Canadian Forest Service Publications
Pheromone-enhanced lure blends and multiple trap heights improve detection of bark and wood-boring beetles potentially moved in solid wood packaging. 2018. Flaherty, L.; Gutowski, J.M.; Hughes, C.; Mayo, P.; Mokrzycki, T.; Pohl, G.; Silk, P.; Van Rooyen, K.; Sweeney, J.D. Journal of Pest Science (online early)
Year: 2018
Issued by: Atlantic Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 39420
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.1007/s10340-018-1019-4
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Abstract
Exotic bark and wood-boring beetles [Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae (Scolytinae)] are among the most damaging forest pests, and species of quarantine significance are frequently moved intercontinentally. Early detection of these potentially invasive species is critical for their effective management, and while current surveillance methods have intercepted many species, they failed to detect others that subsequently became significant pests. We evaluated the effects of trap height (canopy vs. understory) and lure type (host volatiles vs. blends of host volatiles and pheromones) on the efficacy of detecting bark and wood-boring beetles, with the objective of improving surveillance programs. Adding pheromones to host volatile-baited traps increased the number of species detected, but lure performance (mean catch and detection rate) varied among species. The effects of trap height also varied by taxa; some species were detected more often in the understory (e.g., Scolytinae), and others mainly in the canopy (e.g., Cerambycidae). Species assemblages in traps differed between the canopy and understory and also among lure types. The number of target species detected was increased by using combinations of different pheromone-enhanced lure blends and by placing traps in both the canopy and understory. Applying these results should improve early detection of exotic species commonly moved intercontinentally in wood packaging and products.
Plain Language Summary
Bark and wood-boring beetles from Asia and Europe continue to arrive in Canada in wood used to pack goods in container ships, and some of these species become invasive forest pests, e.g., the emerald ash borer. The earlier we detect such pest introductions, the more likely we can mitigate their damage by eradicating the population or containing its spread. Here, we show that adding longhorn beetle pheromones to traps and placing traps in both the upper canopy of trees and in the understory increase the total number of species detected in traps. Applying these results in annual surveys should improve early detection of exotic species introductions.