Xylosandrus germanus, commonly known as the black stem borer (BSB), is an invasive ambrosia beetle that has recently become a significant pest in New York apple orchards. BSB attacks are difficult for growers to manage for multiple reasons. The main challenge is the beetle's cryptic life history, as it spends most of its life inside trees, where it is protected from insecticides. Additionally, insecticide treatments currently depend on regional population monitoring to predict attacks and time insecticide sprays for high flight activity. While it is known that BSB emergence is mediated by temperature, further research is needed to understand the extent to which temperature influences beetle flight activity for effective pest control. We conducted a flight mill experiment in which BSB foundress females were exposed to various temperature treatments to directly assess how temperature impacts flight. To support laboratory findings, we conducted a field trial using ethanol traps placed at the orchard edges during the beetle's peak flight period. Traps were deployed at 8 am and checked every two hours until 8 pm for 10 days. We assessed the timing of flight and preferences for temperature and humidity. Understanding the flight behavior of this novel pest is crucial for apple growers in New York State to effectively target BSB without the overuse of insecticides. This knowledge has the potential to reduce insecticide usage, yield cost savings for growers, and provide environmental benefits.
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