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Abstract
Wood-boring ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are major economic pests in tree fruit, nut, and woody ornamental orchards. Three projects were conducted from 2022 to 2024 to develop and evaluate different management aspects including monitoring, repellents, a novel strategy that combines lures and repellents, insecticides, and the use of nanocellulose. Traps captured a wide range of species and genera from early March to mid-July. The location, date, and temperature appeared to be factors that contribute to flight and attack activity. Optimal repellents and luring monitoring methods were refined. The viability of both attractants and repellents in a “push-pull” strategy for lowering the frequency of ambrosia beetle attacks on water-stressed apple trees was assessed. The efficacy of a variety of insecticides and nanocellulose was evaluated on ethanol-baited bolt traps. Results identify promising tactics that could potentially be practical and effective for growers in ambrosia beetle monitoring and control in southeastern fruit orchards.