Occurrence of pathogens and parasites in Ips typographus L. from spruce stands (Picea orientalis L.) in Georgia

Occurrence of pathogens was investigated in the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus from two different sampling plots in Borjomi region at 900m above sea level, collected in September 2004. Investigations brought evidence of one pathogen species only, Gregarina typographi, was found in the mid-gut lumen of 48.6% and of 23.2% of adult beetles respectively. In both cases were more male beetles infected than female beetles. Furthermore, unidentified fungal infections were observed in some few individuals. Relatively few beetles had larvae of the Hymenopteran parasitoids Tomicobia seitneri and Ropalophorus clavicornis. In addition, Contortylenchus typographi nematodes were found in the haemolymph of beetles, and not identified nematode larvae in the gut lumen