Seasonal flight activity and distribution of metallic woodboring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) collected in North Carolina and Tennessee

Authors: KLINGEMAN, WILLIAM - University Of Tennessee; HANSEN, JASON - University Of Tennessee; BASHAM, JOSHUA - Tennessee State University; OLIVER, JASON - Tennessee State University; YOUSSEF, NADEER - Tennessee State University; SWINK, WHITNEY - North Carolina State University; NALEPA, CHRISTINE - North Carolina State University; Fare, Donna; MOULTON, K - University Of Tennessee

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2015
Publication Date: 6/30/2015
Citation: Klingeman, William E, Hansen, Jason A, Basham, Joshua P, Oliver, Jason B, Youssef, Nadeer N, Swink, Whitney, Nalepa, Christine A, Fare, D.C., Moulton, K.J. 2015. Seasonal flight activity and distribution of metallic woodboring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) collected in North Carolina and Tennessee. Florida Entomologist. 98(2):579-587.

Interpretive Summary: Distribution records and seasonal flight activity information for metallic wood boring beetle (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) species have not been compiled for North Carolina and Tennessee and would provide valuable insights for future biosurveillance, monitoring and management of these economically and ecologically important insects. To chart these records, institutional, research, and private collections in North Carolina and Tennessee were assessed to provide seasonal activity data across five subfamilies of buprestid beetle species active in both states. Label records for 136 buprestid species were examined for 15,004 specimens taken between 1901-2013 (North Carolina) and 1934-2013 (Tennessee). Collections provided data for 120 species (4,465 specimens) taken in North Carolina and 106 species (10,539 specimens) taken in Tennessee. Adult seasonal activity and county collection records are presented. Two buprestid species, Agrilus carpini Knull and A. pensus Horn, are reported as new state records for North Carolina. Data reveal key areas across both states where few to no buprestid collections have been made and highlight opportunities to validate species distributions where future collecting efforts can be paired with occurrence of larval and adult host plant resources. Seasonal activity records will inform future biosurveillance efforts of invasive and endemic pests, and assist in predicting which buprestid species are likely to be active within the foraging flight season of Cerceris fumipennis (Say) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) wasps. These records will also be useful in directing management of select economic pest species away from times of year when treatment efforts, particularly though use of contact insecticides, are unlikely to be effective.

Technical Abstract: Metallic wood boring insects (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) species are responsible for high levels of host plant injury to deciduous shade and flowering trees in commercial nurseries, urban forests, and managed landscapes. Ornamental plant producers in the southeastern U.S. have ranked borers, including buprestid beetles, as among the most damaging and difficult pests to control within deciduous shade and flowering tree crops. The distribution records and seasonal flight activity information for metallic wood boring beetles were compiled for North Carolina and Tennessee. To chart these records, institutional, research, and private collections in North Carolina and Tennessee were assessed to provide seasonal activity data across five subfamilies of buprestid beetle species active in both states. Collections provided data for 120 species (4,465 specimens) from North Carolina collections and 106 species (10,539 specimens) from Tennessee collections. These records can lead to direct management of select economic pest species for future monitoring and can help identify the times of year when treatment efforts, particularly though use of contact insecticides, are likely to be effective.