In irrigated hybrid poplars grown in eastern Washington and Oregon, wood-boring insects constitute the primary insect pests of economic importance. The Poplar-and-Willow Borer (PWB) Cryptorhynchus lapathi (Curculionidae), and Carpenterworm Moth (CW) Prionoxystus robiniae (Cossidae) are two woodborers that damage trees when they burrow into the xylem; which discolors wood, allows for entry of pathogens, and attributes to trees breaking in high wind. For the hybrid poplar growers this type of damage translates into a loss of revenue whether the final end product is for paper pulp or non-structural saw timber. These woodborers are a concern and at this time there is no viable solution to control PWB and CW at the scale of these farms.

Our aim is twofold: 1) to better understand the life cycles of these two pests in the context of hybrid poplars grown in eastern Washington and Oregon, and 2) develop an IPM strategy that will exploit weaknesses in the pest’s life cycle within the hybrid poplar agroforestry context. Specifically, we will continue to survey infested stands for possible biological control agents; use our understanding of the pest’s life cycle to develop strategies that target use of alternative insecticides at more effective temporal and spatial scales; and develop a preventative cultural control process that will screen for clonal host plant resistance as they are in the process of being selected for production. Our objective is to develop solutions that are amenable to being implemented in large-scale irrigated commercial production.