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Protecting avocado trees from ambrosia beetles by repellents and mass trapping (push–pull): experiments and simulations

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Abstract

The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff), is an ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) infesting avocado branches Persea americana Mill. in North America, South Africa and Israel. Field experiments were conducted with attractive quercivorol traps and repellents on trees to develop push–pull control methods. PSHBs were collected over the summer from multiple-funnel traps baited with quercivorol in grids of low-, medium- and high-density traps to assess mass trapping interactions and capture trends. Mean catch/trap-week was higher on peripheral outer traps compared to the next inner ring of traps in grids. These ratios and grids were simulated to estimate the circular effective attraction radius (EARc) of multiple-funnel traps and compared to a previous relationship for sticky traps yielding EARc from release rate of quercivorol. The results indicate that multiple-funnel traps have smaller EARc in higher-density grids, likely due to interactions between traps. Tests with verbenone compared to methyl salicylate (MeSA) indicate both are repellents and no evidence for synergism. Dollops of verbenone–MeSA–SPLAT (5% each volatile) were applied monthly at 10- and 40-cm spacings along branched trunks of avocado trees, with release of volatiles declining exponentially over a month. These treatments caused a reduction in both numbers of aggregations/tree and attacks/aggregation to about half that of untreated control trees. Verbenone–MeSA–SPLAT dollops caused localized phytotoxicity on avocado bark, suggesting 8 cm2 plastic bag dispensers containing 0.25 g verbenone are preferred at 40-cm spacing. Push–pull should be done just before flight season to overwhelm natural attraction of single females initiating aggregations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael avocado growers for assistance in setup and use of their avocado orchards for field experiments. We are grateful to ISCA, USA, that contributed the verbenone–methyl salicylate–SPLAT tubes. Also, thanks are due to Mr. Ithamar Zada and Mr. Amnon Magnus for field assistance with SPLAT applications.

Funding

This research was supported in part by Israel Avocado Growers Association grant #0390320 (2018 and 2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Semiochemical Solutions, 7030476, Beer Yaakov, Israel

    John A. Byers

  2. The Israel Fruit Growers Association, Yahud, Israel

    Yonatan Maoz

  3. Tapazol Chemical Works Ltd, Hasolela 1, Beit Shemesh, Israel

    Barak Cohen

  4. Luxembourg Industries LTD, 27 Hamered, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Maayan Golani

  5. Department of Entomology, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel

    Daniela Fefer & Anat Levi-Zada

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  1. John A. Byers
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  2. Yonatan Maoz
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  4. Maayan Golani
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  6. Anat Levi-Zada
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Contributions

JB, AZ, BC and YM conceived and designed research. All authors conducted the experiments. JB and AZ analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. JB generated simulations. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to John A. Byers.

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Communicated by Donald Weber.

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Byers, J.A., Maoz, Y., Cohen, B. et al. Protecting avocado trees from ambrosia beetles by repellents and mass trapping (push–pull): experiments and simulations. J Pest Sci 94, 991–1002 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01310-x

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