ABSTRACT
Invasive ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) have recently become established in several regions of the US where they vector fungal pathogens responsible for vascular wilt diseases in avocado (Persea americana), woody ornamentals, and native forest trees. These include the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) that vectors the fungus responsible for laurel wilt, and a group of cryptic species morphologically similar to tea shot-hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) that vectors the pathogen of Fusarium dieback. Ecologically, these wood-boring beetles function as primary colonizers, capable of attacking healthy unstressed trees. Thus, they are attracted to the volatile terpenoids emitted from host wood (i.e., kairomones used by females for host location). Since essential oils consist of concentrated plant terpenoids, they have provided an ideal substrate for development of lures for these pests. This chapter (a) summarizes the succession of essential oil lures used for redbay ambrosia beetle over the last decade, (b) outlines development of the current lure which is highly enriched in (−)-α-copaene, (c) presents chemical analysis of the α-copaene lure, and (d) describes its recent applications for detection of Euwallacea pests in Florida avocado groves.
