Long-Lasting Insecticide Netting for Protecting Tree Stems from Attack by Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Abstract

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are destructive wood-boring insects of horticultural trees. We evaluated long-lasting insecticide netting for protecting stems against ambrosia beetles. Container-grown eastern redbud, Cercis canadensis, trees were flood-stressed to induce ambrosia beetle attacks, and deltamethrin-treated netting was wrapped from the base of the stem vertically to the branch junction. Trees were deployed under field conditions in Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi with the following treatments: (1) flooded tree; (2) flooded tree with untreated netting; (3) flooded tree with treated ‘standard mesh’ netting of 24 holes/cm2; (4) flooded tree with treated ‘fine mesh’ netting of 28 holes/cm2; and/or (5) non-flooded tree. Treated netting reduced attacks compared to untreated netting and/or unprotected trees in Mississippi in 2017, Ohio and Tennessee in 2018, and Virginia in 2017–2018. Inconsistent effects occurred in Mississippi in 2018. Fewer Anisandrus maiche, Xylosandrus germanus, and Xyleborinus saxesenii were dissected from trees deployed in Ohio protected with treated netting compared to untreated netting; trees deployed in other locations were not dissected. These results indicate long-lasting insecticide netting can provide some protection of trees from ambrosia beetle attacks.

Long-Lasting Insecticide-Incorporated Netting and Interception Traps at Pilot-Scale Warehouses and Commercial Facilities Prevents Infestation by Stored Product Beetles

“…This is consistent with an earlier study that used an α-cypermethrin-based LLIN against L. serricorne and E. elutella to surround a carton of tobacco in a commercial tobacco facility (Athanassiou et al, 2019). Trees wrapped with LLIN also exhibited significantly reduced beetle attacks (Ranger et al, 2020). Another study found that LLIN reduced S. oryzae infestations of maize in mini-bag bioassays by 98-100%, however, there were varying amounts of permethrin residues on the maize (Anaclerio et al, 2018).…”

“…The netting has also been used as a preventative measure against pests of specialty crops and ornamental trees (Marianelli et al, 2018;Ranger et al, 2020). These studies support the idea that LLIN can be used to intercept insects prior to reaching their destination and causing damage.…”

Semiochemical-mediated host selection byXylosandrusspp. ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) attacking horticultural tree crops: a review of basic and applied science

“…When X. crassiusculus and X. germanus were caged to stems of flooded or nonflooded C. florida trees, foundresses established fungal gardens and produced offspring only in stems of flooded trees. Additional studies further support the preference of X. crassiusculus and X. germanus for thin-barked tree species subjected to flood stress, including Cercis canadanesis Linnaeus (Fabaceae), Malus domestica Borkhausen (Rosaceae), and Styrax japonicus Siebold (Styracaceae) (Frank and Ranger 2016;Ranger et al 2016Ranger et al , 2020Agnello et al 2017;Frank et al 2017;Werle et al 2019).…”

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“…This is consistent with an earlier study that used an α-cypermethrin-based LLIN against L. serricorne and E. elutella to surround a carton of tobacco in a commercial tobacco facility (Athanassiou et al, 2019). Trees wrapped with LLIN also exhibited significantly reduced beetle attacks (Ranger et al, 2020). Another study found that LLIN reduced S. oryzae infestations of maize in mini-bag bioassays by 98-100%, however, there were varying amounts of permethrin residues on the maize (Anaclerio et al, 2018).…”