Reducing damage caused by oak wilt disease transmitted by the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus (Coleoptera: Platypodidae) using oak log pile traps

The damage resulting from oak wilt disease, caused by a pathogenic fungus transmitted by the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus Murayama (Coleoptera: Platypodidae), was comparatively assessed using oak log pile traps. Oak wilt disease has caused extensive damage to native oak species and forests in Japan. The ambrosia beetle P. quercivorus has been legally declared a pest by the Forest Pest Control Act. In forests infested by the ambrosia beetle, development of effective control methods to reduce or eliminate the damage is needed. Field investigations were conducted to confirm the effectiveness of oak log pile traps on the control of oak wilt disease. As a result, the number of trees exhibiting defoliation caused by oak wilt disease was significantly different between an area with the oak log pile traps and a trap-free area. Thus, oak log pile traps have possibilities for reducing oak wilt disease as well as controlling disease damage in spatial spread areas.