The Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Scolytinae: Curculionidae) Ellis, Mayfield, and Hodges. October 2006. NPDN Publication No. 0001.

Presentation on theme: "The Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Scolytinae: Curculionidae) Ellis, Mayfield, and Hodges. October 2006. NPDN Publication No. 0001."— Presentation transcript:

1 The Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Scolytinae: Curculionidae)
Ellis, Mayfield, and Hodges. October 2006. NPDN Publication No. 0001

2 Xyleborus glabratus Introduction Signs and Symptoms Description
Life Cycle Hosts Control Outline for the presentation. Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

3 The beetle is native to India, Japan, Myanmar, and Taiwan
Xyleborus glabratus The beetle is native to India, Japan, Myanmar, and Taiwan Specifically, Xyleborus glabratus is native to India, Japan, Myanmar, and Taiwan, according to reported specimens, but it is suspected that its range is continuous throughout the area (Rabaglia 2005). Special thanks to Johomaps.com

4 Introduction to the US In detected in a survey trap near Port Wentworth, GA By 2005, in areas of coastal SC, GA, and FL It was first detected in the US in a survey trap near Port Wentworth, GA in 2002 (Rabaglia 2005). By 2005, Xyleborus glabratus was found to be associated with redbay (Persea borbonia (L.)) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees) mortality in coastal areas of GA, SC, and FL (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). The Ophiostoma fungus associated with Xyleborus glabratus has also been recovered from pond spice (Litsea aestivalis). Like other introduced ambrosia beetles, Xyleborus glabratus is suspected to have been introduced in solid wood packing materials such as crates and pallets (Haack 2003). Local spread is potentially caused by the transport of fuelwood, tree trimmings, and other infested wood products from one area to another (Rabaglia 2005). Map provided by A. E. Mayfield and created by J. Eickwort, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

5 Signs and Symptoms Attacked trees have wilted foliage with reddish or purplish discoloration Foliage turns brown and stays on branches Photos: Johnson, J., Georgia Forestry Commission The principal damage is tree wilt caused by colonization of the xylem cells by the Ophiostoma fungus. Attacked trees exhibit wilted foliage with reddish or purplish discoloration within a section of the crown or throughout the entire crown. The foliage eventually turns brown and tends to remain on the branches.

6 Same tree, 8 months later, brown crown
Signs and Symptoms Early damage, purple crown Same tree, 8 months later, brown crown Photos: Mayfield, A. E., Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

7 Signs and Symptoms Small strings of sawdust may be present at the point of attack Like other ambrosia beetles, small strings of sawdust (ejected wood fiber) may be present at the point of attack. Photos: Johnson, J., Georgia Forestry Commission

8 Signs and Symptoms Adult gallery construction – entrance holes
Staining – the tree’s response to the fungal infection The fungal infection is evidenced by stained sapwood visible upon removal of bark or in cross sections of the stem. Photos: Mayfield, A. E. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

9 Description and Identification
Adult Females Small, only 2 mm long Slender Cylindrical Brown-black color Xyleborus glabratus adults are small, 2 mm long, slender, cylindrical, and brown-black in color. Photos: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

10 Description and Identification
Difficult to distinguish from other species, specialist should identify Some key characteristics Smooth, shiny surface Sharp slope at the rear Photos: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry. It is very similar to other members of the genus but the combination of its coloration, glabrous elytra, and abrupt declivity distinguishes it from other species (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). The larvae are white, c-shaped, legless grubs with an amber colored head capsule (Rabaglia 2005). A specialist should be consulted for positive identification of adults and larvae due to their similarity to other species.

11 Comparison to similar species
-Hairs on Elytra -Rounded Slope -Smooth Elytra -Sharp Slope Xyleborus affinis Xyleborus glabratus Photo: Almquist, D. T., University of Florida , Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

12 Comparison to similar species
Xyleborus ferrugineus Xyleborus glabratus X. ferrugineus -Hairs present -Rounded end X. glabratus -Smooth -Pointed end Photo: Pest and Diseases Image Library, Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

13 Life Cycle Little is known, but assumed to be similar to other species in the genus Adult females construct galleries where eggs are laid and young develop Very little is known about the life cycle and biology of Xyleborus glabratus but it is assumed to be similar to other species in the genus (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). Most of the life cycle takes place within the galleries, where beetles mate, lay eggs, and young develop. Photo: Johnson, J., Georgia Forestry Commission Photo: Mayfield, A. E., Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

14 Life Cycle Adult females inoculate galleries with a fungus from the genus Ophiostoma, a vascular wilt pathogen Adults and larvae feed on fungi, not wood Example of the fruiting bodies of a similar fungus, Ophiostoma piceae, from the Norway spruce Adult females construct galleries in the sapwood and inoculate the galleries with a fungus (Ophiostoma sp., vascular wilt pathogen) (Mayfield and Thomas 2006, Rabaglia 2005). The adults and larvae feed on fungi and not on the wood of the damaged host plant. Photo: Kunca, A. National Forest Centre – Slovakia

15 Life Cycle Females Males Female Capable of flight
Leave when mature in search of new host Believed able to fly 2-3 km to find host Males Dwarfed size Flightless Rarely encountered outside Female Females are believed to be able to fly 2-3 km in search of a host (Rabaglia 2005). Males are dwarfed, haploid, and flightless and are rarely encountered (Rabaglia 2005). Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

16 Hosts Trees Sassafras In the US, redbay and sassafras are known hosts
Pond spice is a suspected host Sassafras In the US, Xyleborus glabratus has been associated with redbay and sassafras (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). The Ophiostoma fungus associated with Xyleborus glabratus has also been recovered from pond spice, indicating that this plant may also be a host. Photos: Evans, C., The University of Georgia,

17 Importance of Host Plants
Wildlife browse and fruit Larvae of the Palamedes swallowtail feed on Redbay Redbay All plants are members of the family Lauraceae and are important to wildlife as browse and fruit plants (Griggs 1990, Gilman and Watson 1994). Redbay also serves as host to larvae of the Palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes (Drury)), which feeds primarily on species of Persea (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). It is possible that Xyleborus glabratus may utilize other members of the Lauraceae as hosts but the host range is presently unknown. Photo: Payne, J. A. USDA Agricultural Research Service Photo: Evans, C., The University of Georgia,

18 Control No tested or proven treatments for the control of X. glabratus and its associated fungus To reduce the spread of X. glabratus, do not transport wood or chips from infested trees to other areas Funnel trap used to monitor Xyleborus glabratus flight activity. At this time there are no tested or proven treatments for the managing Xyleborus glabratus and its associated fungus (Mayfield and Thomas 2006). Like other exotic species, Xyleborus glabratus will continue to naturally expand its range. In order to reduce its spread, no wood or chips from infested trees should be transported out of the local area. Photo: A. E. Mayfield, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Forestry

19 If you suspect a problem…
Contact your local cooperative extension service Contact a NPDN diagnostic lab If someone suspects a problem, they should contact their local county extension service or a NPDN diagnostic lab. Proper procedures for submitting a sample should be followed to contain the spread of the beetle. A list of cooperative extension services and contact information can be found at A list of NPDN diagnostic labs can be found at Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

20 Additional Information Available Online
Mayfield, A. E. and M. C. Thomas Pest Alert: The Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Scolytinae: Curculionidae). Rabaglia, R Exotic Forest Pest Information System for North America. Xyleborus glabratus. Florida Division of Forestry – FDACS, Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Information HISL – PEET Xyleborini. Key to the females of the species of Xyleborus, North of Mexico. Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

21 Acknowledgments Editorial Review
Dr. John Foltz, University of Florida, Entomology & Nematology Department Dr. Mike Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry Photo: Thomas, M. C. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry.

22 Authors Amanda M. Ellis, ellisam@ufl.edu, University of Florida, SPDN
Albert E. Mayfield III, Ph.D. Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry Amanda C. Hodges, Ph.D., SPDN Assistant Director, University of Florida

23 Publication Details This publication can be used for non-profit, educational use only purposes. Photographers retain copyright to photographs or other images contained in this publication as cited. This material was developed as a topic-based training module for NPDN First Detector Training. Authors and the website should be properly cited. Images or photographs should also be properly cited and credited to the original source. Publication Number: 0001 Publication Date: October 2006