Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, in three areas in France

The species composition of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Ips typographus was studied in the Vosges, Alps and Massif Central regions of France. In each region, damage caused by bark beetles has increased during recent years. For this study, beetles were collected individually by hand from freshly attacked trees and crushed in healthy Picea abies logs. Fungi were isolated from log phloem and sapwood, and identified. The most frequently found species were Ophiostoma bicolor, O. penicillatum, Ceratocystiopsis minuta and Ceratocystis polonica. Results are discussed in terms of differences between locations and in relation to previous investigations in which populations of spruce bark beetle have been sparse. The potential role of associated fungi in the population dynamics of the spruce bark beetle is discussed.