Special Technology Development Program
Progress Report
PROJECT NUMBER: R4-2008-01
PROJECT TITLE: Improved Early Detection for the Mediterranean Pine Engraver,
Orthotomicus erosus, an Invasive Bark Beetle
YEAR OF REPORT SUBMITTAL: FY2009
PROJECT STATUS: Continuing
ORIGINAL EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF THE PROJECT: FY 2010
EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF THE PROJECT: FY 2010
SUBJECT: Mediterranean pine engraver
STATUS OF SUBJECT SPECIES: Non-native invasive
PROJECT OBJECTIVES: Improved tools are needed for early detection of exotic bark
beetles when populations are small and manageable. Once infested areas have been
delineated, techniques and guidelines are needed to prevent the spread and establishment
of the species in new areas. We focus on the Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus
erosus, as a specific, highly-relevant case to answer the following questions:
• Are infestations of O. erosus more widespread than currently estimated?
• How quickly are populations spreading in the U.S.?
• Has O. erosus established populations outside California?
• How effective are commercial baits at detecting O. erosus when populations are
small?
• Can alternative deployment strategies further enhance the effectiveness of an
improved attractant for O. erosus?
Answers to these questions will complement the Invasive Species Risk Map for O. erosus
being produced by FHTET. Collectively this information will be used to produce
guidelines for the early detection in areas of high risk for O. erosus establishment and
subsequent pine mortality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: This project integrates a new tool for the
detection of O. erosus, an exotic invasive bark beetle, with results from FHTET’s
national risk map for O. erosus to produce an efficient, statistically-based protocol for the
early detection of this highly threatening species. By year, we will:
(2008): Evaluate the efficiency of an optimized attractant to detect O. erosus at low
beetle density (needed to estimate the sensitivity of the trap); measure the effective
trapping range of the optimized lure (needed to determine the “effective area”
sampled by a trap).
(2009): Continue evaluations initiated in 2008 with adjustments based on year one
results. Develop preliminary sampling protocols (e.g., No. of traps in high risk areas
vs. moderate risk areas). Initiate test of early detection in CA, UT, and ID.
(2010): Revise detection protocols and repeat test of early detection in CA, UT, and ID.
Analyze all data and prepare manuscripts for publication.
CHANGES TO ORIGINAL PROJECT SCOPE OR OBJECTIVES: No changes
made.
ADDITIONS TO ORIGINAL PROJECT SCOPE OR OBJECTIVES: No additions
made.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TASKS ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR: See
Appendix for full description of these tasks.
From July to September of 2009, three mark-recapture trials were conducted to assess
the effective trapping range of the trap with the improved attractant. In the first two
studies 2,800 beetles (1,400 of each sex) were released and lured to one trap. However,
the recapture rates were low (ranging from 5 to 9%), perhaps due to windy conditions at
the extremely open experiment site in Kettleman City, California. The third trial of this
year was conducted under more sheltered conditions at the Kearney Research and
Education Center in Parlier, California. Two thousand beetles (1,000 of each sex) were
released. Marked beetles were released at about 7:30 am on Sept. 3 from 5 distances
(2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 m from the single central trap) from 4 release platforms at each
distance in the cardinal directions. A single trap with the improved attractant recaptured
about 37, 35, 24, 25, and 15% of the beetles released from 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 m,
respectively.
Ten transects of funnel traps baited with the improved attractant were placed in Idaho
(1 transect of 6 traps), Utah (1 transect of 6 traps), and California (8 transects, each with
10 traps). Transects were established in the first or second week of June and monitored
weekly or every two weeks until mid-September. Trap catches from California, Idaho,
and Utah have been evaluated qualitatively (presence/absence of MPE at a location), but
quantitative evaluation (sex ratio, weekly trap catch rate) will take place in fall/winter
2009-2010. Seven of the California transects were positioned so that one or two trap sites
were in areas with known population densities of MPE; the remaining traps in these
transects were placed upslope in national forest lands or in areas where populations might
be currently invading. One of the transects was positioned along State Hwy 99 in the
middle of known distribution of MPE in the Central Valley (positive control). Baits on
all traps were replaced once in early August.
PRODUCTS AND DUE DATES:
PUBLICATIONS: We plan to report the results of this work on O. erosus in the
following manner: 1) peer-reviewed publication on trap efficiency at low density
incorporating both 2007 preliminary data and data from FY2008 and FY2009 (e.g.,
Journal of Economic Entomology or Ecological Entomology); 2) peer-reviewed
publication on effective trapping range from data from FY2008 and FY2009 (Journal of
Economic Entomology); and 3) FS General Technical Report summarizing the sampling
guidelines with the CA, UT, and ID survey data as the proof of concept.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Our project team has been very active at transferring
technology related to invasive bark beetles to audiences at all levels ranging from urban
and wildland foresters and pest control operators to forest health survey personnel and
academic and federal scientists. We have also been strong contributors to the USDA FS
State and Private Forestry Pest Alert and Forest Insect and Disease Leaflet series (Lee et
al. 2005, 2006, 2007a). We will continue to give oral and poster presentations at all of
these meetings and prepare extension literature as the need arises. Preliminary results
will be presented at the upcoming Bark Beetle Technical Work Group meeting in Tucson,
Arizona at the end of October, 2009. Our linkage to Mary Louise Flint’s program is
especially important, as she is Extension Entomologist and Associate Director for Urban
and Community IPM for the UC Statewide IPM Program. Their program has web-based
offerings, which would insure that the guidelines that we develop will have longevity and
will be readily and widely available.
STATUS OF PRODUCTS/PRESENTATIONS:
PUBLICATIONS:
1) The peer-reviewed publication on trap efficiency at low population densities is in
preparation. All the experiment data for this manuscript have been collected, and we are
currently analyzing those data and drafting the manuscript.
2) For the study on effective trapping range, 8 release trials have been conducted, and
more releases are planned for later this year so that we will have enough data for the
second publication.
3) Publications related to this project that have been recently prepared and published are:
Seybold, S.J., Paine, T.D., and Dreistadt, S. H. 2008. Bark beetles: Integrated pest management for
landscape professionals and home gardeners. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pest Notes, Publication 7421, Oakland, California, November 2008, 7 pp. (contains a brief overview of O.
erosus in the context of other California bark beetles).
Venette, R.C., Walter, A.J., and Seybold, S.J. 2009. Comparing risks from native and exotic bark beetles to
the health of Great Lakes forests. In Proceedings Society of American Foresters 2008 Annual Meeting. Reno,
Nevada. CD-ROM. Society of American Foresters, Bethesda, Maryland.
Seybold, S.J. and Downing, M. 2009. What risk do invasive bark beetles and woodborers pose to forests of
the western U.S.?: A case study of the Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus erosus, pp. 111-134, in
Hayes, J.L. and Lundquist, J.E. (compilers). The Western Bark Beetle Research Group: A Unique Collaboration
with Forest Health Protection.” Proceedings of a Workshop at the 2007 Society of American Foresters National
Convention, October 25, 2007, Portland, Oregon. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep., GTR-PNW-784, 134 pp.
Walter, A.J., Venette, R.C., and Kells, S.A. 2009. Acceptance and suitability of novel trees by
Orthotomicus erosus, an exotic bark beetle In North America. Biological Invasions doi 10.1007/s10530009-9531-3.
PRESENTATIONS:
1) Liu, D.G.; Venette, R.C.; Munson, S.; Bulaon, B.; Flint, M.L.; Seybold, S.J. 2008. Intrinsic
dispersal capacity of the Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus erosus, an invasive bark beetle. The
2008 ESA Annual Meeting, Nov. 16-19, 2008, Reno, Nevada (oral presentation by Liu).
2) Liu, D., Lee, J.C., Flint, M.L., Hamud, S.M., and Seybold, S.J. Invasive pine bark beetles
(Coleoptera: Scolytidae): Flight dispersal and host range testing with tree species from Blodgett Forest and
Russell Reservation Research Stations. 2008 Blodgett Forest Research Station Workshop, February 8,
2008, Georgetown, California (oral presentation by Seybold).
3) Seybold, S.J. Threats to California’s urban and wildland forests by invasive bark beetles: A research
update. USDA Forest Service Region 5 Regional Leadership Team Meeting, April 2, 2008, Sacramento,
California (oral presentation by Seybold).
4) Seybold, S.J. Research update on chemical ecology and fungal associates of invasive bark beetles in
California. Report to Annual Technical Committee Meeting for Multi-state Research Project W-1187,
April 7, 2008, Boulder, Colorado (oral presentation by Seybold).
6) Downing, M., Koch, F., Borchert, D., Sapio, F., Seybold, S., Smith, B., Smith, S., Tkacz, B., Tuffly,
M., and Venette, R. The potential distribution of Orthotomicus erosus in the contiguous US. Second
Annual Pest Risk Mapping Workshop. September 16, 2008, Bloomington, Minnesota (oral presentation
prepared by Downing and delivered by Koch).
7) Seybold, S.J. Recent invasive bark beetles and woodborers in the western U.S. 2008 Annual Gypsy
Moth Review, Sponsored by the National Gypsy Moth Management Board, November 4-6, 2008, Tacoma,
Washington (oral presentation by Seybold).
8) Liu, D.-G., Flint, M.L., and Seybold, S.J. 2008. The impact of wildfire on invasive species, and the
intrinsic dispersal capacity of the Mediterranean pine engraver. The Annual Meeting of the California
Forest Pest Council, Nov. 18-19, Woodland, California (oral presentation by Liu)
9) Seybold, S. J., Liu, D.-G., Venette, R. C., Munson, S., Bulaon, B., and Flint, M. L “A stranger in a
strange land: Dispersal behavior of the Mediterranean pine engraver in California's Central Valley.”
Workshop Contribution to “Invasives on our Doorstep, 60th Annual Western Forest Insect Work
Conference, Spokane, Washington, March 25, 2009 (oral presentation by Seybold).
10) Liu, D.-G. 2009. Focus on suicidal but successful potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli and the
intrinsic dispersal capacity of the Mediterranean pine engraver, Orthotomicus erosus. Invited seminars at
Texas A&M University, July 8, 2009 at College Station and July 9, 2009 at Corpus Christi, Texas (oral
presentations by Liu).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE:
Products: See above.
Publications: See above.
Technology Transfer: See above.
FHP LEAD CONTACT:
Name
Fax
Steve Munson
Affiliation (Office or Dept.)
Phone, E-mail,
Group Leader/Entomologist
USDA Forest Service, FHP
4746 South 1900 East,
Ogden, UT 84403
801-476-9728
smunso[at]fs.fed.us
801-479-1477
FHP LEAD INVOLVEMENT:
Role
Time Commitment
Will provide administrative oversight and will assist with the
0.3 mo/yr
detection surveys in the Ogden area and the mark/recapture study in CA.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Name
Affiliation (Office or Dept.)
Fax
Phone, E-mail,
Steven J. Seybold
Principal Research Entomologist
USDA Forest Service,
Pacific Southwest Research Station
720 Olive Drive, Suite D
Davis, California 95616
530-297-1072
sseybold[at]s.fed.us
530-297-1098
Robert C. Venette
Research Biologist, Co-PI
USDA Forest Service
Northern Research Station
1561 Lindig Street
St. Paul, MN 55108
651-649-5028
rvenett[at]fs.fed.us
651-649-5055
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S) INVOLVEMENT:
Name
Role
Seybold will coordinate the project, will oversee and assist
with the trap range, trap efficiency, and detection surveys
and provide information on the biology of O. erosus.
Venette will design sampling guidelines and will assist with the
trap range, trap efficiency, and detection surveys in CA and UT.
COOPERATORS:
Name
Fax
Time Commitment
1 mo/yr
1 mo/yr
Affiliation (Office or Dept.)
Phone, E-mail,
Mary Louise Flint
Extension Specialist
Shade Tree Entomology
Department of Entomology
367 Briggs Hall, One Shields Ave.
UC-Davis
Davis, CA 95616
530-752-7692
mlflin[at]ucdavis.edu
530-752-9336
Deguang Liu
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Entomology
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA 95616
530-297-7041
dgliu[at]ucdavis.edu
530-297-1098
Beverly M. Bulaon
Entomologist
USDA Forest Service FHP
Stanislaus National Forest
Forest Health Protection
19777 Greenley Road
Sonora, CA 95370
209-532-3671 x323
bbulaon[at]fs.fed.us
209-532-1828
Carl Jørgensen
Entomologist
USDA Forest Service FHP
1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200
Boise, ID 83709
208-373-4225
cljorgensen[at]fs.fed.us
COOPERATOR INVOLVEMENT (add lines as necessary):
Name
Role
Time Commitment
Flint will direct outreach activities associated with the project
and serve as UCD administrative liaison for the project.
0.25 mo/yr
Liu will conduct dispersal assays, other behavioral assays
and the detection survey in CA.
4 mo/yr
Bulaon will assist with detection surveys in CA.
0.3 mo/yr
Jørgensen will assist with detection surveys in Boise, ID.
0.3 mo/yr
Appendix: Results of FY2009 Studies with the Mediterranean Pine Engraver (MPE)
Effective trapping range of baited funnel traps
From July to September of 2009, three mark-recapture trials with MPE were conducted to
assess the effective trapping range of the trap with the improved attractant. Canary Island
pine logs infested with MPE were collected on June 19, 2009 near Kingsburg, CA. In the
first two studies 2,800 beetles (1,400 of each sex) were released and lured to one trap.
Marked beetles were released at about 7:00 am on July 23 and 24 from 7 distances (2.5,
5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 m from the single central trap) from 4 release platforms at each
distance in the cardinal directions. In the first two trials of this year, the insects did not
respond well (5 to 9% recaptured), perhaps due to windy conditions at the extremely
open experimental site in Kettleman City, California. The third trial of this year was
conducted under more sheltered conditions at the Kearney Research and Education
Center in Parlier, California. Two thousand beetles (1,000 of each sex) were released.
Marked beetles were released at about 7:30 am on Sept. 3 from 5 distances (2.5, 5, 10,
20, and 40 m from the single central trap) from 4 release platforms at each distance in the
cardinal directions. A single trap with the improved attractant recaptured about 37, 35,
24, 25, and 15% of the beetles released from 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 m, respectively.
About 27% of released beetles were recaptured. The recapture rate was not as high as
expected. This lower than expected capture rate may have been associated with releasing
beetles that were stressed from cold storage conditions that occurred over a month in the
lab. The first two trials indicate that windy conditions (> 5 mph) might facilitate the
spread of MPE from the location of emergence to areas with ephemeral host materials.
The third trial shows that newly emerged beetles have greater flight potential that
increases host finding capabilities. However, beetle fitness could decrease with stress
from cold storage or previous flight activity.
Early Detection of MPE in 2009
Ten transects of funnel traps baited with the improved attractant were placed in Idaho (1
transect of 6 traps), Utah (1 transect of 6 traps), and California (8 transects, each with 10
traps). Transects were established in the first or second week of June and monitored
weekly or every two weeks until mid-September. Preliminary examination of the trap
catches from the Idaho and Utah traps showed that MPE was not caught at these
locations, but these samples will be evaluated in the fall/winter of 2009-2010. Trap
catches from California have been evaluated qualitatively (presence/absence of MPE at a
location), but quantitative evaluation (sex ratio, weekly trap catch rate) will take place in
fall/winter 2009-2010. Seven of the California transects (Fig. 1) were positioned so that
one or two trap sites were in areas with known population densities of MPE; the
remaining traps in these transects were placed upslope in national forest lands or in areas
where populations might be currently invading. One of the transects was positioned
along State Hwy 99 in the middle of the known distribution of MPE in the Central Valley
(positive control). Baits on all traps were replaced once in early August. Preliminary
examination of the samples indicates that MPE is as far north as Modesto (Fig. 1). The
beetle does not appear to be present along State Hwy 120 heading east toward Yosemite
National Park. Surprisingly, nearly all of the traps located east of Hwy 99 along Hwy
198 caught MPE, indicating that MPE now occurs in the Sequoia National Forest near the
boundary of Sequoia National Park. Transects heading south along Hwy 33 and
Interstate Hwy 5 suggest that MPE is still confined to the southern Central Valley floor
and has not begun moving upslope into native pinyon pine stands in the Tehachapi Mtns.
However, our final two CA transects, which originate on State Hwy 138 and in the city of
Lancaster, both indicate that a second population of MPE is present in the Antelope
Valley and is moving south into the Angeles National Forest. In 2010, we plan to install
transects that lead west out of the Central Valley and extending them to the east along
Hwy 198.
Trap Locations for Orthotomicus erosus in California
June-September, 2009
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+ Trap location with
Orthotomicus erosus
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Trap Locations for Orthotomicus erosus in Idaho and Utah
June-September, 2009
Trap location