PRIMARY ATTRACTION AND HOST TREE SELECTION IN DECIDUOUS AND CONIFER LIVING COLEOPTERA, SCOLYTIDAE, CURCULIONIDAE, CERAMBYCIDAE AND LYMEXYLIDAE

Primary attraction and host tree selection among bark and wood living Coleoptera were investigated in this research. The experiments were ca rried out in Dividalen, Troms County, and lasted from May to August, i n 1993 and 1994. Beetles living in deciduous trees were the main objec ts of the present study. Trap type used excluded pheromones in the hos t tree selection. The traps were placed in areas dominated by Scots pi ne (Pinus sylvestis) and birch (Betula pubescens), and areas that cont ained both tree species. The traps were baited with billets of Betula pubescens, Alnus incana and Pinus sylvestris is. Empty traps were used as controls. Beetle species found to have both primary attraction and host tree selection prior to landing were the conifer living Tomicus piniperda, Hylastes brunneus, Pityogenes quadridens, Pissodes pini, Hy lobius abietis, Magdalis phlegmatica, and the deciduous living Magdali s carbonaria, Hylecoetes dermestoides and Rhagium mordax. Also, Scolyt us ratzeburgi and Trypodendron signatum were able to distinguish betwe en suitable and unsuitable host tress prior to landing. Ips acuminatus was found to have neither primary attraction nor host tree selection prior to landing, probably because pheromones were excluded in the att raction. According to the literature, the mechanism used in the host s election is mainly olfactory sensing and vision.