Development of a mass trapping device for the ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, an insect vector of oak wilt disease in Korea

Abstract

Oak wilt disease caused by a symbiotic fungus of ambrosia beetles is a serious problem in oak forest in Asian countries, with the potential to become a great threat to oak forests worldwide. In this study, we developed a control method, consisting of collection devices attached directly to infested host trees, for mass trapping of emerging ambrosia beetles. Effectiveness of the device was evaluated in terms of the retention fluid used in collection bottles, and the position of the bottles along the host trunk. A total of 87,081 ambrosia beetles were captured from 23 oak trees (Quercus mongolica). More beetles were captured in collection bottles installed at low positions of oak stems, compared to collection bottles located at the middle and upper positions (30, 90, 150cm above ground). We analyzed the effect of ethanol and water on beetle capture, determining that bottle position was more important than the contents of the collection bottle. There was no statistical difference between catches with ethanol vs water. There was a positive relationship between host DBH (diameter at breast height) and the number of captured beetles. Our mass trapping device proved to be very effective for capturing emerging ambrosia beetles from damaged oak trees in field tests. This new device could be useful in managing the population of ambrosia beetles, and has the potential to reduce the spread of oak wilt disease in oak forests.