INFLUENCE OF POST-FELLING TREATMENT OF BIRCH LOGS ON EMERGENCE SUCCESS OF BRONZE BIRCH BORER, AGRILUS ANXIUS, ADULTS (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE)1

Abstract

European white birch, Betula pendula Roth, bolts infested with bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory, were subjected to 4 post-felling treatments to delay or expedite adult emergence. Felling date and bolt end treatment significantly influenced beetle emergence density. Fall-felled, unsealed bolts with 1 end standing in water produced few beetles. Although rearing room temperature, relative humidity, and weeks of cold storage did not affect numbers of beetles produced, these factors could be used to expedite or delay beetle emergence. This study demonstrates that infested birch wood can be manipulated to produce bronze birch borer adults for laboratory studies when beetles are not available otherwise.