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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353700
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Longevity of a-copaene and quercivorol lures for detection of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida avocado groves

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item OWENS, DAVID - Orise Fellow
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Narvaez, Teresa
item Schnell, Elena
item CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2018
Publication Date: 7/22/2018
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Owens, D., Tabanca, N., Montgomery, W.S., Narvaez, T.I., Schnell, E.Q., Carrillo, D. 2018. Longevity of a-copaene and quercivorol lures for detection of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida avocado groves . Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting. 101st Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. St. Augustine, FL. 22-25 Jul 2018.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea nr. fornicatus complex vector a fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium dieback, a disease that impacts avocado (Persea americana), woody ornamentals, and native trees in Florida and California. Currently, these pests are detected with quercivorol lures (containing p-menth-2-en-1-ol isomers), but recent research identified an essential oil enriched in a-copaene as a new attractant. In this study, lure efficacy and longevity were evaluated in several 12-wk field tests conducted in Florida avocado groves (Miami-Dade County) using traps baited with quercivorol, a-copaene, and a combination of the two. In conjunction, gas chromatographic analyses were conducted to quantify lure contents as well as volatile emissions from lures field-aged for 12 wks. In all tests, the lure combination captured significantly more E. nr. fornicatus than the individual lures. Field life of the combination lure was 12 wk; longevity of single lures varied from 9-12 wk. The essential oil lure contained >50% a-copaene, of which 99.9% was the negative enantiomer. Analysis of the quercivorol lure showed it contained 4 isomers, with 88% trans- and 9% cis- p-menth-2-en-1-ol. Results indicate that the combination of a-copaene and p-menth-2-en-1-ol provides a long lasting, effective lure for early pest detection in Florida. Further research is needed to determine which isomer of p-menth-2-en-1-ol is attractive to Florida E. nr. fornicatus, and if other members of the species complex are attracted to (-)-a-copaene.