Overwintering developmental stages of emerald ash borer in North Carolina

Authors

  • Christine A. Nalepa Beneficial Insects Laboratory, Plant Industry Division, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, 1060 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1060, USA
  • Kelly L.F. Oten North Carolina Forest Service, 2411 Old US 70 West, Clayton, North Carolina 27520, USA
  • Matthew A. Bertone Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7613, USA

Abstract

The invasive woodboring beetle emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) first was detected in the US in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, USA. Since then it has continued to expand its range into the southern and midwestern sections of the country. Emerald ash borer was discovered in North Carolina, USA, in 2013, and is currently reported from more than 60 counties in the state. The present study was undertaken to begin determining the phenology of emerald ash borer in its newly expanded range below 40 °N latitude in North America. Here we report 4 yr of data on the overwintering stages of emerald ash borer in north-central North Carolina, obtained by debarking infested trees harvested from a single site near the northern border with Virginia, USA, with 1-yr additional data from a site about 39 km away. Results indicated that most emerald ash borers overwinter as fourth instars, with a small proportion advancing to the J-larva stage. Parasitoids that emerged from cocoons collected from emerald ash borer galleries and from logs held in emergence cages also were identified. These Hymenoptera include specimens of Xorides (Exomus) humeralis (Say) (Ichneumonidae), Atanycolus cf. cappaerti Marsh and Strazanac (Braconidae), Balcha indica (Mani & Kau) (Eupelmidae), Spathius sp. Nees (Braconidae), and Wroughtonia sp. Cameron (Braconidae).

Resumo

El invasor coleoptero conocido come barrenador esmeralda del fresno Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) se detectó por primera vez en los EE. UU. en el 2002 cerca de Detroit, Michigan, EE. UU. Desde entonces, ha seguido ampliando su área de distribución en las áreas del sur y de medio oeste del país. El barrenador esmeralda del fresno se detectó por primera vez en Carolina del Norte, EE. UU., en el 2013, y actualmente se informa en más de 60 condados de ese Estado. Se realizó el presente estudio para comenzar a determinar la fenología del barrenador esmeralda del fresno en su rango recientemente ampliado por debajo de los 40 °N de latitud en América del Norte. Aquí presentamos 4 años de datos sobre los estadios de hibernación del barrenador esmeralda del fresno en el centro-norte de Carolina del Norte, obtenidos al descortezar árboles infestados cosechados en un solo sitio cerca de la frontera norte con Virginia, EE. UU., con datos adicionales de 1 año de un sitio a unos 39 km de distancia. Los resultados indicaron que la mayoría de los barrenadores esmeralda del fresno invernan como en el cuarto estadio, y una pequeña proporción avanza al estadio de J-larva. También, se identificaron parasitoides que emergieron de pupas recolectadas de galerías de barrenadores de fresno esmeralda y de troncos mantenidos en jaulas de emergencia. Estos himenópteros incluyen especímenes de Xorides (Exomus) humeralis (Say) (Ichneumonidae), Atanycolus cf. cappaerti Marsh & Strazanac (Braconidae), Balcha indica (Mani & Kau) (Eupelmidae), Spathius sp. Nees (Braconidae) y una especie del género Wroughtonia Cameron (Braconidae).

Key Words: Agrilus planipennis; life history; parasitoids

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Author Biographies

Kelly L.F. Oten, North Carolina Forest Service, 2411 Old US 70 West, Clayton, North Carolina 27520, USA

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

Matthew A. Bertone, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7613, USA

Extension Associate and Director of the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic

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Published

2021-10-06

Issue

Vol. 104, No. 3 (September 2021)

Section

Research Papers

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