Different phoretic affinities of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus kolymensis (Nematoda, Aphelenchoididae) to Monochamus sartor urussovii and M. sutor (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT Bursaphelenchus mucronatus kolymensis (Nematoda, Aphelenchoididae) is distributed widely in the Palearctic region and is transmitted by several species of long-horned beetles in the genus Monochamus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). In Hokkaido, Japan, M. sartor urussovii has been known as a vector of B. m. kolymensis. However, whether M. sutor is another vector has never been examined though it is the sympatric species of M. sa. urussovii in Hokkaido and transmits this nematode in Europe and Russian Far East. To answer this query, Bursaphelenchus nematodes were isolated from adults of M. sa. urussovii and M. sutor and identified using molecular techniques. Bursaphelenchus m. kolymensis alone was detected from 3 out of 40 M. sa. urussovii adults. In contrast, no Bursaphelenchus nematodes were recovered from 51 M. sutor adults. These results suggested that the primary vector of B. m. kolymensis was M. sa. urussovii in Hokkaido.