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Hylastes Research Programme

**The potential of Beauveria spp. for the control of bark and wood boring beetles**

Stephen D. Reay¹, Travis R. Glare^{2, 3}
and Tracey L. Nelson²

¹Silver Bullet Forest Research, Auckland, New Zealand

²AgResearch, PO Box 60, Lincoln

³National Centre for Advanced Bio-protection, Lincoln University

ABSTRACT

The introduced pine bark beetle, Hylastes ater (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a pest of new plantings of Pinus radiata in New Zealand. It has become a problem in second and third generation Pinus radiata plantations where it destroys seedlings and can result in delays in planting of up to 15 months in some regions, which results in substantial economic loss. In addition, Hylastes can vector sap stain fungi. It is often associated with another introduced pine bark beetle, Hylurgus ligniperda (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), which is a minor pest of pines in New Zealand. Both species are of European origin. The species of Platypus, P. apicalis, P. caviceps and P. gracillis are indigenous to New Zealand and predominantly attack beech (Nothofagus sp.).

Platypus usually colonise fallen logs or dead trees, but may overwhelm and kill mature host trees. Currently control of these beetle pests is management orientated, due to the difficult and/or cost of control. Biological control would be an attractive option in New Zealand, both to support sustainable forestry and allow for control in indigenous and mix stand forests. All three pests are naturally attacked by the entomopathogenic fungi in the genus Beauveria.

The occurrence of Beauveria spp. on these pests and potential use as biopesticides in forests has been investigated. Isolates of fungi have been recovered from all species and genetically typed. In addition, a series of bioassays, disease transmissions studies and a field application experiment have been conducted. Beauveria strains formulated and applied in different methods may eventually be suitable control agents for some or all of these pests.