Frass-based detection of wood boring pests (QFRASS)

Wood-boring beetles cause significant economic damage to forests worldwide and are among the most important tree pests. Attacks by many quarantine wood beetles may go unnoticed for some time because the larvae live in the host trees. Only when the trees start showing symptoms or the number of adults is large enough can an outbreak be noticed. In detection surveys and also in outbreak management, it can be useful to combine different types of surveys or diagnostic methods to increase the chances of finding the pest. This project aims to develop a diagnostic identification protocol based on faeces and organic material. We will focus on three quarantine wood-boring beetles: emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis - Buprestidae), redneck longhorned beetle (Aromia bungii - Cerambycidae) and walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis - Scolytinae).