Występowanie, biologia i znaczenie gospodarcze kornika ostrozębnego Ips acuminatus (Gyllenhal, 1827) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) w Polsce

Based on literature review, the occurrence and biology of the sharp−dentated bark beetle Ips acuminatus (Gyll.) in Scots pine stands of Europe was presented. The economic significance of this species in Poland over the past 50 years was also characterized, including the size of the damage caused as a result of trees infestation. The sharp−dentated bark beetle belongs to the most dangerous pest of pine stands, which is mostly due to the fact that it attacks trees without visible symptoms of weakness. Furthermore, the trees in the early stages of infestation are very difficult to identify in the field. In addition, stain fungi are introduced into the wood as a result of tunneling of both, adult beetles and larvae under the bark, which cause staining of wood and thus substantially reduce the quality and economic value of timber. Since 2015, in Scots pine forests in Poland the systematic increase in the abundance of population of sharp−dentated bark beetle is observed, resulting in increasing amount of Scots pine wood harvested in the sanitary cuttings. To reduce the damage caused by I. acuminatus in the endangered pine stands a number of activities related to active forest protection should be implemented. It is also necessary to monitor the population of this species continuously.