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Title: Host preferences / relative attraction of the Lauraceae to redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Niogret, Jerome
item PRUETT, GRECHEN - Archbold Biological Station
item PLOETZ, RANDY - Archbold Biological Station
item MAYFIELD, ALBERT - Us Forest Service (FS)
item PENA, JORGE - University Of Florida
item Epsky, Nancy

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2012
Publication Date: 8/12/2012
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Niogret, J., Pruett, G.E., Ploetz, R.C., Mayfield, A.E., Pena, J.E., Epsky, N.D. 2012. preferences / relative attraction of the Lauraceae to redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. Meeting Abstract. Ambrosia Beetle/Fungal Symbiont Workshop; UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research; Riverside, CA; 12-14 Aug 2012

Interpretive Summary: The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic wood-boring insect that vectors Raffaelea lauricola, the fungal pathogen responsible for laurel wilt. Laurel wilt is a newly-described vascular disease of U.S. trees in the family Lauraceae, including avocado (Persea americana). As part of research to identify host-based attractants for X. glabratus, comparative studies were initiated to determine the host preferences/relative attraction among the lauraceous hosts of X. glabratus. We report the results of field tests and laboratory bioassays that assess relative attraction and boring behaviors of female X. glabratus to freshly-cut wood bolts of avocado, redbay (Persea borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris), silkbay (P. humilis), lancewood (Ocotea coriacea), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), sassafras (S. albidum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica). Studies are underway to correlate the sesquiterpene content of the wood from lauraceous species with the field captures of X. glabratus, to confirm identification of the semiochemicals used by X. glabratus for host location/recognition.

Technical Abstract: The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic wood-boring insect that vectors Raffaelea lauricola, the fungal pathogen responsible for laurel wilt. Laurel wilt is a newly-described vascular disease of U.S. trees in the family Lauraceae, including avocado (Persea americana). As part of research to identify host-based attractants for X. glabratus, comparative studies were initiated to determine the host preferences/relative attraction among the lauraceous hosts of X. glabratus. We report the results of field tests and laboratory bioassays that assess relative attraction and boring behaviors of female X. glabratus to freshly-cut wood bolts of avocado, redbay (Persea borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris), silkbay (P. humilis), lancewood (Ocotea coriacea), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), sassafras (S. albidum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica). Studies are underway to correlate the sesquiterpene content of the wood from lauraceous species with the field captures of X. glabratus, to confirm identification of the semiochemicals used by X. glabratus for host location/recognition.