Abstract
In Northern China, the tree-of-heaven root weevil (TRW), Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a serious borer pest of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) (tree-of-heaven) is an important tree species for landscapes and afforestation. This study evaluates the efficacy of trunk trap nets (TTN), thiacloprid spray (TS), and cypermethrin spray (CS) alone, and in combination with TTN and thiacloprid or cypermethrin spray (TTNTS or TTNCS) for controlling TRW in A. altissima plantations in 2016–2018 in three sites (Haojiaqiao, Wutongshu, and Taojiajuan), which are located near Lingwu city in Ningxia, China. TTN, TTNTS, and TTNCS treatments significantly reduce marked TRW captures (more than 93% with respect to the untreated trees) and wild TRW captures in population monitoring trunk trap nets (MTTN) deployed in stands (more than 55% with respect to the untreated trees). Further field trials demonstrate that these TTN, TTNTS, and TTNCS treatments significantly reduce damage to A. altissima in stands; there are no significant differences between TTN and combination treatments. In addition, significantly more TRW are captured in MTTN within Taojiajuan than within Haojiaqiao or Wutongshu in field trials 2018. There were no significant differences between sites in 2016 and 2017. This study indicates that the TS and CS treatments used had very little to no impact on TRW populations and tree health in the timeframe examined. TTN alone are clearly effective for suppressing populations of TRW and stabilizing A. altissima tree health. This physical control technique, using TTN, could be sufficient to manage TRW on tree-of-heaven with no insecticide.
Highlights
The tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae), is an excellent greening, ornamental, medicinal, oil, and afforestation tree species in China [1]
HJQ, WTS, and TJJ locations, significantly fewer marked tree-of-heaven root weevil (TRW) were caught in monitoring trunk trap nets (MTTN) on trunk trap nets (TTN)-treated, TTN + thiacloprid spray (TTNTS)-treated, or treatment in a randomized cypermethrin sprayThe (TTNCS)-treated trees than on thiacloprid spray (TS)-treated, cypermethrin spray (CS)-treated, or untreated trees (HJQ: F5,59 = 80.83, p < 0.001; WTS: F5,59 = 36.31, p < 0.001; TJJ: F5,59 = 37.36, and p < 0.001; Figure 3A)
The number of marked TRW were reduced by 93.3%, 94.9%, and 93.4% for TTN, TTNTS, and TTNCS, respectively
Summary
The tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae), is an excellent greening, ornamental, medicinal, oil, and afforestation tree species in China [1]. Tree-of-heaven is an important part of the landscape and the shelter-belts that have been widely planted in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region since 1980. More than 27,333 ha of A. altissima trees have been planted in Ningxia. Root bark, and the fruit of tree-of-heaven can be used as medicine and have anti-malaria, anti-cancer, and anti-viral effects [3,4]. He et al [5] provided evidence
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