An approach for ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)management: can low-cost ethanol detectors effectively identify ethanol emissions in flood-stressed trees?

Authors: POUDEL, ANJU - Tennessee State University; OLIVER, JASON - Tennessee State University; PERKOVICH, CYNTHIA - Tennessee State University; Ranger, Christopher; ADDESSO, KARLA - Tennessee State University

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2025
Publication Date: 5/22/2025
Citation: Poudel, A., Oliver, J., Perkovich, C., Ranger, C.M., Addesso, K. 2025. An approach for ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)management: can low-cost ethanol detectors effectively identify ethanol emissions in flood-stressed trees? Journal of Insect Science. 25(3): Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf056.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf056

Interpretive Summary: Ambrosia beetles are wood-boring insects that infest horticultural tree crops. Stressed trees emit ethanol, which is the primary cue for ambrosia beetles to locate suitable hosts. This study evaluates the efficacy of low-cost ethanol detectors, which could offer a viable solution for the early detection of flood-stressed trees susceptible to ambrosia beetle infestation. We conducted experiments using dogwoods (Cornus florida L.), subjecting half to flooded conditions and the others to non-flooded conditions. Infestations of ambrosia beetles were higher in flooded trees compared to the non-flooded control trees. Ethanol emission from these trees was measured using alcohol saliva test strips and Dräger Pac® 8000 gas detectors alongside a solid phase microextraction- gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) method for validation. We found that both low-cost detectors can detect ethanol emission from trees, which correlated with the SPME-GC-MS results. These detectors could offer a rapid, cost-effective method for identifying trees at risk of ambrosia beetle attack. More work is needed to optimize these tools for use by nursery growers, consultants, and researchers as an early-warning system and aid in for ambrosia beetle management decision- making.

Technical Abstract: Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) (ABs) are small fungus-farming beetles that damage stressed nursery trees. Stressed trees emit ethanol, which is the primary cue for ABs to locate suitable hosts. This study evaluates the efficacy of low-cost ethanol detectors, which could offer a viable solution for the early detection of flood-stressed trees susceptible to ambrosia beetle infestation. We conducted experiments using 48 native dogwoods (Cornus florida L.), subjecting half to flooded conditions and the others to non-flooded conditions. The presence of ambrosia beetles was significantly higher in flooded trees, indicating a clear preference and validating the use of flood stress as a reliable method for susceptibility assessment. Ethanol emission from these trees was measured using alcohol saliva test strips and Dräger Pac® 8000 gas detectors alongside a solid phase microextraction- gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) method for validation. Our findings demonstrate that both low-cost detectors can detect ethanol production in plant material, correlating positively with SPME-GC-MS results. These detectors could offer a rapid, cost-effective method for identifying trees at risk of ambrosia beetle attack. More work is needed to optimize these tools for use by nursery growers, consultants, and researchers as an early-warning system and aid in for ambrosia beetle management decision-making.