Additional Records of <i>Potensaphelenchus stammeri</i> (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Association With <i>Spondylis buprestoides</i> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Across Europe

ABSTRACT Since the detection in Portugal of the pinewood nematode (PWN— Bursaphelenchus xylophilus ), in 1999, annual field surveys have been conducted to monitor its spread. These surveys include sampling symptomatic and dead pine trees, mainly Pinus pinaster Aiton, to assess and control the pine wilt disease. A complementary approach involves the use of chemical lures to capture insect vectors of the genus Monochamus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), the primary PWN carriers. The lure used (Galloprotect 2D Plus) includes specific pheromones for Monochamus , but also pine volatiles and bark beetles' pheromones. As part of a collaborative study, insects caught in traps placed in Portugal (969 insects, during 2023) and Poland (272 insects, during 2024) were surveyed for the presence of nematodes belonging to the Aphelenchida. In both countries, Spondylis buprestoides (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) were caught (195 and 150 insects, respectively) and were found to be the only carrying vector of Potensaphelenchus stammeri (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae). The general morphology of both females and males agreed with the original description for P. stammeri , namely the male spicules and the conspicuous morphology of the female tail. Molecular analysis, performed by sequencing the partial 18S rDNA gene, a fragment spanning the interspacer ITS1 and ITS2 regions and the partial 28S rDNA gene, further confirmed the results of the morphological analysis. This finding highlights the unique relationship between P. stammeri and the insect S. buprestoides and their large distribution in Europe.