Photographer: Michael C. Thomas Affiliation:lorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Source:www.bugwood.org Copyright: CC BY-NC 3.0
Adult Description: The redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) is a dark colored, bullet shaped beetle with small puncture-like dents covering the elytra, and is 2 mm long when mature. The redbay ambrosia beetle is a member of the family Curculionidae along with weevils, which can be identified with a characteristic snout representing modified mandibles for taking up nutrients. Positive identification of X. glabratus is impossible without the help of a professional, but the glaborous upper surface and abrupt apical declivity may help distinguish this invasive beetle from other native species.
Larva Description: Redbay ambrosia beetle larvae, consistent with most beetles, are legless, white grubs. The head capsule of the redbay ambrosia beetle grub is amber colored. These flightless grubs are found feeding on infected trees beneath or on the surface of the bark.
Host Plants: Redbay (Persea borbonia), avocado (P. americana), swampbay (P. palustris), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), pondberry (L. melissifolia), and camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) and many more species.
The redbay ambrosia beetle is a known vector of the vascular fungus Raffaelea lauricola, which causes the host plant to wilt and die within a matter of months or even weeks. This insect-disease complex is referred to as laurel wilt in literature. Lauraceous hosts are in danger of significant damage and population decrease from the introduction of the redbay ambrosia beetle. Flight allows the beetle to transfer the fungus to hosts rapidly with an increase of redbay mortality of 10% to 15% in 15 months in Florida. Areas in South Carolina are near complete mortality of redbay populations. The loss of redbay is detrimental to wildlife that utilize the plant as fruit. Foliage and seed of redbay is eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, deer, and black bear. Economic concern arises from the patterns of host use seen in avocado plants by the redbay ambrosia beetle. Avocado plants are a crucial part of Florida, California, and other state's agriculture. Damage potential to the avocado trade is uncertain if the redbay ambrosia beetle spreads to avocado plants in Florida and other states.
Click here for more information on the vascular fungus Raffaelea lauricola
Minimal information is available specific to this new invasive species regarding the biology. However, it is assumed that reproduction and feeding is similar to other members of the genus Xyleborus. Other ambrosia beetles are known to feed on fungi inoculated in the wood rather than the wood itself. This is facilitated by thin extended mouthparts in the form of a long snout. At the base of the mandible is a specialized structure called the mycangia, which is used to carry the fungal spores. Male redbay ambrosia beetles are smaller than females, flightless, and haploid. Exact generation time is unknown, but estimated to last 50-60 days based on observations.
In 2002 the redbay ambrosia beetle was discovered near Port Wentworth, Georgia by chance in a survey trap. Within three years the beetle spread through the southeast U.S. and was associated with death to ambrosia and sassafras trees in Florida. Experts believe introduction of the redbay ambrosia beetle was facilitated by solid wood packing materials such as crates or pallets that the beetle was feeding on undetected. In 2014 the beetle, along with the Laurel Wilt fungus, were found in northern Louisiana.
NOW IN TEXAS: Since spring 2015, dying redbay trees, infected with laurel wilt fungus, were detected by a U. S. Forest Service pathologist in Hardin County, Texas and the red bay ambrosia beetle was trapped in the same vicinity shortly thereafter.
Through an Exotic Wood-boring Beetle survey in 2016, TISI documented the redbay ambrosia beetle in Anderson, Grimes and Jefferson Counties. Later that year, the U.S. Forest Service a reported laurel wilt had spread from Hardin and Jasper Counties to Tyler County. Two specimens were collected by the USFS in 2017 from Harris County. In 2019, TISI assisted the USFS with survey efforts and found the beetle in Polk County. The USFS was able to confirm Laurel Wilt at those locations.
Unfortunately, Laurel Wilt has now been detected in 16 Texas Counties
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U.S. Habitat: The redbay ambrosia beetle can be found in areas where host plants are present, most commonly found on redbay and sassafras hosts. Within the U.S. the redbay ambrosia beetle is found feeding on healthy trees and shrubs. In areas where the beetle is native, stressed or dying trees are shrubs are utilized as host plants.
U.S. Present: FL, GA, LA, MS, SC and TX
If you suspect this species please report your sighting using our Report It form on texasinvasives.org
You can help prevent the spread of the redbay ambrosia beetle by avoiding the transport of firewood. Wood chips of infested trees should not be transported out of the area, but left on-sight as mulch. If its not possible to use the wood chips as much, try and leave them as locally as possible to prevent further spread. If the tree has succumbed to Laurel Wilt it must be destroyed immediately!
General sanitation
Text References
Douce, G.K. and J. Johnson. 2005. Xyleborus glabratus in Georgia’s coastal forests. Georgia Forestry Commission Pest Alert, October 31, 2005.
Hanula, J.L., A.E. Mayfield III, S.W. Fraedrich, and R.J. Rabaglia. 2008. Biology and Host Associations of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Exotic Vector of Laurel Wilt Killing Redbay Trees in the Southeastern United States. J. Econ. Entomol. 101(4): 1276-1286.
Mayfield, A.E. III, J.A. Smith, M. Hughes and T. J. Dresden. 2008a. First report of laurel wilt disease caused by Raffaelea sp. on Avocado in Florida. Plant Disease 92(6): 976.
Mayfield, A.E. III, J.E. Peña, J.H. Crane, J.A. Smith, C.L. Branch, E.D. Ottoson, and M. Hughes. 2008b. Ability of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to bore into young avocado (Lauraceae) plants and transmit the laurel wilt pathogen (Raffaelea sp.). Florida Entomologist 91(3): 485-487.
Pest Alert Fact Sheet - Provided by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
P.E.S.T. (Spring 2015) Quarterly Newsletter on Forest Pest MAangement Issues. Texas A&M Forest Service.
Riggins, J.J., S.W. Fraedrich, and T.C. Harrington. 2011. First report of laurel wilt disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Sassafras in Mississippi. Disease Notes 95(11): 1479.
Smith, J.A., L. Mount, A.E. Mayfield III, W.A. Lamborn, S.W Fraedrich. 2009. First report of laurel wilt disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Camphor in Florida and Georgia. Plant Disease 93(2): 198.
Internet Sources
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