Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308281
Title: Cubeb oil Lures: sesquiterpene emissions and efficacy for attraction of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item Montgomery, Wayne
item NIOGRET, JEROME - M & M Mars Company - United States
item DEYRUP, MARK - Archbold Biological Station
item Epsky, Nancy

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2014
Publication Date: 8/3/2014
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Niogret, J., Deyrup, M.A., Epsky, N.D. 2014. Cubeb oil Lures: sesquiterpene emissions and efficacy for attraction of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Meeting Abstract. The 97th annual meeting of the Forida Entomological Society, Jupiter Florida. 3-6 Aug 2014.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus, is an exotic wood-boring pest that vectors Raffaelea lauricola, a symbiotic fungus that causes laurel wilt. This lethal disease has decimated native redbay (Persea borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris) trees throughout the southeastern U.S., and currently threatens avocado (P. americana) in south Florida. To curtail the spread of laurel wilt, effective attractants are needed for early detection of RAB. Phoebe oil lures were the best known attractant for RAB, but they are no longer available. The current approved detection system uses manuka oil lures, but our previous research indicated that manuka lures have a short field life in Florida. Recently, cubeb oil was identified as a new attractant for RAB, and cubeb bubble lures are now available commercially. This study compared the trapping efficacy and field longevity of cubeb, manuka, and phoebe lures (material in storage since 2010) over a 12 week period in south Florida. In addition, terpene emissions were quantified from cubeb and manuka lures. RAB captures were comparable with cubeb and phoebe lures for ~7 weeks, but captures with cubeb were significantly greater from weeks 8-12. Overall captures with manuka lures were lower, and manuka lures lost attraction after 5 weeks. Our results indicate that cubeb bubble lures are the most effective lure currently available for detection of RAB, and their long field life is due to an extended, low release of attractive sesquiterpenes.