2020 Entomological Society of America Symposium
2020 Entomological Society of America Symposium: Fundamental Biology to Practical Management of Ambrosia Beetles in Horticultural Tree Agroecosystems
Session Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Session Time: 12:30 PM – 4:20 PM
Summary Statement of Goal or Concept and Objectives:
Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are regularly intercepted at ports of entry into the U.S., and several established species are destructive insects of trees growing in horticultural production systems. Some key traits make ambrosia beetles successful invaders but challenging pests to manage, including a broad host range, wood-boring behavior, association with fungal symbionts, haplodiploid reproduction, and sibling mating. Ambrosia beetles tunnel into host trees to create galleries for cultivating their fungal symbiont and rearing offspring. The fungal symbionts of ambrosia beetles and secondary microorganisms introduced during tunneling can lead to branch dieback and death of the host tree. A variety of horticultural tree crops are attacked by exotic ambrosia beetles throughout N. America. In addition to being wood-boring pests of trees growing in ornamental nurseries, ambrosia beetles have recently emerged as destructive pests of horticultural trees growing in tree fruit orchards, groves, and plantations. The goal of the symposium will be to address a range of topics covering the fundamental biology to practical management of ambrosia beetles in a variety of horticultural agroecosystems, including species abundance and diversity, life history and seasonal activity, invasion biology, chemical and behavioral ecology, host selection behavior, semiochemicals, insect physiology, mycology and microbiology, plant pathology, monitoring, and management tactics. Research conducted over the past 10 years in ornamental nurseries will be juxtapositioned with new perspectives from tree fruit orchards, groves, and plantations.