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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #353938
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Dispersion of marked Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida avocado groves, and estimation of lure sampling range

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

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2018
Publication Date: 7/22/2018
Citation: Owens, D.R., Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Narvaez, T.I., Carrillo, D. 2018. Dispersion of marked Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida avocado groves, and estimation of lure sampling range. Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting. 101st Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. St. Augustine, FL. 22-25 Jul 2018..

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The shot hole borer, Euwallacea nr. fornicatus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a significant invasive pest of avocado. Females introduce pathogenic Fusarium fungus into galleries, resulting in a disease called Fusarium die-back. Lures containing either quercivorol or a-copaene are commercially available for monitoring this and other morphologically similar species affecting avocado in other regions. We conducted a series of mark-release-recapture experiments to investigate beetle dispersive behavior in a grove and to determine effective sampling range of lures. On separate days, sticky panel traps baited with quercivorol, a-copaene, or a combination of both lures were deployed in a grid in an avocado grove. In the morning of a release date, a minimum of 150 recently emerged females ready for their dispersal flight were lightly coated with fluorescent powder and released from a central release point. Traps were evaluated after 24 hours. The two component lure recaptured a greater percentage of released beetles than either component individually, and traps located 60 m from the release point routinely recaptured beetles. The farthest distance a trap recaptured a beetle was 157 m, and wind speed and direction greatly influenced beetle dispersal patterns. The combination of lures is currently the best trap bait for monitoring and delimiting Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida.