Development and distribution of predators and parasitoids during two consecutive years of an Ips typographus (Col., Scolytidae) infestation

  The development of the natural enemy complex, its within‐tree distribution and the resulting mortalities imposed on bark beetles were investigated during two consecutive years (1994, 1995) at the peak of an Ips typographus infestation. For this reason bolts from infested spruce trees were incubated until the inhabiting insects had emerged. Some 17 000 antagonists were identified and found to belong to 16 predatory and 14 parasitic insect species. Among the predators the Dolichopodidae (Dip.) were most abundant, while among the parasitoids the Pteromalidae (Hym.) ranked first. Parasitoids preferred the upper tree parts, while predators were more abundant in the lower parts. Total bark beetle mortality was assessed based on the literature data on the per capita consumption of the antagonistic larvae. In the first year, the most destructive group were the dolichopodid flies, killing three to seven times more bark beetle larvae than the second ranking Lonchaeidae (Dip.) and the Pteromalidae. In the second year, the pteromalid parasitoids killed 2.5 times more larvae than the dolichopodids. Total bark beetle survival was assessed to decrease from 46 to 18% in the course of the 2 years.