ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of 7 plant essential oils for attraction of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 14, 2013
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Niogret, J., Deyrup, M., Epsky, N.D. 2013. Evaluation of 7 plant essential oils for attraction of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Meeting Abstract. 87th Annual Mtg of the SE Branch of Entomological Society of America, Baton Rouge,LA, March 3-5,2013.

Technical Abstract: Redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is an exotic wood-borer that vectors the fungal agent (Raffaelea lauricola) responsible for laurel wilt disease. Laurel wilt has had severe impact on forest ecosystems in the southeastern USA, killing a large proportion of native Persea trees, particularly redbay (P. borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris). Currently, laurel wilt poses an economic threat to avocado (P. americana) in Florida. To control the spread of this lethal disease, effective attractants are needed for early detection of RAB. Phoebe oil lures are the best known attractant for RAB, but they are no longer available. The current detection/monitoring system uses commercial manuka oil lures, but our recent research indicates that manuka lures have a field life of only 2-3 weeks in Florida. Therefore, we evaluated seven essential oils in hopes of identifying an improved attractant for RAB. Several field tests were conducted in Highlands County, FL to compare efficacy and longevity of manuka, phoebe, cubeb, ginger root, angelica seed, tea tree, and orange oils. Tea tree and orange oils were not attractive to RAB; ginger root and angelica seed were intermediate in attraction; and cubeb oil was found to be just as attractive as fresh manuka and phoebe oils. Tests are ongoing to further evaluate cubeb oil as a potential new attractant for RAB.