Assessing the Flight Capabilities of the Goldspotted Oak Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) With Computerized Flight Mills

• DOI: 10.1603/ec13525
• Publication Date: 2014-04-02T10:03:56Z
• Authors: Vanessa M. Lopez; Michael N. McClan...; Laurie Graham; Mark S. Hoddle
• Keywords: Male; 0106 biological sciences; 2. Zero hunger; Aging; Reproduction; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; California; Coleoptera; Flight, Animal; Animals; Female; Animal Distribution

The goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is native to southern Arizona and an invasive wood-boring beetle that has caused considerable mortality species in California. Assessing the dispersal capabilities of this woodborer may help determine its potential environmental economic risk within invaded region, possibly assist with development species-specific management strategies. flight performance A. adults under different age, mating, nutritional status was assessed by tethering individuals computerized mills for a 24-h trial period collect information on total distance flown, times velocities, number duration bouts, postflight weight. body size (i.e., elytron length) had significant influence overall performance. Mating gender no distance, duration, velocity, bout time. Significant interactions between age were observed auroguttatus, decreased activity old (≈6 d age) starved during period. Overall, results these mill assays indicate unable disperse long distances across habitats lack suitable hosts. This work supports hypothesis human-aided transportation via infested firewood from Sonoran desert likely initial introduction, subsequent satellite infestations California's woodlands.