Parasitic wasps and Sawyer beetles, Monochamus species Pine wilt disease is caused by the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), which is primarily vectored by Sawyer beetles, Monochamus spp. In order to reduce the intensity or completely eradicate the pine wilt disease, it is necessary to reduce the populations of Monochamus spp., which in turn will reduce the dissemination pinewood nematodes. Currently most of the research is focused on finding the suitable biological control agents that can control sawyer beetles. Recently a group of researchers from Poland, Portugal and Spain discovered five species of wasp including Atanycolus denigrator, Atanycolus ivanowi , Cyanopterus flavator, Doryctes striatellus and Xorides depressus have potential to parasitize and kill the sawyer beetles.
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