Efficacy of commercially available nozzle-type insecticide against an ambrosia beetle, Platypus quercivorus, boring into living tree trunks

Abstract

A commercially available nozzle-type insecticide was applied to kill the ambrosia beetle, Platypus quercivorus, boring into the trunks of living trees. The insecticide was injected using the nozzle attached to the commercial product into the holes created by P. quercivorus adults on the trunks of several Fagaceae tree species and frass ejection from the holes was observed weekly for 4 to 6 weeks post-injection. We also tested two types of holes created at different times. Regardless of the tree species or hole types, frass ejection rates in the final observations of the respective experiments were remarkably low (0–10%) in the treated holes, whereas the untreated holes showed high ejection rates (25–89%). Therefore, we concluded that the control method using the nozzle-type insecticide is highly effective in killing P. quercivorus dwelling in tree trunks.