The First Report of Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff, 1868) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in Türkiye with New Reproductive Host Plant

Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff, 1868) is one of several very similar species of ambrosia beetles, collectively termed the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex, which includes E. fornicatus, E. fornicatior (Eggers, 1923), E. perbrevis (Schedl, 1951), and E. kuroshio (Gomez et al., 2018). In 2024, a series of shoot dieback and wilting phenomena were observed on various ornamental trees in Emin.nü, Istanbul/Türkiye. Further investigation of the symptoms revealed the presence of an invasive exotic beetle species in the region. Applying both morphological and molecular methods determined that the ambrosia species present in the affected plants was E. fornicatus. The presence of the invasive ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, is reported for the first time in Türkiye. In 2016, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization proposed the inclusion of this species in the A1 list (lists of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests) for Türkiye, and it was included in the List of Agricultural Quarantine Species of Türkiye in the same year.