Testing the heat treatment dose for Agrilus planipennis prepupae using the Humble water bath

The lethal heat treatment dose (time and temperature) for the pre-pupal life stage of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), emerald ash borer, was determined through an in vitro application using a carefully calibrated heat treatment apparatus. The lethal and sublethal effects of heat on A. planipennis prepupae were assessed through a ramped heat delivery application, simulating industrial kilns and conventional heat chamber operations, for treatments combining target temperatures of 54 °C, 55 °C, and 56 °C, and exposure durations of 0 min (i.e., kiln temperature ramp only), 15 min, or 30 min. Prepupal emerald ash borer larvae did not survive exposure to 56 °C for 15 min or longer, or to 55 °C for 30 min. Sublethal effects were observed for all other treatments. Sublethal effects included delayed development and failure to complete the pupal and adult life stages. The datasets and associated R statistical computing langauge code are deposited here.

Methods
The data are observations on post-treatment survival of emerald ash borer larvae exposed to heat in a water bath. The experiments were used to determine the optimal heating conditions for treatment of wood infested with the insect. The insects were exposed to one of three temperatures (54, 55 or 56 C) for a set period (0, 15 or 30 minutes) and then, along with unexposed control insects, were observed to determine if they died or transitioned to the next stage of development (i.e., pupated).  The data were analysed with survival models to determine if temperature and duration of treatment had an effect on survival and the probability of pupating. Insects were observed every 24-72 h, pretreatment weight was also determined.