The first record of Gregarina typographi Fuchs (Protista: Apicomplexa: Gregarinidae) from the European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this study is determining pathogens of Ips typographus from Eastern Black Sea Region in Turkey.

METHODS

Samples collected from the field were taken to laboratuar as soon as possible. Microscopic examination was completed by dissection with Ringer's solution.

RESULTS

780 Ips typographus beetles from Giresun, Rize and Artvin were examined. Gregarines were observed in the populations of I. typographus in the three regions. 27 of 780 beetles were found to be infected by the Gregarina typographi. Total rate of infection was 3.4% in three localities. During the study several life stages of the gregarine pathogen (trophozoite, gamont, Cysts and associative form) were observed. Gametocysts were spherical and from 77 to 85 μm in diameter. Total lengths of solitary gamonts were measured. from 90 to 155 μm. Measurements of gamonts and gametocysts of G. typographi were given and compared with other gregarines isolated from bark beetles. This pathogen is described as Gregarina typographi.

CONCLUSION

The gregarine pathogen of Ips typographus is reported from Turkey for the first time.