Emerald Ash Borer Adult Feeding Behavior and Ash Tree Management Decision Modeling: Relationships Between Pest and Host Tolerance Gradients

Hunnicutt, Rachel E. M.S., Purdue University, December 2013. Emerald Ash Borer Adult Feeding Behavior and Ash Tree Management Decision Modeling: Relationships Between Pest and Host Tolerance Gradients. Major Professor: Jordan M. Marshall. Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, Buprestidae) is an invasive pest, introduced from Asia that attacks North American ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Trees often die from attack by emerald ash borer, whether they are growing vigorously or not, within a few years. Some ash do not succumb as easily to attack as other individuals, despite being within the same species. After emergence, both adult emerald ash borer males and females require maturation feeding, which may assist in suitable host finding for subsequent oviposition. I compared the amount of leaf area consumed by emerald ash borer adults between leaves from trees identified as low tolerant and high tolerant to attack. Freshly collected green ash (F. pennsylvanica) leaves were exposed to caged adult pairs (F:F, F:M, and M:M). There was no significant difference of leaf area fed on compared between the three categories of feeding pairs. However, when the data were pooled, significantly more low tolerant leaf area was consumed over high tolerant. This result suggests that emerald ash borer adults feed preferentially on low tolerant leaves.