Hale, Frank A.

Hansen, Jason A.

Klingeman, William E.

English

University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Trace

University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Commercial Horticulture UT Extension Publications 10-24-2011 SP503-I Insects: Identifying the Flatheaded Appletree Borer and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in Tennessee Jason A. Hansen Frank A. Hale William E. Klingeman Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_agexcomhort  Part of the Agricultural Science Commons, and the Agriculture Commons Recommended Citation "SP503-I Insects: Identifying the Flatheaded Appletree Borer and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in Tennessee," Jason A. Hansen, Frank A. Hale, and William E. Klingeman, SP503-I , https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_agexcomhort/36 The publications in this collection represent the historical publishing record of the UT Agricultural Experiment Station and do not necessarily reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information about UT Ag Research can be found at the UT Ag Research website. This Weed and Insect Management is brought to you for free and open access by the UT Extension Publications at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Commercial Horticulture by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact trace@utk.edu. InsectsSP503-IIntroduction	 The	flatheaded	appletree	borer,	Chrysobothris femorata	(Olivier)	(FHATB)	is	a	well-documented,	native	pest	of	deciduous	trees.	It	has	a	wide	host	range	and	is	particularly	problematic	in	commercial	nurseries	and	urban	landscapes,	where	it	can	cause	rapid	decline	of	economically	important	hosts.	When	infestations	are	high,	FHATB	has	been	known	to	attack	healthy	trees	as	well	as	those	stressed	by	drought,	plant	disease,	mechanical	injury	and	other	environmental	factors.	Its	distribution	is	ubiquitous,	covering	the	entire	continental	United	States	and	extending	into	Canada.Life History	 Throughout	its	range,	FHATB	completes	one	generation	per	year.	Adult	females	lay	eggs	on	the	sunny	side	of	trees	in	late	spring	and	throughout	the	summer	months,	ovipositing	after	a	meal	of	tender	bark	is	taken	from	the	host	plant.	Eggs	hatch	about	seven	days	later,	at	which	time	larvae	chew	through	the	bottom	of	the	egg	directly	into	the	host	tree,	avoiding	desiccation	and	Identifying the Flatheaded Appletree Borer (Chrysobothris femorata) and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in TennesseeJason A. Hansen, Frank A. Hale1, Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, and William E. Klingeman, Associate Professor, Plant Sciences1	Corresponding	Author:	Frank	Hale,	University	of	Tennessee	Soil,	Plant	and	Pest	Center,	5201	Marchant	Drive,	Nashville,	TN	37211-5112.	Email:	fahale@utk.edupredation.	Inside	the	host,	larvae	feed	on	the	actively	dividing	cambium	tissues,	in	addition	to	sapwood.	Galleries,	which	are	feeding	paths	made	by	larvae,	maintain	optimal	humidity	for	larval	growth.	Feeding	activity	continues	even	in	cold	winter	months	on	sun-warmed	portions	of	the	trunk.	When	fully	developed,	larvae	bore	into	the	heartwood	and	form	pupal	chambers	with	entrances	that	are	tightly	plugged	with	frass.	Frass	appears	as	sawdust	particles	after	passage	of	the	plant	tissues	through	the	beetle	digestive	tract.	Pupation	occurs	in	late	spring	to	early	summer	and	lasts	1-2	weeks,	after	which	the	adult	emerges	by	cutting	a	distinctive	D-shaped	exit	hole	in	the	bark	(Fig.	1).Photo by Frank Hale, Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of TennesseeDamage Symptoms	 The	most	serious	injury	to	host	plants	is	caused	by	larval	feeding	activity	beneath	the	bark	that	damages	the	cambium	layer	and	disrupts	the	flow	of	vital	nutrients	throughout	the	tree.	A	single	larva	is	capable	of	girdling	a	young	tree	within	one	season.	Evidence	of	larval	activity	can	be	found	under	bark	of	infested	trees	as	sinuous	feeding	tunnels	packed	with	frass	(Fig.	2).	Portions	of	the	trunk	may	show	signs	of	infestation	by	noticeable	oozing	of	sap.	Trees	that	survive	borer	attacks	are	often	left	scarred	and	unmarketable	(Fig.	3).	 By	contrast,	adult	feeding	activity	typically	causes	little	damage,	though	there	have	been	reports	of	trees	being	completely	defoliated	by	FHATB	when	beetle	population	densities	are	unusually	high.	Adult	beetles	can	also	gnaw	on	woody	tissues	in	branch	crotches,	around	bud	scars	and	at	the	base	of	leaf	petioles.Identification	 Legless	larvae	are	readily	recognized	by	their	flattened,	sclerotized	(hardened)	thoracic	area,	with	the	remainder	of	body	segments	having	a	slightly	off-white	color	(Fig.	4)		 Adult	beetles	are	often	described	as	“bullet-shaped”	and	are	about	0.3–0.6	inches	long,	with	large	compound	eyes.	From	above,	the	back	of	FHATB	is	ornamented	with	several	irregular	brassy	spots	(Fig.	5).	Beneath	the	wings,	Photo by Frank Hale, Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of TennesseeFigure 4.  Larva of FHATB. Photo by Joshua Basham, TSU Otis Floyd Nursery Research Station, McMinnville, TNthe	abdomen	is	a	metallic	purple,	while	the	ventral	surface	is	metallic	bronze.	Forelegs	of	male	beetles	are	armed	with	several	small	teeth	(Fig.	6).	Antennae	are	a	dark	reddish	color,	11-segmented,	with	the	last	segment	tapering	apically	(Fig.	7).		 The	FHATB	is	part	of	a	larger	species	complex	in	which	all	the	members	have	a	similar	appearance	(Fig.	5).	In	most	cases,	it	is	difficult	to	determine	which	species	is	Figure 2.  Frass-filled galleries. Photo by Nadeer Youssef, TSU Otis Floyd Nursery Research Station, McMinnville, TNpresent	in	the	field	without	closer	microscopic	examination.	Some	can	be	separated	using	characters	on	the	face	of	the	beetle	(Fig.	8).	There	is	some	genetic	evidence	that	interbreeding	may	be	occurring	between	different	species	in	this	complex.	Eight	members	of	this	group	occur	in	the	southeastern	U.S.	and	it	is	still	unclear	which	of	them,	in	Figure 5.  Chrysobothris femorata complex and others buprestids similar in appearance:A) C. femorata, B) C. adelpha, C) C. rugosiceps, D) C. viridiceps, E) C. quadriimpressa, F) C. shawnee, G) C. cribaria, H) C. sexsignata, and I) C. wintu (western U.S. species, not found in Tennessee). Photos by Jason Hansen, University of TennesseeFigure 6.  Male foreleg characteristics of select Chrysobothris species: A) C. sexsignata, with smooth foreleg and B) C. femorata, with spined teeth (arrow). Photos by Jason Hansen, University of TennesseeFigure 7.  Antennal comparison of two species in the Chrysobothris femorata “species complex”: A) Chrysobothris rugosiceps, with last antennal segment quadrate and B) C. femorata, with last antennal segment tapered. Photos by Jason Hansen, University of Tennesseeaddition	to	FHATB,	may	be	economic	and	aesthetic	threats.	Plant	host	range	is	known	to	overlap	significantly	within	this	group	and	correct	identification	is	important	before	control	strategies	are	implemented.	Management Options  •	 Monitoring	–	populations	of	FHATB	can	be	surveyed	using	purple	panel	traps	(Fig.	9)	covered	with	adhesive	pastes	(eg.	Pestick®		or	Tanglefoot®)	starting	mid-April.	This	new	trapping	method	attracts	a	wide	range	of	buprestids,	including	many	in	the	Chrysobothris femorata	complex,	and	it	is	important	to	know	which	pest	species	is	a	problem	when	checking	them	(Figs.	5	&	10).	If	males	are	trapped,	genitalia	can	easily	be	used	to	separate	the	six	most	common	species	in	the	southeastern	U.S.	(Fig.	11).	Alternatively,	trees	can	be	inspected	on	an	individual	basis	to	determine	presence	of	injury	in	early	spring	before	emergence	begins.	•	 Cultural	control	–	Proper	plant	management	and	maintenance	are	extremely	important,	as	borers	prefer	to	attack	stressed	or	dying	trees,	while	tending	to	avoid	vigorously	growing	specimens.	•	 Biological	control	–	Natural	predators	can	play	a	significant	role	in	reducing	infestations,	by	causing	reductions	of	borer	populations	ranging	from	7	to	58	percent,	depending	on	environmental	conditions.	Though	not	commercially	available,	several	species	of	wasps	that	have	been	reported	to	attack	FHATB,	including	Labena grallator Say,	Cryptohelcostizus	chrysobothridis	Cushman	(Hymenoptera:	Ichneumonidae);	Phasgonophora sulcata	Westwood	(Hymenoptera:	Chalicidae);	Eusandalum spp.	(Hymenoptera:	Eupelmidae);	Heterospilus astigmus Ash.	and	Atanycolus rugosiventris	Ash.	(Hymenoptera:	Braconidae),	may	occur	in	Tennessee.	Beetles	from	the	clerid	family	(Chariessa pilosa	Forst.,	C. pilosa onusta	Say)	as	well	as	an	asilid	fly	(Andrenosoma fulvicauda	Say)	have	also	been	reared	from	FHATB.•	 Chemical	control	–	Several	pesticides	are	available	to	treat	for	FHATB	by	drench	treatments	applied	from	February	to	mid-April	that	include	imidicloprid	(e.g.,	Merit	2F®,	Merit	75WSP®,	Bayer	Advanced	Tree	&	Shrub	Insect	Control®	for	ornamental	uses	in	landscapes)	used	either	alone	or	in	addition	to	cyfluthrin	(e.g.,	Discus®	for	use	in	commercial	nurseries)	or	bifenthrin	(e.g.,	Allectus	SC®	for	ornamental	uses	in	landscapes)	or	Allectus	GC	SC®,	which	is	labeled	for	use	on	golf	courses	and	sod	farms.	Adult	beetles	can	be	controlled	by	spraying	tree	trunks	in	early	May	and	mid-June	when	borers	are	at	peak	emergence	with	permethrin	(e.g,	Astro®	for	ornamental	uses	in	landscapes,	Perm-Up	3.2	®	for	use	in	commercial	nurseries),	bifenthrin	(Onyx®	for	ornamental	uses	in	landscapes,	Onyx	Pro®	for	use	in	commercial	nurseries),	or	chlorpyrifos	(Dursban	4E®,	Dursban	50W®	for	use	in	commercial	nurseries).	Related References & Additional Reading:Fenton	FA.	1942.	The	flatheaded	apple	tree	borer	(Chrysobothris femorata	(Olivier)).	Bull.	B-259.Oklahoma	Agricultural	Experiment	Station,	Stillwater.	31p.Fisher,	WS	1942.	A	revision	of	the	North	American	species	of	Buprestid	beetles	belonging	to	the	tribe	Chrysobothrini.	United	States	Department	of	Agriculture	Miscellaneous	Publication	470:	1-274.Hansen,	J.,	W.E.	Klingeman,	J.K.	Moulton,	J.B.	Oliver	and	M.T.	Windham.	2008.	Species	variation	within	the	Chrysobothris femorata	“complex”	(Flatheaded	Appletree	Borer):	evidence	and	implications	of	DNA	sequencing.	Proc.	Ann.	Res.	Conf.	Southern	Nursery	Assoc.	53:	320-323.Oliver	J,	DC	Fare,	N	Youssef	and	W	Klingeman.	2004.	Collection	of	adult	flatheaded	borers	using	multicolored	traps.	Southern	Nursery	Association	Proceedings.	48:	193-199.Figure 8.  Face of four common species in the Chrysobothris femorata “species complex” with distinguishing characters indicated (arrows): A) Chrysobothris viridiceps male, B) C. rugosiceps male, with irregular purple spots, C) C. femorata male, with semicircular clypeus (compare with D) and deeply cut central notch, and D) C. adelpha male, with clypeus having a more straight angle, rather than semicircular (compare with C). Photos by Jason Hansen, University of TennesseePotter	D.A.,	GM	Timmons	and	FC	Gordon.	1988.	Flatheaded	apple	tree	borer	(Coleoptera:	Buprestidae)	in	nursery-grown	red	maples:	phenology	of	emergence,	treatment	timing,	and	response	to	stressed	trees.	J.	Environ.	Hort.	6(1):	18-22.Wellso,	SG	and	GV	Manley.	2007.	A	revision	of	the	Chrysobothris femorata	(Olivier,	1790)	species	group	from	North	America,	north	of	Mexico	(Coleoptera:	Buprestidae).	Zootaxa	1652:	1-26.Wygant	ND.	1938.	The	relation	of	insects	to	shelterbelt	plantations	in	the	Great	Plains.	Journal	of	Forestry	36(10):	1011-1018.Figure 9.  A purple panel trap design, which was first developed by Jason Oliver and others at the Tennessee State University’s Otis Floyd Nursery Research Station in McMinnville, TN. Photo by Nadeer Youssef, TSU Otis Floyd Nursery Research Station, McMinnville, TNFigure 10.  Common buprestids attracted to purple panel traps in Tennessee: A) Acmaeodera pulchella, B) A. tubulus, C) Ptosima gibbicollis, D) Chrysobothris azurea, E) C. femorata, F) Agrilus bilineatus, G) C. dentipes, H) Buprestis lineata, and I) Dicerca obscura. Photos by Jason Hansen, University of TennesseeFigure 11.  Genitalia charateristics of adult male Chrysobothris beetles are critical identification guides for differentiating species within the Chrysobothris femorata “species complex.” Examples of species collected on purple panel traps in Tennessee include: A) Chrysobothris viridiceps, with constriction (arrow) near the apex of one lobe of the genitalia, B) C. rugosiceps. tip of aedeagus (arrow) slightly narrower than the tips on adjacent lobes, C) C. femorata, with the tip of aedeagus broad (arrow), D) C. adelpha, with spines (arrow) protruding perpendicularly to lateral lobes, E) C. shawnee, with narrow lateral lobes that gradually taper to the tip, and F) C. quadriimpressa, with lateral lobes constricted (arrow) behind strong lateral bulges. Photos by Jason Hansen, University of Tennessee Precautionary Statement	 To	protect	people	and	the	environment,	pesticides	should	be	used	safely.	This	is	everyone’s	responsibility,	especially	the	user.	Read	and	follow	label	directions	carefully	before	you	buy,	mix,	apply,	store	or	dispose	of	a	pesticide.	According	to	laws	regulating	pesticides,	they	must	be	used	only	as	directed	by	the	label.	Persons	who	do	not	obey	the	law	will	be	subject	to	penalties.	Disclaimer Statement	 This	publication	contains	pesticide	recommendations	that	are	subject	to	change	at	any	time.	The	recommendations	in	this	publication	are	provided	only	as	a	guide.	It	is	always	the	pesticide	applicator’s	responsibility,	by	law,	to	read	and	follow	all	current	label	directions	for	the	specific	pesticide	being	used.	The	label	always	takes	precedence	over	the	recommendations	found	in	this	publication.		 Use	of	trade	or	brand	names	in	this	publication	is	for	clarity	and	information;	it	does	not	imply	approval	of	the	product	to	the	exclusion	of	others	that	may	be	of	similar,	suitable	composition,	nor	does	it	guarantee	or	warrant	the	standard	of	the	product.	The	author(s),	the	University	of	Tennessee	Institute	of	Agriculture	and	University	of	Tennessee	Extension	assume	no	liability	resulting	from	the	use	of	these	recommendations.SP503-I   09-0198Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development.University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating.UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

SP503-I Insects: Identifying the Flatheaded Appletree Borer and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in Tennessee

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SP503-I Insects: Identifying the Flatheaded Appletree Borer and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in Tennessee

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