Expansion and Impact of Laurel Wilt in the Florida Everglades

Rodgers, L.M.; Derksen, Andrew; Pernas, Tony

doi:10.1653/024.097.0335

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In the Florida Everglades, mortality of swamp bay ( Persea palustris ) from the laurel wilt disease can cause the loss of this tree species from tree islands, potentially destabilizing their physical structure and leading to colonization by invasive plants (Rodgers et al. ). Even a less virulent pest such as beech bark disease can alter species composition by shifting the competitive interactions among trees (Lovett et al.…”

Section: Impacts On Trees and Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonnative forest insects and pathogens in the United States: Impacts and policy options

Lovett

Weiss

Liebhold

et al. 2016

Ecological Applications

330

220

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We review and synthesize information on invasions of nonnative forest insects and diseases in the United States, including their ecological and economic impacts, pathways of arrival, distribution within the United States, and policy options for reducing future invasions. Nonnative insects have accumulated in United States forests at a rate of ~2.5 per yr over the last 150 yr. Currently the two major pathways of introduction are importation of live plants and wood packing material such as pallets and crates. Introduced insects and diseases occur in forests and cities throughout the United States, and the problem is particularly severe in the N ortheast and U pper M idwest. Nonnative forest pests are the only disturbance agent that has effectively eliminated entire tree species or genera from United States forests within decades. The resulting shift in forest structure and species composition alters ecosystem functions such as productivity, nutrient cycling, and wildlife habitat. In urban and suburban areas, loss of trees from streets, yards, and parks affects aesthetics, property values, shading, stormwater runoff, and human health. The economic damage from nonnative pests is not yet fully known, but is likely in the billions of dollars per year, with the majority of this economic burden borne by municipalities and residential property owners. Current policies for preventing introductions are having positive effects but are insufficient to reduce the influx of pests in the face of burgeoning global trade. Options are available to strengthen the defenses against pest arrival and establishment, including measures taken in the exporting country prior to shipment, measures to ensure clean shipments of plants and wood products, inspections at ports of entry, and post‐entry measures such as quarantines, surveillance, and eradication programs. Improved data collection procedures for inspections, greater data accessibility, and better reporting would support better evaluation of policy effectiveness. Lack of additional action places the nation, local municipalities, and property owners at high risk of further damaging and costly invasions. Adopting stronger policies to reduce establishments of new forest insects and diseases would shift the major costs of control to the source and alleviate the economic burden now borne by homeowners and municipalities.

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Section: Impacts On Trees and Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonnative forest insects and pathogens in the United States: Impacts and policy options

Lovett

Weiss

Liebhold

et al. 2016

Ecological Applications

330

220

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…have been killed by laurel wilt (Evans et al 2013;Fraedrich et al 2008;Shields et al 2011;Spiegel and Leege 2013), and practical concerns are significant, given that the full impacts of this disease upon the Florida Everglades and commercial avocado (Persea americana Mill.) growing regions of south Florida have not yet been realized (Ploetz et al 2013;Rodgers et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attraction of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus Glabratus, To Leaf Volatiles of its Host Plants in North America

et al. 2015

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The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is an important pest of redbay (Persea borbonia) and swamp bay (P. palustris) trees in forests of the southeastern USA. It is also a threat to commercially grown avocado. The beetle is attracted to host wood volatiles, particularly sesquiterpenes. Contrary to other ambrosia beetles that attack stressed, possibly pathogen-infected, and dying trees, X. glabratus readily attacks healthy trees. To date little is known about the role of leaf volatiles in the host selection behavior and ecology of X. glabratus. To address this question, an olfactometer bioassay was developed to test the behavioral response of X. glabratus to plant leaf volatiles. We found that X. glabratus was attracted to the leaf odors of their hosts, redbay and swamp bay, with no attraction to a non-host tree tested (live oak, Quercus virginiana), which served as a negative control. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS/MS) analysis of leaves revealed the absence of sesquiterpenes known to be attractive to X. glabratus and present in host wood, suggesting that additional leaf-derived semiochemicals may serve as attractants for this beetle. An artificial blend of chemicals was developed based on GC/MS analyses of leaf volatiles and behavioral assays. This blend was attractive to X. glabratus at a level that rivaled currently used lures for practical monitoring of this pest. This synthetic redbay leaf blend also was tested in the field. Baited traps captured more X. glabratus than unbaited controls and equivalently to manuka oil lures. We hypothesize that leaf volatiles may be used by X. glabratus as an additional cue for host location.

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“…The transmission of R. lauricola to avocado is likely the result of attack by a diversity of ambrosia beetles that acquire the pathogenic fungi by horizontal transfer in infected Lauracea (redbay or swamp bay) 7 . In Florida, avocado groves are located nearby the Everglades National Park that has been severely impacted by laurel wilt 37 . It is possible that the Everglades, as well as, small urban forest patches serve as a source of infected ambrosia beetles that migrate subsequently in avocado.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of semiochemical based push-pull strategy for population suppression of ambrosia beetle vectors of laurel wilt disease in avocado

Rivera

Martini

Conover

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) bore into tree xylem to complete their life cycle, feeding on symbiotic fungi. Ambrosia beetles are a threat to avocado where they have been found to vector a symbiotic fungus, Raffaelea lauricola, the causal agent of the laurel wilt disease. We assessed the repellency of methyl salicylate and verbenone to two putative laurel wilt vectors in avocado, Xyleborus volvulus (Fabricius) and Xyleborus bispinatus (Eichhoff), under laboratory conditions. Then, we tested the same two chemicals released from SPLAT flowable matrix with and without low-dose ethanol dispensers for manipulation of ambrosia beetle populations occurring in commercial avocado. the potential active space of repellents was assessed by quantifying beetle catch on traps placed 'close' (~5-10 cm) and 'far' (~1-1.5 m) away from repellent dispensers. Ambrosia beetles collected on traps associated with all in-field treatments were identified to species to assess beetle diversity and community variation. Xyleborus volvulus was not repelled by methyl salicylate (MeSA) or verbenone in laboratory assays, while X. bispinatus was repelled by MeSA but not verbenone. Ambrosia beetle trap catches were reduced in the field more when plots were treated with verbenone dispensers (SPLAT) co-deployed with low-dose ethanol dispensers than when treated with verbenone alone. Beetle diversity was highest on traps deployed with low-dose ethanol lures. the repellent treatments and ethanol lures significantly altered the species composition of beetles captured in experiment plots. our results indicate that verbenone co-deployed with ethanol lures holds potential for manipulating ambrosia beetle vectors via push-pull management in avocado. this tactic could discourage immigration and/or population establishment of ambrosia beetles in commercial avocado and function as an additional tool for management programs of laurel wilt. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) bore into trees to complete their life cycle within xylem galleries. However, while ambrosia beetles damage the tree during entry, they do not directly feed on the plant tissue; they have obligate nutritional relationships with symbiotic fungi 1. The fungi are introduced to the tree during initial tree colonization and then, the beetles feed and reproduce while consuming them. Although neither ambrosia fungi nor beetles are monophyletic, both groups are named so because of their close association 2. Once the fungi are established in the tree, the beetles begin to deposit eggs. Their mating systems vary greatly from haplodiploid scolytine species of the tribe Xyleborini to harem polygyny in Pityophthorus lautus (Eichhoff; tribe Corthylini) 3. Economically, ambrosia beetles do the most damage when their symbiotic fungus

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Expansion and Impact of Laurel Wilt in the Florida Everglades

Cited by 21 publications

References 17 publications

Nonnative forest insects and pathogens in the United States: Impacts and policy options

Nonnative forest insects and pathogens in the United States: Impacts and policy options

Attraction of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus Glabratus, To Leaf Volatiles of its Host Plants in North America

Evaluation of semiochemical based push-pull strategy for population suppression of ambrosia beetle vectors of laurel wilt disease in avocado

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