Survey of Ophiostomataceae associated with Hylurgus ligniperda (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in New Zealand

A survey of Ophiostomataceae isolatated and identified from Hylurgus ligniperda adults, pupapae and larvae was undertaken in ten sites in Pinus radiata cutover forest in ththe central North Island. Members of this family are associated with sapstain and other plant diseases. This survey found that these fungi were common on both the surface of the beetles, as well as internally. In total, eight species of fungi belonging to this family were isolated from the beetles sampled. Identification was undertaken using morphological and physiological characteristics. Two Ophiostoma species, O. galeiforme and O. huntii were isolated most often, and were found in 50-97% of samples (groups of 10 adults, pupae or larvae from each stump). The remaining specicies, O. floccosum, O. setosum, O. ips, O. quercus, Leptographium procerum, and L. truncatum were isolated less frequently. The most dominant of these species, O. floccosum was isolated from 14% of surface sterilised H. ligniperda larval samples. These results implicate H. ligniperda in the movement of staining and other fungi throughout exotic forests in New Zealand.