Biology and Control of the Invasive Wood-Boring Beetles—2nd Edition

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 525

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of National Research Council of Italy, P. le Enrico Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
Interests: entomology; biological control; invasive species; artificial intelligence; traps and e-traps; phylogeny; endosymbiont
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wood-boring beetles are increasingly expanding their distribution, often establishing in regions far beyond their native ranges. These species can pose serious threats to agriculture, forestry, and urban green areas, where infestations may lead to severe and sometimes irreversible damage. Understanding their biology and developing effective management strategies is therefore essential to mitigate impacts and prevent further spread.

This Special Issue aims to gather insights on the biology and control of invasive wood-boring beetles, considering data from both native and introduced ranges. We particularly welcome contributions on ecology, physiology, behavior, and population structure, including studies based on integrated approaches that combine traditional morphological diagnostics with molecular tools and analyses of symbiotic microorganisms and fungal associates. Topics of interest also include early detection and surveillance techniques, monitoring and sampling strategies designed to respond rapidly to new infestations, risk modeling, molecular ecology, and the development of sustainable control and strategic management practices.

Dr. Francesco Nugnes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • invasive species
  • beetles
  • wood-boring insects
  • biology
  • ecology
  • behavior
  • integrated pest management
  • chemical control
  • biological control
  • physical control
  • cerambycidae
  • buprestidae
  • scolytidae

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

7 pages, 21436 KB  
Article
First Confirmed Detection of Gnathotrichus materiarius (Fitch, 1858) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Slovakia
by Michal Lalík, Juraj Galko, Christo Nikolov, Andrej Kunca, Slavomír Rell, Milan Zúbrik, Jozef Vakula, Andrej Gubka, Roman Leontovyč and Jaroslav Holuša
Insects 2026, 17(5), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17050532 - 21 May 2026
Viewed by 146
Abstract
Gnathotrichus materiarius Fitch, 1858 is a North American ambrosia beetle that has progressively expanded its distribution across Europe during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The aim of this study was to assess its occurrence in Slovakia based on multi-year surveys conducted in the [...] Read more.
Gnathotrichus materiarius Fitch, 1858 is a North American ambrosia beetle that has progressively expanded its distribution across Europe during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The aim of this study was to assess its occurrence in Slovakia based on multi-year surveys conducted in the Záhorie region and to document its first national record. Monitoring was carried out in 2021 and 2025 in pine-dominated stands using traps baited with pheromone and kairomone attractants. No individuals were detected in 2021. In 2025, two adults of G. materiarius were captured at a single site during the first inspection of traps baited with a (+)-α-pinene and ethanol blend. A large volume of stored pine timber was present in close proximity to the capture site, providing suitable breeding material. The findings suggest a recent introduction or early stage of establishment in Slovakia. Although the species is regarded as a technical pest of coniferous wood, it does not colonize healthy trees and currently poses a limited risk to vital forest stands. Continued targeted monitoring is important to assess its further spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology and Control of the Invasive Wood-Boring Beetles—2nd Edition)
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