Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-21000-001-049-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2021
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
Cooperator will conduct research to address the following objectives:
1) Predict the risk of infestations in orchard and nursery crop systems through improved understanding of ambrosia beetle (AB) biology and ecology, 2) Develop novel tools to enhance the accuracy and precision of AB infestation and monitoring tactics, 3) Implement comprehensive management strategies, and 4) Transfer research-based information to stakeholders.
Approach:
Objective 1 will also be addressed by characterizing the spatial distribution of attacked trees in nurseries and/or orchards. Research teams will measure the within and between-row distances among all attacked and non-attacked trees. Ambrosia beetle host selection, tree characteristics, and site characteristics will be recorded. To address objective 2, the cooperator will evaluate trapping tactics and lure release rates for species-specific monitoring of ambrosia beetles and correlating trap captures with attacks. Different lure types will be tested in orchards and/or nurseries. Objective 3 will be addressed by testing conventional and alternative insecticides under field conditions. Cooperator will conduct rapid screening in two tiers to identify novel and previously untested products with efficacy comparable to permethrin and bifenthrin (currently the most effective insecticides). Objective 3 will also be addressed by testing repellents and integrating them with attractants as part of a push-pull strategy. To address objective 4, cooperators will conduct traditional in-person meetings, web-based approaches (blogs,YouTube, social media), and outreach publications.
