Shot-hole borers in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are invasive ambrosia beetles that cause severe damage to avocado (Persea americana), woody ornamentals, and forest trees in the USA (California and Florida). Semiochemicals play a crucial role in detection and management strategies for these pests. Current monitoring uses lures containing quercivorol, a food-based attractant emitted from the beetle’s symbiotic Fusarium fungi. Recent field studies in Florida demonstrated that an essential oil lure enriched in α-copaene (a host sesquiterpene) is another effective attractant, significantly increasing captures of E. nr. fornicatus when combined with quercivorol. The new two-component lure provides improved pest detection, with field longevity of 3 months and minimal attraction of non-target beetles. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the quercivorol lure indicated that it contained 88% trans- and 9% cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol. Analysis of the essential oil lure revealed 12 constituents, almost entirely sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (99.3%), with a high content of α-copaene (&gt;50%). Chiral separation of the α-copaene component showed a composition of (+)-α-copaene (0.1%) and (-)-α-copaene (99.9%). These results indicate that the efficacy of the two-component lure is likely the result of synergistic attraction achieved by a combination of (-)-α-copaene and trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol.

Semiochemicals for attraction of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus, a pest ambrosia beetle in southern Florida

2019 Fall National Meeting

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