Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Circulionidae: Scolytinae) Invasion in Eastern U.S. Forests

The non-native redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), has recently emerged as a significant pest of southeastern U.S. coastal forests. Specifically, a fungal symbiont (Raffaelea sp.) of X. glabratus has caused mortality of redbay (Persea borboni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental entomology 2008-04, Vol.37 (2), p.442-452
Main Authors: Koch, F. H, Smith, W. D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ambrosia beetle
ambrosia beetles
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
climate matching
climatic factors
Coleoptera - physiology
Community and Ecosystem Ecology
cost-weighted distance
Demography
ecological invasion
Ecosystem
forest pests
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
geographical distribution
host plants
invasive species
Persea
Persea borbonia
pest infestation
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
plant density
Protozoa. Invertebrates
Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys
redbay
Sassafras albidum
spatial distribution
temporal variation
Time Factors
Trees
United States
Xyleborus
Xyleborus glabratus
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Summary:The non-native redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), has recently emerged as a significant pest of southeastern U.S. coastal forests. Specifically, a fungal symbiont (Raffaelea sp.) of X. glabratus has caused mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees in the region; several other Lauraceae species also seem susceptible. Although the range of X. glabratus continues to expand rapidly, little is known about the species’ biology and behavior. In turn, there has been no broad-scale assessment of the threat it poses to eastern U.S. forests. To provide a basic information framework, we performed analyses exploiting relevant spatio-temporal data available for X. glabratus. First, we mapped the densities of redbay and sassafras from forest inventory data. Second, we used climate matching to delineate potential geographic limits for X. glabratus. Third, we used county infestation data to estimate the rate of spread and modeled spread through time, incorporating host density as a weighting factor. Our results suggest that (1) key areas with high concentrations of redbay have yet to be invaded, but some are immediately threatened; (2) climatic conditions may serve to constrain X. glabratus to the southeastern U.S. coastal region; and (3) if unchecked, X. glabratus may spread throughout the range of redbay in
ISSN:0046-225X
1938-2936
DOI:10.1603/0046-225X%282008%2937%5B442%3ASAOXGC%5D2.0.CO%3B2