Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
As Spring approaches, our team is preparing to launch a study on monitoring of the black turpentine beetle in Gainesville, Florida. The black turpentine beetle is a native bark beetle which is frequently a pest of stressed or injured pine trees. It is particularly effective at attacking non-native pines, raising concern over potential effects of any future introduction to new habitats.
Simon Ernstsons will conduct trapping and test a variety of semiochemicals at a site on the University’s campus in order to develop an effective lure. The work has been funded by Synergy Semiochemicals.