Ability to Respond Total:15 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Female adults capable of flight and may travel 2-3 km for hosts. Moved by air currents. Estimated it can spread through the range of redbay in <40 years. May be spread in infested wood products. Cryptic habits would make it hard to detect and eradicate.
5
Spread Amount
This pest introduced into the US from Asia in 2002, most likely in solid wood packing materials, such as crates and pallets. By 2005, it was found to be consistently associated with mortality in an expanded area of coastal SC and GA.
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Hosts include Lauraceae (Asian spicebush, yellow litsea, redbay, sassafras, CA bayleaf); transmits laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola), its food source, causing infected plants to rapidly wilt and die; primary damage and tree death results from wilt.
4
Agricultural
Ornamentals and avocado.
4
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Recreational area impacts - parks, borders, etc., potentially severe home garden and landscape damage to avocado, California Bay and camphor.
2
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
19
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Attack virtually all parts of weakened or recently cut woody plants, culturing fungus on the walls of their galleries which larvae feed on. Males are dwarfed, haploid and flightless, females seek a new host and establish galleries, female:male often >15:1
2
Control
No recorded specific associated predators or parasitoids. Chemical treatments may be effective as a preventative or in treatment of infested material. Heat and water treatments are used to control ambrosia beetles. Restrict movement of firewood important.
1
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
A-rated pest from CDFA.
5
Control
A-rated pest from CDFA.
5
Outreach
Some outreach efforts are underway in CA; significant activity in the SE US.
