Efficacy of the pheromone (3Z)-lactone and the host kairomone (3Z)-hexenol at detecting early infestation of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis

• Published in: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata Vol. 147; no. 2; pp. 126 - 131
• Main Authors: Ryall, Krista L., Fidgen, Jeffrey G., Silk, Peter J., Scarr, Taylor A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Agrilus; baited trap; Branches; Buprestidae; Coleoptera; detectability; Fraxinus; green leaf volatiles
• ISSN: 0013-8703; 1570-7458
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12052

The invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a major pest of ash trees, Fraxinus spp., in its introduced range in North America. Field studies were conducted to quantify the efficacy of traps baited with kairomone and pheromone lures for early detection of A. planipennis infestation. A trapping experiment demonstrated that green traps baited with the kairomone (3Z)‐hexenol detected at least one adult A. planipennis in 55.3% of plots with ‘nil to low’‐density infestations and in 100% of plots with ‘moderate to high’‐density A. planipennis infestations. Mean trap captures increased significantly with increasing infestation density. In terms of the optimal number of traps per plot, when one (3Z)‐hexenol‐baited trap was placed per plot, the trap detected populations in 62% of the plots with ‘low to moderate’‐density infestations through branch sampling. Detectability was increased to 82% when two traps were placed per plot. Finally, addition of female‐produced (3Z)‐lactone pheromone to traps significantly increased detection rates at both the trap and plot level, as compared with traps baited with the host volatile, (3Z)‐hexenol, alone (88 vs. 60%, respectively). Our results are the first to demonstrate the efficacy of baited green sticky traps for detecting low‐density A. planipennis infestations, particularly when the (3Z)‐lactone pheromone is used. This combination is therefore recommended for development of early‐detection protocols against A. planipennis.