Progress 11/15/04 to 11/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Host Location of the Bronze Birch Borer: Agrilus anxious Glory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a native insect that is a serious pest of birch trees in North America. The beetles require stressed, living trees to develop, and often attack birches in landscape and nursery settings. Knowledge of the mechanism by which adult beetles locate their hosts can potentially be exploited to develop improved management strategies for Bronze Birch Borers. In 2004, we tested the hypothesis that girdled trees were more attractive than non-girdled trees by girdling 27 Jaquemontii birches in a nursery orchard, and pairing them with a non-girdled tree and trapping naturally occurring Agrilus sp. borers. In 2004 and 2005, several commercially available volatile components of birch trees were tested for attractiveness to A. anxius. Finally in 2006, collection of volatile compounds released by birches to isolate compounds specific to stressed trees began. These chemicals will be evaluated for
attractiveness to adult beetles. Natural enemies of Bronze Birch Borers: During 2005, I sampled numerous (circa 100) birch trees from both natural and landscaped habitats throughout Connecticut. While 5 of 7 trees found in yards were infested, only 5 of 84 trees (%6) from natural habitats were infested. However, 41 of the trees from natural habitats had signs of unsuccessful borer attacks. In spring of 2005 and 2006, sentinel eggs were placed on birch trees in different habitats to ascertain predation and parasitoid-attack rates. These results were shared with the 2006 Connecticut Forest Health Program Review. Chemical Ecology of Small Japanese Cedar Borer - Callidiellum rufipenne (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is native to eastern Asia and was discovered in Connecticut in 1998. The borer has established itself and is a pest species in live arborvitae in southern Connecticut. In spring 2005 and 2006 bioassays were preformed to identify the female-produced contact sex
pheromone on this beetle. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, work was done on the male-produced volatile pheromone. In 2005, we confirmed that males produce a volatile pheromone and that it is consistent in chemical structure with aggregation pheromones of cerambycid beetles in the same subfamily. In addition, the pores which release the volatile pheromone were located, and are consistent in location and structure with those of other cerambycids. The pheromone may be useful in developing monitoring and management strategies for this pest. Field and laboratory testing of the ecological role of this pheromone was conducted in 2006 and 2007. These results were presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual meetings in 2005 and 2006. They were also presented at the Forest Health Monitoring Workshop to over 40 foresters of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in 2006.
PARTICIPANTS: This project included several collaborators. At the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. Brian Eitzer in Analytical Chemistry helped with initial analyses of birch volatiles, and Dr. Theodore Andreadis in Soil and Water helped to examine Bronze Birch Borer larvae for microbial disease. I investigated pheromones of C. rufipenne in collaboration with Dr. Lawrence Hanks of the University of Illinois, and Dr. Jocelyn Millar of UC Riverside. Dr. Daniel Young of the University of Wisconsin, Madison was a co-author on the publication documenting the attraction of F. bihamata to sweet birch oil. Dr. Paul Marsh identified the parasitoid of Bronze Birch Borer.
TARGET AUDIENCES: State foresters, tree wardens, nursery owners, homeowners, arborists and USDA Forest Service researchers have all contributed to and are potential beneficiaries of this research.
Impacts
Host Location of the Bronze Birch Borer: We confirmed that Bronze Birch Borer is attracted to girdled birch trees. However, none of the commercially available birch tree extracts tested, birch tar oil, sweet birch oil or birch leaf extract, were found to be attractive to Bronze Birch Borer. We did find that a species of the family Mordellidae, Falsomordellistena bihamata (Melsheimer), was attracted to sweet birch oil. Comparision of the volatiles of girdled trees to those of non-girdled trees has begun. We expect that identification of attractive components of the volatiles of girdled trees will allow the development of a lure that could become part of an integrated pest management plan for these beetles. Natural Enemies of Bronze Birch Borer: No microbial infections were found in any examined larvae. One species of parasitoid Atanycolus rugosiventris (Ashmead) was found attacking larvae. No egg parasitoids were found. In 2005, 50% of sentinel eggs were consumed in a
24 hour period. In 2006, only 35% of eggs were still alive by the end of one week. Major predators were ants and velvet mites. Chemical Ecology of Small Japanese Cedar Borer: We have made a preliminary identification of a female-produced contact sex pheromone. This pheromone is similar in structure to other identified pheromones in this family and consists of saturated hydrocarbons. We have also identified the male-produced volatile pheromone of the species, as well as the pores from which it is released. The pheromone is similar in structure to male-produced volatile pheromones of other members of the beetle's sub-family, Cerambycineae. The major component of the pheromone is (3R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, there are at least 3 other minor components. Clarification of the ratio of the 4 components is still underway. Field and laboratory testing showed that the pheromone is most attractive in concert with host-material (cedar). Females were captured in field more often than males,
suggesting that it may be functioning as a sex pheromone.
Publications
- Rutledge, CE, Young, DK (2007) First Report of an Attractant for a Tumbling Flower Beetle (Coleoptera: Mordellidae) Environ. Entomol. 36(4): 894-898
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Host Location and Natural Enemies of the Bronze Birch Borer - Agrilus anxius Glory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a native insect that is a serious pest of birch trees in North-Eastern America. The beetles require stressed, living trees to develop, and often attack birches in landscape and nursery settings. Beetles are preferentially attracted to stressed trees. To identify which compounds are responsible for the attraction of A. anxius to stressed trees, ten pairs of Jaquemontii birches were selected in an abandoned orchard. One tree in each pair was stressed by girdling the trunk, the other tree was left healthy. Volatile compounds were collected from both the healthy and stressed trees. Volatiles collected from the trees are being compared to determine which compounds are unique to stressed trees. These chemicals will then be evaluated for attractiveness to adult beetles. This work is being done with Dr. Lawrence Hanks, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
Knowledge of the mechanism by which adult beetles locate their hosts can potentially be exploited to develop improved management strategies for Bronze Birch Borers. Another important component of pest management is knowledge of their natural enemies and the impact of those enemies. In spring of 2006, sentinel eggs were placed on birch trees in different habitats to ascertain predation and parasitoid attack rates. No egg parasitoids were found, however, several predators, including ants and velvet mites were observed eating eggs. After 1 week, only 30% off eggs had survived. These results indicate that egg predation is an important, and often overlooked source of mortality for A. anxius. This information could be integrated into a management strategy, for example careful timing of pesticide applications to ensure that generalist predators have access to trees during the egg laying period. Chemical Ecology of Small Japanese Cedar Borer - Callidiellum rufipenne (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae) is native to eastern Asia and was discovered in Connecticut in 1998. The borer has established itself and is a pest species in live arborvitae in southern Connecticut. I continued investigation of pheromones of C. rufipenne in collaboration with Dr. Lawrence Hanks of the University of Illinois, and Dr. Jocelyn Millar of UC Riverside. We have discovered that the there is a female-produced contact-sex pheromone composed of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons carried in the female's cuticle. We also discovered that males produce a volatile pheromone. This pheromone is consistent in chemical structure with aggregation pheromones of cerambycid beetles in the same subfamily. In addition, the pores which release the volatile pheromone were located, and are consistent in location and structure with those of other cerambycids. This volatile pheromone is likely an aggregation pheromone, which may be useful in developing monitoring and management strategies for this pest.
Systematic work on the natural enemies of the beetles in Connecticut has not begun, however evidence exists to suggest native parasitic wasps are attacking this invasive species of Cerambycidae.
Impacts
Investigations are still in progress, and thus no impact on management strategies for Bronze Birch Borer or Small Japanese Cedar Borer has yet been realized. However, I expect that the knowledge of the chemical cues (both those generated by the host, and pheromones) used for host location by the adult beetles and the natural enemies of these two borers will aid in the development of improved monitoring and management of not only these two species, but of other species with similar ecologies in these two important families of tree pests. Of especial interest is the application of this knowledge to highly destructive invasive species of borers in both families, including the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Emerald Ash Borer is in the same genus as the Bronze Birch Borer and shares with it many ecological traits and natural enemies.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Host Location and Natural Enemies of the Bonze Birch Borer - Bronze Birch Borer, Agrilus anxious Glory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a native insect that is a serious pest of birch trees in North-Eastern America. The beetles require stressed, living trees to develop, and often attack birches in landscape and nursery settings. 27 pairs of Jaquemontii birches in a nursery orchard, one girdled and one healthy, were tested for attractiveness to naturally occurring Agrilus sp. borers. Borers chose girdled trees over healthy trees, suggesting borers can discriminate between stressed and healthy trees. Analysis of volatile compounds released by birches to isolate compounds specific to stressed trees has begun. These chemicals will then be evaluated for attractiveness to adult beetles. This work is being done with Dr. Brian Eitzer, CAES, and Dr. Lawrence Hanks, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Knowledge of the mechanism by which adult beetles locate their hosts can
potentially be exploited to develop improved management strategies for Bronze Birch Borers. Another important component of pest management is knowledge of their natural enemies and the impact of those enemies. During 2005, I sampled numerous (circa 100) birch trees from both natural and man-made habitats throughout Connecticut. Many trees found in yards were infested, only 5 of 84 trees (%6) from natural habitats were infested. However many of the trees from natural habitats had signs of unsuccessful borer attacks. No microbial infections were found in any examined larvae. One species of parasitoid was found attacking larvae. In spring of 2005, sentinel eggs were placed on birch trees in different habitats to ascertain predation and parasitoid attack rates. No egg parasitoids were found, however, over 50% of sentinel eggs were consumed in a 24 hour period. Chemical Ecology of Small Japanese Cedar Borer - Callidiellum rufipenne (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is native to
eastern Asia and was discovered in Connecticut in 1998. The borer has established itself and is a pest species in live arborvitae in southern Connecticut. I investigated pheromones of C. rufipenne in collaboration with Dr. Lawrence Hanks of the University of Illinois, and Dr. Jocelyn Millar of UC Riverside. We have made a preliminary identification of a female-produced contact sex pheromone. We also discovered that males produce a volatile pheromone. This pheromone is consistent in chemical structure with aggregation pheromones of cerambycid beetles in the same subfamily. In addition, the pores which release the volatile pheromone were located, and are consistent in location and structure with those of other cerambycids. This volatile pheromone is likely an aggregation pheromone, which may be useful in developing monitoring and management strategies for this pest. Systematic work on the natural enemies of the beetles in Connecticut has not begun, however evidence exists to suggest
native parasitic wasps are attacking this invasive species of Cerambycidae.
Impacts
Investigations are still in progress, and thus no impact on management strategies for Bronze Birch Borer or Small Japanese Cedar Borer has yet been realized. However I expect that the knowledge of the chemical cues (both those generated by the host, and pheromones) used for host location by the adult beetles and the natural enemies of these two borers will aid in the development of improved monitoring and management of not only these two species, but of other species with similar ecologies in these two important families of tree pests. Of especial interest is the application of this knowledge to highly destructive invasive species of borers in both families, including the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Emerald Ash Borer is in the same genus as the Bronze Birch Borer and shares with it many ecological traits and natural enemies.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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