Progress 01/01/99 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Work has continued in two main areas: A statewide survey of wood-in-service and structural wood infesting beetles and rearing and maintenance of laboratory colonies of several species of wood-infesting beetles. For the survey, cooperators from the structural pest control industry and county extension have been asked to submit live or dead specimens of any wood-infesting beetles they encounter or receive. Information on the infestation such as what was infested, how it was treated, and the origin of the infested wood are requested. Although receipt of samples has been sporadic, several beetle species have been identified including several exotic species. One of the most interesting species, which has been received several times, is Minthea rugicollis (Walker)(Bostrichidae:Lyctinae), a powderpost beetle that is native to Southeast Asia and has a tropicopolitan distribution. This species is characterized by a pubescence of erect, spatulate hairs on the antennae, head,
notum, and elytra. Another powderpost beetle species that has been received several times is Lyctus africanus Lesne. One goal of the survey is to determine whether any of these non-endemic species are established in Florida as all of the infestations that these species have been recorded from have been from imported woods, wooden objects, and other wooden goods from abroad. Other beetle species that have been recorded for the survey are the old house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (L.)(Cerambycidae), Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse) and Sinoxylon anale (Lesne)(Bostrichidae: Bostrichinae), bamboo borer, Dinoderus minutus (F.)(Dinoderinae), and the Mexican book beetle, Tricorynus herbarius (Gorham)(Anobiidae). As a result of the survey, several live specimens were obtained and efforts to start laboratory cultures were initiated. All species were provided a medium consisting of whole wheat flour, corn meal, yeast, and water. The following species are now being maintained as live
colonies: Minthea rugicollis, Lyctus africanus, and Tricorynus herbarius. There is evidence of feeding by Heterobostrychus aequalis but it is not known at this time whether this culture is producing viable offspring. Specimens are still being sent in and collected for the survey. Efforts are underway to rear the two lyctid species on ash wood. Morphological characterization of the antennae and identification of mechano- and chemoreceptors will be started in 2005.
Impacts
Wood-destroying beetles (WDB) can cause extensive damage to structural wood and other wooden items associated with dwellings. Infestations by WDBs often go undetected until major damage has already occurred. Treatment and repair costs are sometimes very expensive. Identification of WDB pheromones is important in the development of monitoring traps or control as part of an integrated management program for these pests.
Publications
- CSI: Florida, Customer Site Infestigations. 2004. Florida Pest Pro Magazine (in press)
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Progress 10/01/02 to 10/01/03
Outputs
Cultures of Lyctus africanus (Lesne)(Coleoptera:Lyctidae) were started using a yeast and wheat flour-based rearing medium. Male and female L. africanus emerging from infested wood picture frame mouldings were placed in glass quart mason jars containing pieces of baked medium. The jars were stored in an environmental chamber at 25 degrees celsius and a 16:8 light:dark cycle. First generation beetles emerged six to eight months later and were transferred to new jars containing fresh media. Expired adult beetles were collected and mounted in preparation for scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the antennae. An unsuccessful attempt was made to culture Mexican book beetles, Tricorynus herbarius (Gorham)(Coleoptera: Anobiidae) collected in Kendall, FL from a home with infested bookshleves. Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse)(Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), an exotic species native to the Old World tropics, was collected from infested wooden packing crates in
Ocala, FL. A culture of this species was initiated by placing adults in quart mason jars with fresh medium. A statewide survey of wood-infesting beetles was also initiated. Requests for participation in the survey were mailed to over 1500 pest control operators and to all 67 county extension offices in the state. The purpose of the survey is to obtain data on wood-infesting beetles in Florida such as number and relative abundance of species, pevalence, distribution, and presence and establishment of non-endemic species. We also hope to obtain live specimens of various species in the hopes of starting new cultures - all with the expectation of isolating and identifying putative sex pheromones from different species.
Impacts
Wood-destroying beetles (WDB) can cause extensive damage to structural wood and other wooden items associated with dwellings. Infestations by WDBs often go undetected until major damage has already occurred. Treatment and repair costs are sometimes very expensive. Identification of WDB pheromones is important in the development of monitoring traps or control as part of an integrated management program for these pests.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/01 to 10/01/02
Outputs
Additional samples of crude ovipositor extract were collected from 50 female lead cable borers (LCB), Scobicia declivis (LeConte)(Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and sent to Dr. Wittko Francke at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Germany. Preliminary analysis of the extract by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of unidentified compounds that appear unrelated and distinct from compounds that we found in two anobiid species, Hemicoelus gibbicollis (LeConte) and Ptilinus basalis LeConte (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)(one compound we had identified in both these species is stegobinone, the known sex pheromone of two anobiids, the furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum DeGeer and the drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum L.) A larger sample of purified S. declivis extract (> 100 ovipositors) is needed to isolate and identify compounds that function as a sex pheromone for this species. One of the collaborators on the
project, Dr. Steve Seybold, has relocated to the U.S. Forest Service in Davis, CA from the University of Minnesota and will be collecting more LCB-infested wood. Male and female P. basalis were sent to Dr. Dennis Kunkel, Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. for scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of both male and female antennae revealed the presence of at least three different types of putative sensory receptors. Two of them are hair-like or setal sensilla. One is about one- to three-quarters the length and twice the diameter of the other and may or may not have a shallow socket. The other is longer and thinner and is apparently deeply-socketed. The third type is a "pit"-type sensillum which is characterized by a pore that leads to an innervated pit or depression in the cuticle. Future work includes transmission electron microscopy of antennae to look at the internal morphology and innervation of each type of sensilla. This will provide clues as to the function of
each type of receptor. As part of our research on identifying the sex pheromones of wood-destroying beetles, we have begun culturing Lyctus africanus Lesne (Coleoptera: Lyctidae), a cosmopolitan powderpost beetle, in the laboratory. We plan to make extracts from L. africanus ovipositors that can be analyzed by GC and GC-MS for the presence of pheromones.
Impacts
Wood-destroying beetles (WDB) damage furniture, paneling, picture frames, art pieces, and cabinetry. Infestations are often found after damage has occurred and their extent is often difficult to determine. Identification of WDB pheromones is an important step in the development of traps for monitoring or control as part of an integrated approach to managing these insects.
Publications
- Cabrera, B.J., P.M. Marsh, V.R. Lewis, and S.J. Seybold. 2002. A new species of Heterospilus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) associated with the deathwatch beetle, Hemicoelus gibbicollis (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Pan-Pac. Entomol. 78: 7-16.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 10/01/01
Outputs
Efforts were continued to obtain sufficient ovipositor extracts for NMR analysis from Hemicoelus gibbicollis (LeConte) and Ptilinus basalis LeConte, the 2 species of deathwatch beetles (Anobiidae) that are the focus of our study. The female sex pheromone stegobinone has been isolated from these 2 species and we hope to determine the stereochemistry of our pheromone extracts (the stegobinone molecule has 3 chiral centers and 8 stereoisomers). This compound is known to be the sex pheromone of two other species of anobiids - the common furniture beetle Anobium punctatum DeGeer and the stored-product infesting drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum L. Samples of ovipositor extracts from P. basalis were also prepared for shipment to Dr. Wittko Francke at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Germany for further stereochemistry analysis. Samples of whole male and female P. basalis were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The males of this species
have large pectinate antennae and are the putative site of sex pheromone receptors. SEMs of the antennae will provide information on receptor distribution, density, and morphology. Dr. John Luhman of the University of Minnesota identified an ichneumonid that we collected from the laboratory colonies of H. gibbicollis at U.C. Berkeley as Odontocolon polymorphum Cushman. This is the second wasp species we have collected from H. gibbicollis-infested wood. The other wasp is a new species, Heterospilus luridostigmus Marsh. Extracts from dissected ovipositors of female lead cable borers, Scobicia declivis (LeConte) (Bostrichidae) were also prepared and sent to W. Francke for identification of any sex pheromones that may be present. Another bostrichid species, Xylobiops basillare (Say), was collected in south Florida from Bishop's wood (Bischofia sp.) logs. The wood is being stored in the laboratory and beetles are being collected for dissection of ovipositors. Identification of sex
pheromones from ovipositor extracts is planned for this year. The results of our isolation and identification of stegobinone from P. basalis and H. gibbicollis were presented on October 6, 2000 at the annual meeting of Western Regional Project 189 in Duluth, Minnesota and on August 6, 2001 at the annual meeting of the Florida Entomological Society.
Impacts
Potential use of sex pheromone for monitoring populations of wood-destroying coleoptera in structures.
Publications
- Lewis, V. R., B.J. Cabrera, and S. J. Seybold. Update on wood-destroying beetle study: New discoveries. P.C.O.C.Magazine, Spring 2001.
- Cabrera, B. J., P. M. Marsh, V. R. Lewis, and S. J. Seybold. A new species of Heterospilus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)associated with the deathwatch beetle, Hemicoelus gibbicollis (LeConte)(Coleoptera: Anobiidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist. accepted July 9, 2001.
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