Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt
In the last decade in South Florida, approximately 200,000 avocado trees have succumbed to laurel wilt (LW), a fungal disease vectored by ambrosia beetles. Sanitation (e.g., pruning, stumping, and removal of LW–affected trees) and replanting with young trees are cultural practices currently used by...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/3/547 |
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| author | Octavio Menocal Paul E. Kendra Armando Padilla Pollyana C. Chagas Edvan A. Chagas Jonathan H. Crane Daniel Carrillo |
| author_facet | Octavio Menocal Paul E. Kendra Armando Padilla Pollyana C. Chagas Edvan A. Chagas Jonathan H. Crane Daniel Carrillo |
| author_sort | Octavio Menocal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last decade in South Florida, approximately 200,000 avocado trees have succumbed to laurel wilt (LW), a fungal disease vectored by ambrosia beetles. Sanitation (e.g., pruning, stumping, and removal of LW–affected trees) and replanting with young trees are cultural practices currently used by avocado growers to reduce the incidence of LW. Surveillance in these managed orchards suggests a decline in ambrosia beetle abundance, and previous research determined that female flight activity is influenced by light intensity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of three canopy covers (i.e., full canopy, topworked, and new planting) on ambrosia beetle abundance. A total of 28,184 individuals, representing 15 species within <i>Scolytinae</i> and <i>Platypodinae</i>, were captured passively in three LW–affected avocado orchards over a one-year period. Full canopy cover exhibited the highest number of beetles and the lowest light intensity. The opposite was found for topworked and new planting covers. Additionally, we documented the effect of meteorological factors on the flight dispersal of five species known to vector the LW pathogen. The flight activity of <i>Xylosandrus crassiusculus</i> and <i>Xyleborinus saxesenii</i> was highly influenced by abiotic factors (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.50), especially solar radiation, whereas the flight of <i>Xyleborus affinis</i>, <i>Xyleborus volvulus</i>, and <i>Xyleborus bispinatus</i> was only partially explained by climatic variables (0.20 < <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> < 0.30). Our results indicate that reducing canopy cover, thereby increasing light intensity, suppresses ambrosia beetle abundance, especially for species associated with the LW pathogen. Abiotic factors play a critical role in the dispersal of invasive species (<i>X. crassiusculus</i> and <i>X. saxesenii</i>), but their effect is less pronounced on native species (<i>X. affinis</i>, <i>X. volvulus</i>, and <i>X. bispinatus</i>). Canopy management alters the microclimatic conditions in avocado orchards, affecting ambrosia beetle abundance and flight activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:14:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6deba769bd84736a9253d343717c89b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:14:03Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6deba769bd84736a9253d343717c89b2023-11-24T00:06:43ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-02-0112354710.3390/agronomy12030547Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel WiltOctavio Menocal0Paul E. Kendra1Armando Padilla2Pollyana C. Chagas3Edvan A. Chagas4Jonathan H. Crane5Daniel Carrillo6Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USAUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, USDA-ARS, 13601 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33158, USATropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USATropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USATropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USATropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USATropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USAIn the last decade in South Florida, approximately 200,000 avocado trees have succumbed to laurel wilt (LW), a fungal disease vectored by ambrosia beetles. Sanitation (e.g., pruning, stumping, and removal of LW–affected trees) and replanting with young trees are cultural practices currently used by avocado growers to reduce the incidence of LW. Surveillance in these managed orchards suggests a decline in ambrosia beetle abundance, and previous research determined that female flight activity is influenced by light intensity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of three canopy covers (i.e., full canopy, topworked, and new planting) on ambrosia beetle abundance. A total of 28,184 individuals, representing 15 species within <i>Scolytinae</i> and <i>Platypodinae</i>, were captured passively in three LW–affected avocado orchards over a one-year period. Full canopy cover exhibited the highest number of beetles and the lowest light intensity. The opposite was found for topworked and new planting covers. Additionally, we documented the effect of meteorological factors on the flight dispersal of five species known to vector the LW pathogen. The flight activity of <i>Xylosandrus crassiusculus</i> and <i>Xyleborinus saxesenii</i> was highly influenced by abiotic factors (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.50), especially solar radiation, whereas the flight of <i>Xyleborus affinis</i>, <i>Xyleborus volvulus</i>, and <i>Xyleborus bispinatus</i> was only partially explained by climatic variables (0.20 < <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> < 0.30). Our results indicate that reducing canopy cover, thereby increasing light intensity, suppresses ambrosia beetle abundance, especially for species associated with the LW pathogen. Abiotic factors play a critical role in the dispersal of invasive species (<i>X. crassiusculus</i> and <i>X. saxesenii</i>), but their effect is less pronounced on native species (<i>X. affinis</i>, <i>X. volvulus</i>, and <i>X. bispinatus</i>). Canopy management alters the microclimatic conditions in avocado orchards, affecting ambrosia beetle abundance and flight activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/3/547abiotic factorscanopy managementcanopy opennessdecision tree analysismicroclimate<i>Persea americana</i> |
| spellingShingle | Octavio Menocal Paul E. Kendra Armando Padilla Pollyana C. Chagas Edvan A. Chagas Jonathan H. Crane Daniel Carrillo Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt Agronomy abiotic factors canopy management canopy openness decision tree analysis microclimate <i>Persea americana</i> |
| title | Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt |
| title_full | Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt |
| title_short | Influence of Canopy Cover and Meteorological Factors on the Abundance of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Avocado Orchards Affected by Laurel Wilt |
| title_sort | influence of canopy cover and meteorological factors on the abundance of bark and ambrosia beetles coleoptera curculionidae in avocado orchards affected by laurel wilt |
| topic | abiotic factors canopy management canopy openness decision tree analysis microclimate <i>Persea americana</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/3/547 |
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