Not known to transmit any human or animal pathogens.

Several fungi have been isolated from Platypus quercivorus including the pathogenic Dryadomyces quercivora (formerly Raffaelea quercivora), causal agent of Japanese oak wilt, which can lead to oak mortality.

(See the Pest Datasheet for more information)

Attaching lures to traps

IMPORTANT: Do not include lures for other target species in the trap when surveying for this target.

Visual surveys are not an approved method and cannot be used to report negative data, but we are including some visual guidance to help surveyors who may observe signs of infestation. Approved trapping surveys do not require surveyors to look for signs of infestation. 

Infestations by platypodids (ambrosia beetles in the Platypodinae subfamily) show some common signs and symptoms:

• Entrance holes ('pinholes') are about 1/16 in. in diameter, located primarily in bark crevices, and are more abundant at the base of trees.
• Fibrous frass around entrance holes or abundant powdery frass at the base of trees.

 If P. quercivorus is present in association with the fungus Dryadomyces quercivora, the following can be seen:

• Wilting and changes in foliage color, turning reddish.
• Tree dieback.
• Discolored sapwood near galleries, necrotic inner bark.

 See the Pest Datasheet for more details and images of infested trees.

A Likelihood of Establishment Map is now available. This survey should only be considered in the states with appropriate conditions and suitable hosts for this beetle. The map was produced by the SAFARIS Team. SAFARIS is a modeling framework that enables PPQ to quickly respond to emergencies, efficiently survey for pests, and assess potential pest impacts by collecting critical geospatial data and developing predictive models. SAFARIS is developed and maintained by the NC State University, Center for Integrated Pest Management (CIPM) with support from the PPQ-S&T Plant Pest Risk Analysis (PPRA) Laboratory. The SAFARIS team used a likelihood of establishment model for oak ambrosia beetle occurrence in the continental United States to support CAPS survey planning. The model predicts the suitability of an area for oak ambrosia beetle occurrence based on the likelihood of favorable conditions for the pest occurring using tools and data within SAFARIS. The detailed method used in this assessment is described here.

Surveys should take place in the summer to fall when adults are likely to be flying. Ideally, surveys should take place when temperatures are above 66 °F.

Trapping Survey

The approved survey method for P. quercivorus is pheromone trapping with multi-funnel traps. Place traps throughout survey areas where hosts with dense canopy are present, especially in areas with fallen or heavily damaged trees, focusing on elevated areas (top of hills) of forests, as the pest tend to move upwards to these areas.

• Trap placement: Traps should be preferentially placed along forest edges, in areas with more exposure to light to attract adults, and/or near fallen or injured trees.
• Visual surveys are not recommended because it is not possible to distinguish signs and symptoms of the target from those of native species.

Survey for P. quercivorus in forests with Quercus spp. hosts, especially with large, older trees. Prioritize forests recently affected by events like hurricanes, fires, droughts, or disease, as the beetle prefers fallen or dying trees. In hilly or mountainous areas, focus on uphill sites since the beetle tends to fly upwards along slopes.

Platypus quercivorus infestations are typically unevenly distributed and patchy throughout the forest and often concentrated along forest edges. Surveyors should place traps throughout survey sites but concentrate trapping near forest edges.

• There is a screening aid for ambrosia beetles by Benzel (2015) available. This source helps with the initial sorting of insects collected during platypodid surveys and screening to identify potential invasive platypodids.
• The IDTools website allows users to sort by pest group (beetle) and commodity (wood) to find all the resources and pest ID aids available for wood boring and bark beetles.

There are many small beetles associated with trees that can be easily mistaken for the ambrosia beetle, P. quercivorus. Cossonine weevils, horned powderpost beetles, sap beetles, featherwing beetles, and other small brown beetles are typically found near stressed or decomposing wood. These species can be differentiated by eye with careful inspection. 

True bark beetles (several tribes) and ambrosia beetles (subfamily Platypodinae and the tribe Xyleborini within the subfamily Scolytinae) are all very similar in appearance, and both bore holes and excavate galleries in the tissues of their hosts. They are generally small (typically up to ¼ inch long), dark brown or black, and pill-shaped (elongate and cylindrical). However, they can be differentiated by eye. 

Within the United States, seven species of platypodids are known to occur; these most commonly occur in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest (Benzel, 2015). These include Euplatypus compositus, E. parallellus, E. pini, Myoplatypus flavicornis, Oxoplatypus quadridentatus, Treptoplatypus abietis and T. wilsoni. 

Euplatypus compositus is highly polyphagous (feeding on multiple families), including Fagaceae (Quercus spp.), the main host of P. quercivorus. It is widespread in the Southeast, parts of the Northeast, and Southwest, and Puerto Rico. 

Euplatypus parallellus is highly polyphagous (feeding on multiple families) but does not share hosts with P. quercivorus. It is present in California, Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico. 

Euplatypus pini shares no hosts with P. quercivorus, as it only infests pines and is present in parts of the Southwest.

Myoplatypus flavicornis infests pines, shares no hosts with P. quercivorus. It is present in the Southeast and parts of the Northeast.

Oxoplatypus quadridentatus is polyphagous, including Fagaceae (Castanea spp. and Quercus spp.). It is widely distributed in the Southeast and most of the Southwest.

Treptoplatypus abietis and T. wilsoni are present in most of the West; both species infest various genera within the Pinaceae and shares no hosts with P. quercivorus. Treptoplatypus abietis is present in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah and T. wilsoni is present in most of the West.

Consult the screening aid for ambrosia beetles by Benzel (2015) for helpful information to distinguish bark and ambrosia beetles.