Integrated Management Strategies for Wood Infested by Hylurgus ligniperda F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

The red-haired bark beetle (RHB), <i>Hylurgus ligniperda</i> (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a globally distributed quarantine pest, making effective management of infested wood essential. This study developed an integrated control system to achieve closed-loop management under various environmental and wood conditions. RHB eggs were the most fumigation-tolerant stage. Although sulfuryl fluoride (SF) showed higher potency, aluminum phosphide (AP) provided deeper penetration into wood (AP: 29.5% vs. SF: 12.6%). Both fumigants effectively reached all logs in the stacks. Fumigation efficacy was highest at moderate temperatures (18-22 °C) and lower wood moisture levels. In addition to chemical methods, thermal treatments were evaluated: heating to 60-65 °C achieved complete mortality, while effective freezing control required temperatures of -30 °C. For bark and chip debris generated during processing, beta-cypermethrin fumigation effectively eliminated residual pests. Our results confirm that both AP and SF are suitable for disinfecting infested <i>Pinus thunbergii</i> wood, that extreme temperatures can reduce dispersal risks, and that beta-cypermethrin is effective in the downgraded utilization of wood byproducts. This work provides a comprehensive and practical framework for controlling the spread of this invasive pest.