ARS | Publication request: Redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) abundance and perference of Persea spp. in the new world.

Submitted to: National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 15, 2011
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Citation: Pena, J.E., Duncan, R.E., Kendra, P.E., Brar, G., Capinera, J.L. 2011. Redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) abundance and perference of Persea spp. in the new world.. 59th National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Reno, NV. Nov. 2011.

Technical Abstract: The redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a native of Asia, was first discovered in the U.S. near Savannah, Georgia in 2002. RAB is an effective vector of Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva, the fungus that causes laurel wilt (LW), a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae in the southeastern USA. Native Persea spp. appear to be preferred hosts, and LW is responsible for high mortality of redbay [P.borbonia (L.) Spreng.] and swampbay [P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg.] in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. As LW encroaches upon the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem in south-central Florida, silkbay (P. humilis Nash) is also beginning to die. Additional species susceptible to LW include avocado (P. americana Mill.), sassafras [Sassafras albidum (Nuttal) Nees], spicebush [Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume], and other woody Lauraceae. Three studies were conducted to evaluate susceptibility to RAB and LW in 13 West Indian avocado cultivars, 10 non-commercial Persea spp., 1 Beilschmidia sp. (a genus related to Persea), and California bay laurel [Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt.]. Results indicated that all avocado cultivars and many other New World spp. within the Lauraceae are potentially at risk for attack by X. glabratus and warrant evaluation for susceptibility to LW.