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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Using GIS to develop pest management tools for wood boring beetles in southern nurseries |
Project Director (PD):
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Lead State: TX Lead Organization: Texas A&M University |
| Undesignated Funding: $24,472 |
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Start Date: May-01-2011 End Date: Jun-30-2012 |
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Pests Involved: Cerambycidae, Scolytidae, Buprestidae |
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Summary:
Wood boring beetles including species in the families Cerambycidae, Buprestidae and Curculionidae:Scolitinae can cause significant damage and plant losses in southern tree nurseries. Although attacks by these species do not always result in tree mortality, tree growth and quality can be seriously reduced. Effective management of wood boring pests requires an integration of control tactics including good cultural practices to avoid plant stress, good crop sanitation practices to reduce starting populations, and the use of commercially available insecticides when necessary. Because of the intense production system in which trees are grown and the occurrence of several species of recently introduced pests, many growers rely on pesticide sprays to protect their tree crops. To effectively protect trees with chemicals, insecticides must either: a) have long residual activity, b) be applied repeatedly during the season, or c) be closely timed with periods of high attack risk. Pest management that is based on the life habits of the potential pest species and is closely timed with insect attack provides the most effective, economical and environmentally sound control of wood boring insects. Based on the above and with funding from the Southeast Texas Nursery Growers Association and USDA-APHIS Cooperative Agricultural Pest Program, we have collected six-years of geo-referenced data on the abundance and distribution of all key wood boring beetle species in five localities in southern Texas. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides a mean to identify landscape factors associated with the observed pest abundance patterns that will be used to develop pest management strategies that reduce risk and minimize plant losses. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve management decisions for wood boring insect control in southern nurseries. The objectives of the proposed work are to 1) determine the seasonal abundance of the key wood boring insect pests using six-year survey data, 2) identify landscape features associated with patterns of wood boring beetle abundance in nurseries, and 3) develop and distribute a pest management guide for wood boring beetles in southern nurseries. Results obtained from this project will ultimately increase effectiveness (and reduce cost) of integrated pest management systems against wood boring insects in the southern region.
Objectives: The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to improve management decisions for wood boring insect control in nurseries in the southeastern states using modern tools. The specific objectives of the proposed work are to 1) determine the seasonal abundance of the key wood boring insect pests using data from a six year survey, 2) identify landscape features associated with patterns of wood boring beetle abundance in nurseries to better predict conditions favoring attacks, and 3) develop and distribute an online pest management guide for wood boring beetles in southern nurseries. We have collected, processed and identified all wood boring species in the families Cerambycidae, Buprestidae, and Curculionidae: Scolitinae from five commercial nurseries in five counties in southeastern Texas to complete objective 1. Geo-referenced information will be collected from local and state government and in combination with survey data will be used to complete objective 2. Using the above information, currently available literature and reviews from peers, a pest management guide will be written and published to complete objective 3. Although the data originates from southeast Texas, the results and their interpretation will be useful and applicable to nurseries across the southern region. |
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