Damage severity of wood-destroying insects according to the Bevan damage classification system in log depots of Northwest Turkey

Abstract

the aim of the study was to determine damage severity of wood-destroying insects on logs stored in forest depots. The Bevan damage classification (BDC) system, developed in 1987, was utilized to determine damage severity in log depots in 21 locations throughout seven provinces in Turkey. Pheromone traps were placed in those locations at the beginning of April in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore some stored wood within the log depots were checked and split into small pieces to collect insects that damage wood. The BDC system was used for the first time to measure the severity of insect damage in log depots. Twenty-eight families, 104 genera and 123 species were identified in this study. Based on the BDC system, the highest damage was found from the Cerambycidae and Buprestidae families. Arhopalus rusticus was determined as the insect responsible for the highest amount of damage with 8.8% severity rating in the pheromone-trapped insects group. When the stored wood material was considered, Hylotrupes bajulus was found to be the cause of the highest damage. The lowest damage values were among the predator insects (Cleridae, Trogossitidae, Cantharidae) and those feeding on fungi colonized on the wood (Mordellidae, Cerylonidae, Nitidulidae). Some other predator insects of the Tenebrionidae family (Uloma cypraea, Uloma culinaris, Menephilus cylindricus) and Elateridae family (Lacon punctatus, Ampedus sp.) exhibited relatively higher damage severity values since they had built tunnels and made holes in the stored wood material. When the environmental factors were considered, the Buprestidae family exhibited a very strong positive relationship (p < 0.005) with insect frequency distribution (r = 0.922), number of species (r = 0.879) and insect density (r = 0.942). Both families showed the highest number and frequency during July and August, highlighting the importance of insect control and management during these months. Insects are one of the most important biological factors that destroy wood materials 1. Insects from the Cerambycidae, Anobiidae, Lyctidae, Buprestidae and Melandryidae families cause damage to logs and lumber that lowers technical specifications, leading to major economic losses 2. The Tenebrionidae, Elateridae, Lucanidae and Scarabaeidae families, on the other hand, produce their larvae on long-term stored wood and partially decayed wood material 3. The Cleridae and Trogossitidae families are common since they are predators of wood-destroying insects 4-6. Insects from the Curculionidae/Scolytinae families destroy wood at every stage from stump to log 7. Insects from the Cerambycidae family cause damage on both softwood and hardwood species. Their major destruction takes place during the larval stage 8. Some species of Cerambycidae damage ornamental and fruit trees, while other species harm newly harvested trees, inner bark, decaying wood, dried wood and furniture in use 9-11. Some species are considered invasive for some locations, making protective and control measures very difficult 12. They top the list amo...