The primary purpose of this agreement is to evaluate the parasitoid wasp phymastichus nudusdraco as a potential biological control agent for invasive shot hole borers in the euwallacea fornicatus…

The primary purpose of this agreement is to evaluate the parasitoid wasp phymastichus nudusdraco as a potential biological control agent for invasive shot hole borers in the euwallacea fornicatus species complex. The euwallacea fornicatus species complex is composed of at least four genetically distinct species of ambrosia beetle native to southeast asia. Three of these species are invasive in the united states in california, florida, and hawai'i. The invasive shot hole borers, as they are commonly known, infest a wide range of hardwood trees inside which they reproduce prolifically and spread fungal symbionts that block the host tree vascular system. These fungal symbionts are the food source for ambrosia beetles, but in the case of SHB the fungi are mild to severe phytopathogens that prevent water flow in the xylem, causing branch dieback and tree death. Shot hole borers spend most of their lives protected within host trees and are thus difficult to treat via chemical means. They are haplodiploid and practice SIB-mating within their natal gallery, so are also unaffected by mating disruption techniques. Classical biological control would be the most economical and effective means of managing invasive shot hole borers populations in the united states for long-term control. This agreement will result in rearing and host range testing results of phymastichus nudusdraco, an important parasitoid of shot hole borer. No subawards are included under this award.