Control of Ambrosia Beetle in Eucalyptus Stumps, 1984

• Published in: Insecticide and acaricide tests Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 351
• Main Authors: Schubert, Thomas H., Markin, George P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1987
• ISSN: 0276-3656
• DOI: 10.1093/iat/12.1.351

Three insecticides were tested to either prevent attack, or to control ambrosia beetles inside established galleries in newly cut Eucalyptus tree stumps. Tests were conducted at an experimental biomass plantation near Hilo, Hawaii, an area with a subtropical climate and average rainfall of 5000 mm/year. Tests were conducted in 2.4 ha of clearcut three-year old plantations containing 5 to 15 m tall trees ranging from 1667 to 6667 per ha. Stumps were 30 to 45 cm high and averaged 9 cm (range of 5 to 14 cm) diameter at tops. Stumps showing no evidence of attack were selected to test Sevin as a prophylactic treatment to prevent further attack. Stumps showing 15 or more galleries per stump, indicated by frass tubes protruding from the ends of the gallery, were used to test Malathion or Orthene to kill beetles established in galleries. Treatment was on 30 Oct, 25 days after harvesting. Insecticides were mixed in water and applied to 15 randomly selected stumps to the point of run off using a hand carried, compressed air sprayer. A third treatment began on 14 Nov, 45 days after harvesting on 200 lightly attacked stumps, half of which were randomly selected for treatment and the other half as checks. A combination of first Malathion, followed 2 weeks later by a treatment of Sevin was used. The same crew that selected the stumps for treatment conducted all post-spray counts. Applications were made in the morning and had at least 4 h to dry before the normal afternoon rain showers began. Rainfall during the period of treatment averaged 8.2 cm per week.