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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316074
Title: Development of host-based lures for detection of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Schnell, Elena
item Epsky, Nancy

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB) is an exotic wood-boring insect that carries a fungus responsible for laurel wilt disease. Affecting trees in the laurel family, laurel wilt has decimated redbay and swampbay populations throughout the southeastern coastal plain, and now threatens commercial avocado in Florida. First detected in Georgia in 2002, RAB has since become established in seven southeastern states. With continued spread, it may impact avocado in California and Mexico, as well as many native Lauraceae throughout the American tropics. An effective lure is needed to detect RAB early and control the spread of laurel wilt. Scientists at the USDA-ARS (Miami, FL) have been studying RAB attractants since 2010. This report summarizes what has been learned about the chemicals used by RAB for host location, and highlights ARS research on the development of essential oil lures for improved detection and monitoring of RAB.

Technical Abstract: The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is native to Southeast Asia, but since its initial detection near Savannah, Georgia in 2002, it has become a serious invasive pest in the USA, now established in seven southeastern states. Females are the primary vectors of a fungal pathogen (Raffaelea lauricola) that causes laurel wilt, a lethal vascular disease of trees in the family Lauraceae. Laurel wilt has caused extensive mortality in native Persea species, including redbay (P. borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris), and silkbay (P. humilis). Commercial avocado (P. americana) is now threatened in south Florida, and with continued spread, laurel wilt may impact avocado production in Mexico and California. In addition, many other native Lauraceae are potentially at risk in the USA, Mexico, and throughout the American tropics. An effective lure for early detection of X. glabratus is critical for development of management programs to slow the spread of laurel wilt. No pheromones are known for this species, and unlike other ambrosia beetles, X. glabatus can attack live healthy trees; consequently, it is not attracted to standard ethanol lures. The primary attractants of dispersing females are volatile terpenoids emitted from host Lauraceae. This report provides a concise summary of the chemical ecology of X. glabratus, highlighting research focused on identification of the kairomones used by females for host location. It summarizes development of essential oil lures for pest detection and monitoring, including discussions of the initial use of phoebe and manuka lures, the currently available cubeb bubble lure, and new prototype lures under evaluation.