Novel visual‐cue‐based sticky traps for monitoring of emerald ash borers, Agrilus planipennis (Col., Buprestidae)

Abstract

We examined various methods of trapping emerald ash borers (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, using solely visual cues based on previous work that has documented the importance of visual cues in EAB mate location. Here, we give the results of two of these methods, coloured sticky cards (yellow or blue), or live ash leaves covered with spray‐on adhesive to which dead male EAB visual lures had been pinned. Feral male beetles were captured effectively on the sticky traps made from dead male EAB on ash leaves. These sticky‐leaf‐traps captured more male EAB when deployed in high‐population density areas than low‐density areas, but did capture EAB even at lower population densities. More feral males were captured on these traps when they were placed higher in the trees, regardless of the population density of EAB. Very few feral female EAB were captured using the sticky‐leaf‐traps. This novel method of EAB trapping may allow ‘real‐time’ population detection and monitoring of EAB adults during the active flight period rather than locating larval galleries during the autumn and winter after adult flight and attack. Feral male beetles were also captured using standard yellow‐ or blue‐coloured sticky cards to which male EAB had been affixed with adhesive; however, this type of trap was much less effective overall than using the sticky‐leaf‐traps. Furthermore, Agrilus cyanescens, a species similar in colour to EAB but smaller in size, showed a strong response to blue‐coloured sticky traps to which dead male EAB had been affixed with adhesive, suggesting a general use of visual cues in the mating systems of some of the other Buprestidae as well.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of the Black-Banded Oak Borer, Coroebus florentinus, to Conspecific and Host-Plant Volatiles

“…Despite this, some Coleopteran families have received little attention, particularly Buprestidae. The exception is the great number of laboratory and field studies reported on the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Fairnaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an invasive species originating from Asia that has caused considerable mortality of ash trees in the US and Canada (Bartelt et al, 2007;De Groot et al, 2008;Francese et al, 2008;Lelito et al, 2008;Lelito et al, 2009;Silk et al, 2009;Crook and Mastro, 2010;Silk et al, 2011), and some field experiments to catch different jewel beetles (Montgomery and Wargo, 1983;McIntosh et al, 2001). The black-banded oak borer (BBOB) Coroebus florentinus (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), together with its sister species C. undatus, produce notable damage to cork trees, thereby reducing the production of high quality cork.…”

“…For example, the EAB is thought to use host plant volatiles for host location 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 (Rodriguez-Saona et al, 2006;Grant et al, 2010) and visual cues rather than long-range sex pheromones for mate finding (Lelito et al, 2007;Lelito et al, 2008). However, other investigations resulted in the discovery of two hydrocarbons as female contact pheromones, which are probably involved in mate recognition (Lelito et al, 2009;Silk et al, 2009).…”

Challenges of managing the emerald ash borer: What do managers want, and what can researchers tell them?

“…Most of the workshop participants were aware of the various tools and techniques that have been developed to facilitate detection, identification and delimitation of EAB infestations (e.g., Lelito et al 2008, McCullough et al 2009b, Poland et al 2011, Francese et al 2012, Dominque et al 2014, Legg et al 2014. In contrast to the workshop participants, some interviewees, including those who would be responsible for EAB management, were not aware of the tools available to them.…”

“…Some questions from the workshop participants addressed the risk of EAB moving to non-ash hosts (i.e., once the ash resource has been consumed). The host range of EAB has been known since 2008(Anulewicz et al 2008 and clearly demonstrated that non-ash genera would not be attacked and cannot support development of EAB populations. Moreover, these facts have been well-publicised, and are a common feature of news reports and outreach documents.…”

Differences in spectral selectivity between stages of visually-guided mating approaches in a buprestid beetle

“…Prolonged mounting and attempts to copulate with the much larger female A. planipennis specimens by A. angustulus males never occurred, regardless of the female color morph they landed upon. Species and sex recognition after contact have not been studied for A. angustulus, but are influenced by contact chemoreception of cuticular hydrocarbons in other Agrilus species (Lelito et al, 2008(Lelito et al, , 2011. Whether or not the male insect landed upon the female color morph, it was visually followed to observe the location where it landed, which was usually upon a neighboring leaf.…”