Agroforestry Systems (2017) 91, 415-421

Esteban Ceriani-Nakamurakare, Mariel Slodowicz, Cecilia Carmaran and Paola Gonzalez-Audino (2017)
Development of natural waxes dispensers for pheromones and use in mating disruption of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus in poplar (Populus spp) plantations
Agroforestry Systems 91 (3), 415-421
Abstract: Megaplatypus mutatus (= Platypus mutatus) (Chapuis) is an ambrosia beetle native to South America that attacks live trees, mining deeply into the xylem through large tunnels. This activity weakens the structural integrity of the tree, causing severe stem-breakage and mortality. Attacks are initiated by pioneer males that select a host tree and build short nuptial galleries, to which they attract females using a sexual pheromone. Previously, we showed the potential for the strategy of pheromone-mediated mating disruption of M. mutatus in commercial poplar and hazelnut plantations in South America and Europe using polyethylene reservoir dispensers for pheromones. In the present work we replaced the polymeric reservoir dispensers by monolithic dispensers made by dispersion of the pheromone in natural waxes and the addition of kaolin and we found that: prior to pheromone deployment, the mean number of galleries per tree did not differ significantly between the control and treated plots and the same was observed after the mating disruption treatment for the control plot but not for treated plots, where the mean number of galleries were reduced. These findings confirm that mating disruption is a viable tool for management of M. mutatus in poplar plantations. Using natural wax dispensers has obvious advantages from an environmental point of view.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Paola Gonzalez Audino

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Megaplatypus mutatus	Poplar/aspen (Populus)