Flatheaded Borer Ecology and Management Strategies in Nursery and Landscape

Red maple is a popular ornamental shade tree well known for its stunning autumn foliage and fast growth rate. It is a popular choice for both residential and commercial landscapes, parks, and public places across the United States. However, flatheaded borer species in the genus Chrysobothris (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are some of the most damaging insects in red maple production, with infestations being most common on stressed and newly transplanted trees. In nurseries, \u27Brandywine\u27 red maples subjected to herbicide stress have been observed to experience flatheaded borer attacks, while the Freeman maple hybrid ‘Autumn Blaze’ was found resistant to flatheaded borers. There is little information available about the susceptibility of other red maple cultivars. To address this gap in knowledge, the primary objective of this study was to determine the physiological and biochemical changes in three red maple cultivars (‘Brandywine’, ‘Sun Valley’, and ‘October Glory’) and Freeman maple hybrid ‘Autumn Blaze’ following the application of two commonly used herbicides, Scythe (2.3%) and Roundup (0.8%). This study found that red maple response varied depending on the cultivar and treatment, with changes observed in physiological, and biochemical traits. A second objective of this study was to optimize purple sticky traps, previously determined to be effective for capturing flatheaded borers. To improve traps, optimal volatile lure type, trap type, and deployment height were determined. Sticky purple pole traps were more effective than Lindgren funnel traps for capturing Chrysobothris; and thus, had more potential for use in monitoring or possible management of infestations in nursery trees