Investigating Bark and Ambrosia Beetle Communities in Apple Orchards of East Java, Indonesia

Bark and ambrosia beetles are major pests in fruit tree orchards worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate bark and ambrosia beetle communities present in apple orchards in East Java, Indonesia. We sampled bark and ambrosia beetle communities using ethanol-baited traps in two different cropping systems, i.e., polyculture and monoculture. We collected 353 individuals representing four tribes, 13 genera, and 16 species of both beetles. The most abundant species was Xylosandrus morigerus (Blanford), indicating that this species may be well established in apple orchards. Bark and ambrosia beetle abundance and species richness in apple orchards were higher in the polyculture cropping system. Nevertheless, apple orchards surrounded by a high number of forest patches (in a radius of one kilometer) were more at risk of being invaded by bark and ambrosia beetles than those surrounded by a lower number of forest patches. Continued monitoring of bark and ambrosia beetles on apple orchards could play a significant role in the early detection and the development of proactive measures for sustainable pest management.