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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #275272
Title: Influence of trap color and host volatiles on capture of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Author
item CROOK, DAMON - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Khrimian, Ashot
item Cosse, Allard
item FRAZER, IVICH - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item MASTRO, VICTOR - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2011
Publication Date: 2/1/2012
Citation: Crook, D., Khrimian, A., Cosse, A.A., Frazer, I., Mastro, V. 2012. Influence of trap color and host volatiles on capture of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Journal of Environmental Entomology. 105:429-437.

Interpretive Summary: Insect pests cause significant damage to crops and forests, and monitoring their populations aids greatly in reducing pesticide use. Emerald ash borer established recently in North America as a serious invasive insect species that destroys a variety of ash trees. A chemical attractant has been needed to monitor populations of emerald ash borer in low infestation areas. We studied dark-green traps baited with six different lure combinations based on essential oils, called manuka oil, and phoebe oil, and the main component of green leaf volatiles. Our results indicated that dark-green traps generally performed better than previously reported light-green, or purple traps and thus should be further investigated for use under field conditions. The results of this study are of interest to other chemists and entomologist involved in the research of potential pest control compounds, and to State and Federal agencies involved in monitoring and controlling emerald ash borer.

Technical Abstract: Field trapping assays were conducted in 2009 and 2010 throughout western Michigan, USA, to evaluate lures for adult emerald ash borer, A. planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Several ash tree volatiles were tested on purple prism traps in 2009, and a dark green prism trap in 2010. In 2009, six bark oil distillate lure treatments were tested against manuka oil lures (used in 2008 by USDA APHIS PPQ emerald ash borer cooperative program). Purple traps baited with 80 / 20 (manuka / phoebe oil) significantly increased beetle catch compared to traps baited with manuka oil alone. In 2010 we monitored EAB attraction to dark green traps baited with six lure combinations of 80/20 (manuka / phoebe), manuka oil and (3Z)- hexenol. Traps baited with manuka oil and (3Z)-hexenol caught significantly more male and total count insects than traps baited with manuka oil alone. Traps baited with manuka oil and(3Z)-hexenol did not catch more beetles when compared to traps baited with (3Z)-hexenol alone. When compared to unbaited green traps our results show that (3Z)-hexenol improved male catch significantly in only one of three field experiments using dark green traps. Dark green traps caught a high number of A. planipennis when unbaited while (3Z)-hexenol was seen to have a minimal (non significant) trap catch effect at several different release rates. We hypothesize that the previously reported kairomonal attractancy of (3Z)-hexenol (for males) on light green traps is not as obvious here because of improved male attractancy to the darker green trap.