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Flight Performance of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on a Flight Mill and in Free Flight

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Abstract

Computer-monitored flight mills were used to record the flight performance of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Flight performance of fed and unfed, and mated and unmated beetles of both sexes were recorded and compared. Mated females flew further per day and longer than unmated females or males. Mated females that were allowed to feed between flight periods flew an average of 1.3 km/day for four days; 10% flew more than 7 km/day. Measurements of free-flight speed using a mirror and a high-speed camera were used to calibrate the flight mill results, permitting absolute estimates of flight performance to be made. Free-flight speeds were approximately three times the speeds recorded by the flight mills. The median corrected distance flown by mated females was >3 km with 20% flying >10 km and 1% flying >20 km. The flight performance of mated females suggests a considerable capacity for range expansion by this invasive species. The implications for quarantine and control are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted in part with funding from the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station (NRS) (formerly North Central Research Station) (grant 03-JV-11231200-097), Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET), and The Ohio State University. We thank Drs. Joseph Charney and Robert Haack, USDA-FS NRS, and Frank Sapio, USDA-FS FHTET for assistance in acquiring funding for this RJVA; Deborah L. Miller and Christopher (Kit) O’Connor for assistance with handling, rearing, and flying EAB on the flight mills; Erin Clark for assistance with the free flight experiments; Dr. James Weinkam for reviewing the free flight calculations; and Drs. Larry Phelan, Noah Koller, and Mike Ulyshen for their helpful, careful, and critical reviews of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA

    R. A. J. Taylor

  2. USDA-FS, Northern Research Station, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Leah S. Bauer & Therese M. Poland

  3. USDA-FS, Technology and Development Center, Missoula, MT, USA

    Keith N. Windell

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  1. R. A. J. Taylor
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  2. Leah S. Bauer
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Correspondence to R. A. J. Taylor.

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Taylor, R.A.J., Bauer, L.S., Poland, T.M. et al. Flight Performance of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) on a Flight Mill and in Free Flight. J Insect Behav 23, 128–148 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-010-9202-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-010-9202-3

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