Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Effects of Felling and Tarping Trees on ROD Viability and Ambrosia Beetle Activity 2022-2023

March 21, 2025

Felling and tarping is a common management strategy for ʻōhiʻa lehua trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) infected with rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD) caused by Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia fungal pathogens and spread via ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In order to understand how tarping may decrease fungal viability or the spread of viable beetle frass, this study documents fungal viability, beetle emergence, and abiotic conditions that may impact viability in tarped, untarped, and standing ʻōhiʻa trees post death as a result of ROD within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This data release includes data and metadata documenting 1) Ceratocystis viability and moisture content of ʻōhiʻa trees after felling, cutting into sections (bolts), and partitioning into tarped and untarped treatments, 2) viability and moisture taken from narrow cross sections of the trunk taken at the beginning of the study, 3) ambrosia beetle species reared from ʻōhiʻa bolts taken from experimental piles over time, 4) parameters of rearing bolts including Ceratocystis viability and moisture, 5) beetles collected in multi-panel traps at the field location and other locations within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 6) minimum, maximum temperature and humidity ibutton readings for select experimental piles and 7) GPS location of each tree and trap included in the study along with canopy coverage for each pile.

Publication Year 2025
Title Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Effects of Felling and Tarping Trees on ROD Viability and Ambrosia Beetle Activity 2022-2023
DOI 10.5066/P1NJT3HE
Authors Ellen J Dunkle, Helen R Sofaer, Robert W Peck
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Asset Identifier Service (AIS)
USGS Organization Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Rights This work is marked with CC0 1.0 Universal
Was this page helpful?