1975 Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 193-202
To determine the feasibility of using radiation for the disinfestation of timbers, the radiosensitivity of three species of ambrosia beetles, Xylosandrus germanus, Xylosandrus compactus and Xyleborus semiopacus was studied. Lethal doses on the female adults determined on 12 days after gamma irradiation showed the LD50 and LD99 to be 39krad and 73krad for Xylosandrus compactus, 50krad and 91krad for Xylosandrus germanus and 94krad and 130krad for Xyleborus semiopacus. Doses required for inhibition of adult emergence of three species were 3krad for the 5-day-old eggs, 5-7krad for the 3rd-instar larvae and more than 10krad for the pupae. The sterilizing dose was 2-4krad for all developmental stages of three species. When the female adults mated soon after emergence were exposed to 2-4krad, Xylosandrus germanus and Xylosandrus compactus were found to produce only males in the next generation. The ambrosia beetles were sterilized with considerably lower doses than the bark beetle, Cryphalus fulvus was. Boring capacity as well as F1-adult emergence appeared to be effectively inhibited when adults and pupae of the ambrosia beetles were irradiated with 10-30krad.
