Field guide to ambrosia beetles of agricultural importance in the Eastern and Southern United States

Authors: HALLIDAY, PAMELA - University Of Georgia; MONTERROSA, ALEJANDRA - University Of Georgia; Acebes-Doria, Angelita; OLIVER, JASON - Tennessee State University; Ranger, Christopher

Submitted to: Extension Circular
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2022
Publication Date: 9/1/2023
Citation: Halliday, P., Monterrosa, A., Acebes-Doria, A.L., Oliver, J., Ranger, C.M. 2023. Field guide to ambrosia beetles of agricultural importance in the Eastern and Southern United States. Georgia: University of Georgia Extension Circular. 38 p.

Interpretive Summary: This circular provides a summary of the common economically damaging species of ambrosia beetles in the eastern and southern US. This field guide includes an easy-to-use morphological identification guide, external and internal injury descriptions to help in infestation diagnosis as well as trapping guidelines and protocols for researchers, extension agents and growers. This guide will be made available in a waterproof, pocket-sized material for practical access to stakeholders while working in the field and laboratory settings.

Technical Abstract: Ambrosia beetles are wood-boring beetles that infest a wide variety of commercially important crops including ornamental, fruit and nut trees. There are a few pertinent species within this group that cause economic damage to infested trees. Thus, it is important to correctly identify the pest species from the non-pest species, accurately detect injury and effectively trap for these beetles. Although there are several online extension publications that contain this info, a more handy and practical field guide printed on a pocket-sized water-resistant material, is unavailable. This circular provides this lacking resource to growers, extension agents and researchers working in the affected production systems, not only in Georgia but also in other eastern and southern states. The printing of the materials is funded by the Southern IPM Center and this project is part of the overall Ambrosia Beetle Working Group outputs.