European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF XYLOPHAGOUS BEETLES AS A FUNCTION OF WOOD SPECIES AND DIAMETER

Kouame Konan Donald*, Kra Kouadio Dagobert, Kwadjo Koffi Eric, Loukou Kouamé Kan Sébastien, Douan Bleu Gondo and Kouakou Konan Jean Fabrice

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of species on the xylophagous beetle population of the Téné classified forest in Oumé, in order to take them into account in forest management and silviculture. The method used to collect insects at the four sites was systematic excavation. These sites are primary forest, cedrela, teak and multi-species reforestation. At each site, 17 wood species and three wood diameter classes were systematically searched. A total of 201 wood-boring beetles were collected. The species most colonized by xylophagous beetles were Terminalia superba, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Tectona grandis, with 37.31%, 20.39% and 17.41% of total individuals respectively. The wood-boring beetle species most closely associated with these species are Cerambyx cerdo, Cerambyx velutinus and Spondylis buprestoides, accounting for 23.38%, 12.43% and 11.97% of total individuals respectively. The species least colonized by woodborers were Sterculia rhinopetala, Mansonia altissima, Gambeya delevoyi and Celtis mildbraedii, each with 4.14% individuals, and Cedrela odorata and Entandrophragma cylindricum, each with 2.095% individuals. Tectona grandisse and Terminalia superba are the species with the highest diversity of wood-boring beetles, and show the most damage. Sterculia rhinopetala, Mansonia altissima, Gambeya delevoyi, Celtis mildbraedii and Cedrela odorata are the least diverse in terms of wood-boring beetle species and show the least damage. In terms of wood diameter class, the greatest number of individuals were collected on large-diameter trees (175 individuals, or 58.33 ± 7.26 of the total population). Fewer individuals were collected in the small-diameter class (59 individuals or 19.66 ± 4.66 of the total population). Cerambyx velutinus, Cerambyx cerdo and Spondyles buprestoides are associated with large and medium diameters, while small diameters are characterized by the species Hylotrypes bajulus and Amphicerus cornutus. Wood-boring Coleoptera species are more diversified in the small and medium diameter class.

Keywords: Abundance, wood-boring beetles, diversity, species, forest, Téné, influence, silviculture.