D3431: Phenology, voltinism and brood development of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus in New York

The exotic wood boring ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), native to Asia, constructs galleries in the sapwood of stressed woody hosts where it cultures symbiotic fungi as a food source for its offspring. Overwintered adult females initiate new galleries in the spring and subsequently adult daughters typically disperse, after mating with male siblings, to initiate new galleries. A wide range of woody hosts are attacked including in fruit and nut orchards and ornamental nurseries. In western New York, damaging infestations of X. germanus were first reported in 2013 in commercial apple orchards. Current studies on the field phenology of X. germanus reared outdoors in wood bolts indicate two and a partial third generation are possible in west-central New York, with beetle flight extending from mid-April through mid-September. Additional information on the duration of individual generations over two years, brood sizes and the phenology of brood development will be presented.