Investigations on altitude related occurrence of bark beetles and pathogens in Ips typographus (L. 1758) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in the Gesaeuse national park area (Styria).

Presence of bark beetles was investigated using infested trap logs from six locations in different altitudes. Log sections were cut and incubated in the laboratory; emerging beetles were removed and identified. Furthermore, pathogen occurrence was investigated in Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from these six sites. In total eight bark beetle species were found; Ips typographus and Pityogenes chalcographus occurred in the logs from all locations, Ips amitinus only in higher elevation. Furthermore, fewer individuals emerged belonging to the species: Hvlurgops glabratus, Polygraphus poligraphus, Dryocoetes autographus, Pitvophthorus pityographus and Trypodendron lineatum. Six pathogen species were found in I. typographus (ItEPV, Gregarina typographi, Mattesia typographi, Chytridiopsis typographi, Nosema typographi, Unikaryon montanum). Infection rates varied in beetles from the different locations.