Monitoring and attract and kill systems to control ambrosia beetles vectoring the laurel wilt disease in avocado and other Lauraceae.

Project Title:Monitoring and attract and kill systems to control ambrosia beetles vectoring the laurel wilt disease in avocado and other Lauraceae.Technical AbstractProduction of avocado in Florida is valued at $30 million a year, accounting for twelve percent of the national production. This industry consists of 7,500 acres and about 940 producers/handlers and thousands of employees. The redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus vectors the fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, which causes laurel wilt (LW), a lethal disease of trees in the family Lauraceae, including the most commercially important crop in this family, avocado, Persea americana. Another eight ambrosia beetle species from genus: Xuleborus, Xyleborinus and Xylosandrus species have been identified as potential vectors of the disease. Effective IPM tactics should be aimed at the control and management of all vectors of the disease.RAB and other ambrosia beetles are currently controlled with insecticidal sprays of diseased avocado trees or their removal. Effective semiochemical-based management tactics are not available for these ambrosia beetles. Survey and detection methods depend on non-efficient, expensive and not easily accessible trap-and-lure system (especially that of insect traps). If successful, efficient LW-vector insect trapping systems will accelerate detection of incipient infestations and facilitate sensitive pest monitoring during and after eradication programs. Semiochemical-based monitoring systems are standard tools for the measurement of progress and success of eradication efforts targeting other exotic pests of national importance.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of ResearchThe long-term goals of this research project are the development of an effective monitoring system (trap and lure) and Killing Station for ambrosia beetles vectoring the laurel wilt disease. To accomplish this, we will test the efficacy of known kairomonal host volatiles, determine which trap designs are most effective for monitoring the pest and conduct preliminary tests of prototype Killing Stations.