Recent advances toward the sustainable management of invasive Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

Authors: GUGLIUZZO, ANTONIO - University Of Catania; BIEDERMANN, PETER - University Of Freiburg; CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida; Castrillo, Louela; EGONYU, JAMES - International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology; GALLEGO, DIEGO - Universidad De Alicante; HADDI, KHALID - Federal University Of Lavras; HULCR, JIRI - University Of Florida; JACTEL, HERVE - University Of Bordeaux; KAJIMURA, HISASHI - Nagoya University; KAMATO, NAOTO - University Of Tokyo; MEURISSE, NICOLAS - New Zealand Forest Research Institute; LI, YOU - University Of Florida; OLIVER, JASON - Tennessee State University; Ranger, Christopher; RASSATI, DAVIDE - University Of Padua; STELINSKI, LUKASZ - University Of Florida; SUTHERLAND, ROANNE - New Zealand Forest Research Institute; TROPEA, GARZIA - University Of Catania; WRIGHT, MARK - University Of Hawaii; BIONDI, ANTONIO - University Of Catania

Submitted to: Journal of Pest Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2021
Publication Date: 5/15/2021
Citation: Gugliuzzo, A., Biedermann, P., Carrillo, D., Castrillo, L.A., Egonyu, J., Gallego, D., Haddi, K., Hulcr, J., Jactel, H., Kajimura, H., Kamato, N., Meurisse, N., Li, Y., Oliver, J., Ranger, C.M., Rassati, D., Stelinski, L.L., Sutherland, R., Tropea-Garza, G., Wright, M., Biondi, A. 2021. Recent advances toward the sustainable management of invasive Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles. Journal of Pest Science. 94:615-637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01382-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01382-3

Interpretive Summary: We provide an overview of both traditional and innovative control tools for management of three Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) with a history of damage in forests, nurseries, orchards and urban areas. Xylosandrus compactus, X. crassiusculus and X. germanus are species of subtropical origin, native to Asia, and currently established in several countries around the globe. Adult females bore galleries into the plant xylem inoculating mutualistic ambrosia fungi that serve as the food source for developing progeny. Tunneling activity results in chewed wood extrusion from entry holes, sap flow, foliage wilting followed by canopy dieback, and branch and trunk necrosis. Maintaining plant health by reducing physiological stress is the first recommendation for long-term control. Baited traps, ethanol treated bolts, trap logs and trap trees of selected species can be used to monitor Xylosandrus species. Conventional pest control methods are mostly ineffective against Xylosandrus beetles because of the pests’ broad host range and rapid spread. Due to challenges with conventional control, more innovative control approaches are being tested, such as the optimization of the push-pull strategy based on specific attractant and repellent combinations, or the use of insecticide-treated netting. Biological control based on the release of entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi, as well as the use of antagonistic bacteria, have yielded promising results. However, these technologies still require validation in real field conditions. Overall, we suggest that management efforts should primarily focus on reducing plant stress and potentially be combined with a multi-faceted approach for controlling Xylosandrus damage.

Technical Abstract: We provide an overview of both traditional and innovative control tools for management of three Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) with a history of damage in forests, nurseries, orchards and urban areas. Xylosandrus compactus, X. crassiusculus and X. germanus are species of subtropical origin, native to Asia, and currently established in several countries around the globe. Adult females bore galleries into the plant xylem inoculating mutualistic ambrosia fungi that serve as the food source for developing progeny. Tunneling activity results in chewed wood extrusion from entry holes, sap flow, foliage wilting followed by canopy dieback, and branch and trunk necrosis. Maintaining plant health by reducing physiological stress is the first recommendation for long-term control. Baited traps, ethanol treated bolts, trap logs and trap trees of selected species can be used to monitor Xylosandrus species. Conventional pest control methods are mostly ineffective against Xylosandrus beetles because of the pests’ broad host range and rapid spread. Due to challenges with conventional control, more innovative control approaches are being tested, such as the optimization of the push-pull strategy based on specific attractant and repellent combinations, or the use of insecticide-treated netting. Biological control based on the release of entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi, as well as the use of antagonistic bacteria, have yielded promising results. However, these technologies still require validation in real field conditions. Overall, we suggest that management efforts should primarily focus on reducing plant stress and potentially be combined with a multi-faceted approach for controlling Xylosandrus damage.