Bronze birch borer larvae and pupae were detected in small branches through the use of a portable X-ray unit. The optimum exposure time was 40 sec at 55 kV

Ball, John

Simmons, Gary

English

John Ball

Gary Simmons

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Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

ValpoScholar

The Great Lakes Entomologist 
Volume 17 
Number 4 - Winter 1984 Number 4 - Winter 
1984 
Article 7 
December 1984 
Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs 
(Coleoptera: Buprestidae) 
John Ball 
University of Minnesota Technical College 
Gary Simmons 
Michigan State University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Ball, John and Simmons, Gary 1984. "Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs 
(Coleoptera: Buprestidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 17 (4) 
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/7 
This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. 
For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 
1984 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 223 
DETECTION OF BRONZE BIRCH BORER LARVAE AND PUPAE 

BY RADIOGRAPHS (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) 

John Ball! and Gary Simmons2 
ABSTRACT 
Bronze birch borer larvae and pupae were detected in small branches through the use of 
a portable X-ray unit. The optimum exposure time was 40 sec at 55 kV. 
X-rays have been used in the detection of phloem and wood-boring insects for several 
decades. Much of the X-ray research has concentrated on the detection of bark beetles 
within wood and bark slabs, but some work has been published on the detection of other 
borers. Knight and Albertin (1965) successfully used a Picker 50 kV X-ray unit to study 
Oberea schaumii LeConte, a poplar (Populus spp.) twig borer. They also used the unit to 
detect various weevils and borers in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and aspen (P. 
tremuloides Michx.). John Beaton et al. (1972) used a Picker Ranger 100 for the detection 
of the red oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus Haldeman). 
X-rays can be used to detect phloem and wood-boring insects because generally there is 
a difference i  density between insects and wood (Maloy and Wilsey 1930). When two 
different objects arc radiographed fewer X-rays will pass through the denser object to be 
absorbed by radiosensitive emulsion of the film. The denser object will appear lighter than 
the other object when the negative is held before an X-ray illuminator. However, the 
density, hence the absorption to X-rays, changes throughout the life stages o  an insect. 
X-rays are partially absorbed by water and since larvae contain more water than do pupae 
and adults they are easier to detect (Havel 1974). Insect galleries are easily detected. Since 
they have extremely little absorption, they contrast both the borer and the wood (Berry­
man and Stark 1962). Frass packed galleries do absorb some X-rays but generally there is 
still adequate contrast among the borer. galleries, and surrounding wood. 
The objective of this study was to provide a quick, accurate, and nondestructive method 
of 
detecting bronze birch borer 
(Agrilus anxius Gory) larvae and pupae within European 
white birch (Betula pendula Roth) branches. 
METHODS 
The X-ray unit we selected was a Philips Practic with a mobile demountable stand. The 
accompanying control desk had adjustments for voltage and time. Voltage could be varied 
from 45 to 100 kV at 5-kV intervals. Time was adjustable from 0.08 to 5.0 sec. The 
exposure current was fixed at 20 mA. At the suggestion of Dr. Wortman of the Michigan 
State University Veterinary Radiology Clinic the film we used was Kodak RP/M X­
OMAT. 
During April and May 1982, branches were rcmoved from a dying European white 
birch. The branches were cut into 25-cm lengths, the diameter measured, then radio­
graphed at various kV's and exposure times. After the negatives were developed, the bark 
was stripped from the branches to determine if wc had detected all the borers. 
lHorticulture Technology Department, University of Minnesota Technical College, Waseca, MN 
56093. 
2Entomology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. 
1
Ball and Simmons: Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (
Published by ValpoScholar, 1984
224 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
At 65~85 
kV, our exposure time 
was approximately 20 sec; however image contrast 
was poor. At 45 kV, the exposure time was over 60 sec. Unfortunately, 
low rays are produced at that voltage to cause some secondary radiation. 
combat problem, a 3.6-mm lead filter was placed behind the film to absorb the 
secondary radiation. Stacey and Motherhead (1965) found secondary radiation could be 
much reduced by placing thin lead filters in front and behind the film, but we found the 
one filter more than adequate. Our final technique for radiographing bronze birch borer 
larvae in white birch branches was, for branches 18~38 mm in diameter, an 
exposure time f 40 sec at 55 k V, with a target-to-film distance of 75 cm. At this 
exposure, all larvae and pupae were clearly visible, even those that had formed a cell in 
the xylem. 
Our next step will be to determine exposures for penetrating larger diameter branches. 
Once these exposure times are obtained, field testing of the unit will begin. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
We 
would like to thank the staff 
of the Michigan State University Veterinary Radiology 
Clinic for their time and cooperation. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Beaton, J., W. White, and F. Berry. 1972. Radiography of trees and wood products. 
Material Evaluation. 30(10):14-17. 
Berryman, A. A. and R. W. Stark. 1962. Radiography in forest entomology. Ann. 
Entomol. Soc. Amer. 55:456-466. 
K. 
D. 1974. X-ray detection 
of insects in tree seed imports. p. 63-64 in Pro­
"""U1111',~ 
Seed X-ray Symposium. State and Private Forestry. 
Knight, B. and W. Albertin. 1965. Portable X-ray equipment in forest research. J. Forestry. 63:543~544. 
Maloy, T. P. and R. B. Wilsey. 1930. X-raying trees. Amer. Forest. 36:79~82. 
Stacey, S. S. and J. S. Motherhead. 1965. Applicability of radiography to inspection of 
wood products. p. 307~331 ill Second Symposium on Nondestructive Testing of Wood 
Products. 
2
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 7
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/7


Valparaiso University

The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 17 Number 4 - Winter 1984 Number 4 - Winter 1984 Article 7 December 1984 Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) John Ball University of Minnesota Technical College Gary Simmons Michigan State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Ball, John and Simmons, Gary 1984. "Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 17 (4) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/7 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 1984 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 223 DETECTION OF BRONZE BIRCH BORER LARVAE AND PUPAE BY RADIOGRAPHS (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) John Ball! and Gary Simmons2 ABSTRACT Bronze birch borer larvae and pupae were detected in small branches through the use of a portable X-ray unit. The optimum exposure time was 40 sec at 55 kV. X-rays have been used in the detection of phloem and wood-boring insects for several decades. Much of the X-ray research has concentrated on the detection of bark beetles within wood and bark slabs, but some work has been published on the detection of other borers. Knight and Albertin (1965) successfully used a Picker 50 kV X-ray unit to study Oberea schaumii LeConte, a poplar (Populus spp.) twig borer. They also used the unit to detect various weevils and borers in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and aspen (P. tremuloides Michx.). John Beaton et al. (1972) used a Picker Ranger 100 for the detection of the red oak borer (Enaphalodes rufulus Haldeman). X-rays can be used to detect phloem and wood-boring insects because generally there is a difference i  density between insects and wood (Maloy and Wilsey 1930). When two different objects arc radiographed fewer X-rays will pass through the denser object to be absorbed by radiosensitive emulsion of the film. The denser object will appear lighter than the other object when the negative is held before an X-ray illuminator. However, the density, hence the absorption to X-rays, changes throughout the life stages o  an insect. X-rays are partially absorbed by water and since larvae contain more water than do pupae and adults they are easier to detect (Havel 1974). Insect galleries are easily detected. Since they have extremely little absorption, they contrast both the borer and the wood (Berry­man and Stark 1962). Frass packed galleries do absorb some X-rays but generally there is still adequate contrast among the borer. galleries, and surrounding wood. The objective of this study was to provide a quick, accurate, and nondestructive method of detecting bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius Gory) larvae and pupae within European white birch (Betula pendula Roth) branches. METHODS The X-ray unit we selected was a Philips Practic with a mobile demountable stand. The accompanying control desk had adjustments for voltage and time. Voltage could be varied from 45 to 100 kV at 5-kV intervals. Time was adjustable from 0.08 to 5.0 sec. The exposure current was fixed at 20 mA. At the suggestion of Dr. Wortman of the Michigan State University Veterinary Radiology Clinic the film we used was Kodak RP/M X­OMAT. During April and May 1982, branches were rcmoved from a dying European white birch. The branches were cut into 25-cm lengths, the diameter measured, then radio­graphed at various kV's and exposure times. After the negatives were developed, the bark was stripped from the branches to determine if wc had detected all the borers. lHorticulture Technology Department, University of Minnesota Technical College, Waseca, MN 56093. 2Entomology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. 1Ball and Simmons: Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (Published by ValpoScholar, 1984224 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 17, No.4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION At 65~85 kV, our exposure time was approximately 20 sec; however image contrast was poor. At 45 kV, the exposure time was over 60 sec. Unfortunately, low rays are produced at that voltage to cause some secondary radiation. combat problem, a 3.6-mm lead filter was placed behind the film to absorb the secondary radiation. Stacey and Motherhead (1965) found secondary radiation could be much reduced by placing thin lead filters in front and behind the film, but we found the one filter more than adequate. Our final technique for radiographing bronze birch borer larvae in white birch branches was, for branches 18~38 mm in diameter, an exposure time f 40 sec at 55 k V, with a target-to-film distance of 75 cm. At this exposure, all larvae and pupae were clearly visible, even those that had formed a cell in the xylem. Our next step will be to determine exposures for penetrating larger diameter branches. Once these exposure times are obtained, field testing of the unit will begin. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We would like to thank the staff of the Michigan State University Veterinary Radiology Clinic for their time and cooperation. LITERATURE CITED Beaton, J., W. White, and F. Berry. 1972. Radiography of trees and wood products. Material Evaluation. 30(10):14-17. Berryman, A. A. and R. W. Stark. 1962. Radiography in forest entomology. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 55:456-466. K. D. 1974. X-ray detection of insects in tree seed imports. p. 63-64 in Pro­"""U1111',~ Seed X-ray Symposium. State and Private Forestry. Knight, B. and W. Albertin. 1965. Portable X-ray equipment in forest research. J. Forestry. 63:543~544. Maloy, T. P. and R. B. Wilsey. 1930. X-raying trees. Amer. Forest. 36:79~82. Stacey, S. S. and J. S. Motherhead. 1965. Applicability of radiography to inspection of wood products. p. 307~331 ill Second Symposium on Nondestructive Testing of Wood Products. 2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 17, No. 4 [1984], Art. 7https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol17/iss4/7

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Detection of Bronze Birch Borer Larvae and Pupae by Radiographs (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

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