Dendroctonus micans and leave some of these damaging insects in order to guarantee their future beings and generations.

Key words: Dendroctonus micans, Rhizophagus grandis, biological fight.

Yayın yeri: Özkaya,S,M.; Aksu,Y.;  Coşkun,A,K,; Researches on Feeding Relations between Dendroctonus micans and Its Predator Rhizophagus grandis, Shota Rustaveli State University Press, Batumi, International Conference Batumi-Spring, May 2010 Sayfa,70