Attraction of Monarthrum scutellare (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to hydroxy ketones and host volatiles

Abstract

Species of ambrosia beetle Monarthrum are potentially invasive and pose a threat to forest resources around the world. Due to their cryptic lifestyle, these beetles are difficult to detect and monitor. In 2008, we set up traps baited with synthetic pheromones and host volatiles in mixed coniferous–deciduous forested areas in Metchosin, British Columbia, to test the efficacy of various lures at detecting species of Cerambycidae and discovered that the combination of ethanol (EtOH) and the synthetic cerambycid pheromone racemic 3-hydroxyoctan-2-one (C8-ketol) was a very effective attractant for Monarthrum scutellare (LeConte). In 2009, an experiment was set up in Garry oak ( Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hook.) forests to test the effect of baiting traps with C8-ketols or EtOH, or both lures combined, on capture of M. scutellare. A significant number of M. scutellare males were captured in funnel traps baited with EtOH and EtOH paired with C8-ketol. The use of C8-ketol paired with EtOH lures substantially increased trap sensitivity and should therefore improve the efficacy of detecting M. scutellare in bark and ambrosia beetle surveys and surveillance programs.