Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are wood-boring insects that influence forest ecosystems through fungal symbioses, rapid host colonization, and invasive species dynamics. Despite their ecological importance, seasonal activity patterns remain poorly characterized in southeastern Virginia. This study integrates field trapping and statistical modeling to examine species-specific seasonal activity across two forested sites in Norfolk, Virginia. Beetles were monitored using ethanol and essential oil-baited bottle traps alongside ethanol-soaked bolt traps. Overall abundance peaked in April, indicating strong early-season emergence. Ethanol-baited traps captured 3-7 times more beetles than essential oil traps, and negative binomial generalized linear models confirmed bait type as a significant predictor of beetle abundance (p < 0.05). Multiple ambrosia beetle species were identified, including Cnestus mutilates and Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and seasonal activity differed among species, with some taxa showing stronger early-season presence than others. These findings establish a quantitative baseline of seasonal ambrosia beetle activity in southeastern Virginia and support improved invasive species monitoring and regional forest health management.
Keywords: Ambrosia beetles, Community turnover, Seasonal activity, Invasive species, Statistical modeling, Ethanol trap, Wood-boring insects, Ecological monitoring, Southeastern Virginia
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Deborah A Waller
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
dwaller@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Graduate/Professional
Presentation Type
Poster
Seasonal Activity Pattern of Ambrosia Beetles in Southeast Virginia
Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are wood-boring insects that influence forest ecosystems through fungal symbioses, rapid host colonization, and invasive species dynamics. Despite their ecological importance, seasonal activity patterns remain poorly characterized in southeastern Virginia. This study integrates field trapping and statistical modeling to examine species-specific seasonal activity across two forested sites in Norfolk, Virginia. Beetles were monitored using ethanol and essential oil-baited bottle traps alongside ethanol-soaked bolt traps. Overall abundance peaked in April, indicating strong early-season emergence. Ethanol-baited traps captured 3-7 times more beetles than essential oil traps, and negative binomial generalized linear models confirmed bait type as a significant predictor of beetle abundance (p < 0.05). Multiple ambrosia beetle species were identified, including Cnestus mutilates and Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and seasonal activity differed among species, with some taxa showing stronger early-season presence than others. These findings establish a quantitative baseline of seasonal ambrosia beetle activity in southeastern Virginia and support improved invasive species monitoring and regional forest health management.
Keywords: Ambrosia beetles, Community turnover, Seasonal activity, Invasive species, Statistical modeling, Ethanol trap, Wood-boring insects, Ecological monitoring, Southeastern Virginia