Host preferences of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) in Florida

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic wood-boring insect that vectors Raffaelea lauricola, the fungal pathogen responsible for laurel wilt disease. Laurel wilt is a newly-described vascular disease of U.S. trees in the family Lauraceae. Laurel wilt has caused extensive mortality of native Persea species , particularly redbay (P. borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris), and now poses an imminent threat to commercial avocado (P. americana) in south Florida. As part of research to identify host-based attractants for X. glabratus, comparative studies were initiated to determine host preferences among the dominant species of Lauraceae that occur in south Florida sympatrically with avocado. We report the results of field tests and laboratory bioassays that assess relative attraction and boring behaviors of female X. glabratus for freshly-cut wood bolts of avocado, redbay, swampbay, silkbay (P. humilis), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), and lancewood (Ocotea coriacea).