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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354437
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Evaluation of piperitone as a repellent for Euwallacea fornicatus, vector of Fusarium dieback

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

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2018
Publication Date: 11/11/2018
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Narvaez, T.I., Schnell, E.Q., Tabanca, N., Carrillo, D. 2018. Evaluation of piperitone as a repellent for Euwallacea fornicatus, vector of Fusarium dieback. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Vancouver, BC. 11-14 Nov 2018.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The tea shot-hole borer, Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an ambrosia beetle native to Asia and a widespread pest of tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. This invasive beetle is now established in southern Florida, USA, where it utilizes avocado, Persea americana Mill., as a preferred host. Female beetles vector a fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium dieback, a vascular disease that is increasing in incidence in commercial avocado groves. In this study, we evaluated efficacy of piperitone as a repellent for in-flight female E. fornicatus. Two replicate field tests were conducted in groves that differed in pest population levels. Each test was run for 12 weeks and compared captures of beetles in traps containing lures (a combination of quercivorol and a-copaene) versus captures in traps containing lures plus a piperitone dispenser (a clear plastic bubble comparable to that used for the lures). In addition, SuperQ collections followed by gas chromatographic analyses were performed to quantify volatile emissions from repellent dispensers that were field-aged for 12 weeks. In both tests, the addition of piperitone resulted in a significant (50-60%) decrease in captures of E. nr. fornicatus. Field longevity of the repellent was ~10 weeks. Tests are ongoing to compare efficacy and longevity of piperitone to that of other commercially available repellents for ambrosia beetles.