Island of Hawai'i, Host preferences of Acalolepta aesthetica 2020-2023

Acalolepta aesthetica (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a beetle species whose larvae develop within branches and stems of host plants and can harm or kill host trees. Since this species was detected on the Island of Hawai'i in 2009, it has been documented to have a wide host breadth but its host preferences and its potential to use native plant species as hosts have not been formally investigated. This data release includes field observations of woody plants on select properties in the Puna and South Hilo Districts that were visually inspected for symptoms of A. aesthetica infestation for an analysis of host preferences, results from roadside surveys of A. aesthetica in their preferred host, kukui (Aleurites moluccanus), and data from laboratory no-choice host tests evaluating oviposition and development of A. aesthetica on cut branches of select native Hawaiian plant species. Each of these different datasets corresponds to a csv file in this data release.