The Master's thesis was carried out as part of the international project Euphrecso Agrilus, which was implemented by researchers from the Slovenian Forestry Institute. Invasive and native species of the genus Agrilus have recently become increasingly important in the field of forest protection, therefore, it is important to know the most effective methods of monitoring and control. The main objective of the thesis was to determine which of the two trap types, the sticky green prismatic trap or the green multi-funnel trap, catches Agrilus beetles more effectively in the Ljubljana regional unit. In addition, we wanted to find out whether the two-spotted oak buprestid beetle (Agrilus biguttatus) is present in the area. Along with, which other species of the genus Agrilus are still present in the catches, and which species of the genus Agrilus is dominant in the area. Monitoring was carried out from 26 May to 31 August 2021. Traps were set in a sunny or semi-shaded position. Control and sampling was carried out every two weeks. Catches were determined in the laboratory. In total eight different species of Agrilus were caught: A. angustulus, A. biguttatus, A. convexicollis, A. laticornis, A. obscuricollis, A. olivicolor, A. sulcicollis and A. hastulifer. The most abundant species was A. laticornis, which accounted for 43.98% of all Agrilus specimens, followed by A. olivicolor with 28.22% and A. obscuricollis with 12.86%. The majority of Agrilus specimens caught were in green multi-funnel traps, approximately two and a half times more than Agrilus specimens caught in green sticky prismatic traps. Differences in the species composition of Agrilus catches between the two trap types tested were not statistically significant. The presence of the two-spotted oak buprestid beetle was confirmed, but only by catching one specimen.
|