SD39: Ambrosia beetle trap seasonality, plant phenological observations, and weather data over a 12-year period: What does it reveal?

Ambrosia beetles in the Xylosandrus and Cnestus genera are important pests of ornamental trees in nursery, orchard, and landscape settings. Their seasonal activity patterns can vary with weather patterns, which could influence the timing of control mitigations. To better understand factors that may be predictive of ambrosia beetle activity, 2-liter soda bottle traps baited with AgBio, Inc. slow-release lures (~65 mg ethanol / d changed every 6-wk) were operated from beginning of flight until 2-wk after the last capture in the fall starting in 2008. Key species evaluated for first and last catch and seasonal activity included the granulate ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus [Motschulsky]), black stem borer (Xylosandrus germanus [Blandford]), camphor shot borer (Cnestus mutilatus [Blandford]), and some records on the fruit-tree pinhole borer (Xyleborinus saxesenii [Ratzeburg]), as well as combined other species totals. Beginning in 2009, flowering phenological observations were made using easily identifiable tree species. From 2008 to 2012, local NOAA weather data records were obtained and from 2012 until 2022, weather logger data was collected for air, humidity, light levels, and soil temperatures at depths of 5, 10, and 15 cm. Data will be summarized and analyzed to identify weather and phenological indicators of first beetle catch, peak activity, and end activity, as well as possibly growing degree day relationships on second and third generation emergence patterns.