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ViewAttendees 8

P-IE

Section Symposium

Fundamental Biology to Practical Management of Ambrosia Beetles in Horticultural Tree Agroecosystems

13: Push, pull, block - Developing tools for managing ambrosia beetles in Tennessee nurseries

Tuesday, November 17, 2020
3:05 PM - 3:20 PM EST
Livestream
Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are key pests of trees in woody ornamental production systems. Current management recommendations include the application of a pyrethroid insecticide to tree trunks during the active flight period of the beetles, but this solution is rarely 100% effective. Problematic species of ambrosia beetles attacking nursery stock include those that are strongly attracted to ethanol, a behavior which could be exploited for management within ornamental nurseries. Artificial ethanol lures or trap trees may be used to pull beetles away from vulnerable hosts. Likewise, any method that interferes with the detection of ethanol may reduce attacks by disrupting beetle host selection behavior. Repellent compounds, alone, can reduce attacks in nurseries, but rarely is protection complete. Since none of these individual methods reliably protect trees from ambrosia beetles, integrating two or more of these methods into an IPM system is likely to be the most effective strategy for management in nurseries.