Managing Bark and Ambrosia Beetles with Semiochemicals

Bark and ambrosia beetles are among the most important pests of forest and shade trees, and substantial basic and applied research has been devoted to the development of effective tools and tactics for their management.

A symposium focused on the application of behavioural chemicals for management of bark and ambrosia beetles was co-chaired by Drs. Steven J. Seybold and Christopher J. Fettig (United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station) in November 2018 at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, and the Entomological Society of British Columbia. Contributors included nine invited speakers from Canada, Slovakia, and the United States of America who summarised the current state of knowledge and latest technologies, and shared career-long experiences and insights. This special issue contains nine papers derived from contributions to the symposium (see below).

Dr. Steve J. Seybold (left) with his mentor Dr. David L. Wood

Sadly, Dr. Seybold passed away unexpectedly before this special issue was completed, and it now serves as a tribute to his legacy (see Fettig et al. 2021). Dr. Seybold’s research resulted in over 230 papers that collectively have been cited thousands of times. In short, he was a remarkable scientist, hardworking, and generous with his time and intellect. He will be missed by many.

A western pine beetle that is encapsulated in resin following attack of ponderosa pine (photo courtesy of Christopher J. Fettig)

Development of effective semiochemical-based management tools and tactics for bark and ambrosia beetles is tricky business. It not only requires strong knowledge of chemistry, chemical ecology, insect ecology, and forest ecology, but of the major semiochemical components of the system being studied and eventually the most efficacious blends, ratios, and release rates to impart the desired behavioural effect on the insect in the field. It involves substantial time, risk, and investment in research, development, and application, which are often significant barriers to success for minor use crops, such as trees, where returns on investments can be limited. Despite this, significant advances are being made, ranging from increases in understanding of the biochemistry of pheromone production in beetles to commercialisation of novel products for field applications.

Special issue on managing bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) with semiochemicals: honouring the remarkable career of Dr. Steven J. Seybold, published in The Canadian Entomologist, is free to access until March 31.

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