Symposium on Anoplophora glabripennis (Braunschweig, DE, 2002-05-22/23)
A Symposium on Anoplophora glabripennis (EPPO A1 list) took place in Braunschweig, Germany on 2002-05-22/23. Several papers were presented and gave an overview of the situation of A. glabripennis in China, its area of origin, and in countries where it has been introduced, USA and Austria. Diagnosis, PRA, potential damage to European trees, and possible control of the pest were discussed. Experts agreed that the introduction of A. glabripennis is a serious threat to deciduous host trees in Europe, and that monitoring activities and phytosanitary measures should be tightened. The following details have been extracted by the EPPO Secretariat.
Situation in China
In China, poplar plantations cover a very large area (approximately 6.6 million ha), and A. glabripennis is one of the most destructive insects. A. glabripennis is reported mainly from Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong and Liaoning, and occasionally from some parts of Beijing, Tianjin and Qinghai (new detailed records for these 3 municipalities and provinces). Since the 1980s, serious damage by A. glabripennis is reported in northern areas of China, corresponding to what is called ‘Three-North shelter forest’. This forest covers 42.4% of the Chinese territory and 20 million hectares have been planted mainly with susceptible poplars and willows. Most of this artificial forest has been devastated by A. glabripennis, because in many instances a very limited number of susceptible poplar clones was planted over large areas. More recently, A. glabripennis has established in Western Gansu, Qinghai and even Heilongjiang. Most severe damage is observed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi, Ningxia and inner Mongolia. Measures are taken in China to control this pest (monitoring, trapping, insecticide treatments, biological control, plantation of less susceptible trees, restrictions on the movement of wood, etc.).
Situation in Austria
A. glabripennis was first found in Austria in summer 2001, in the city of Braunau-am-Inn, on Acer species, mainly A. platanoides (see EPPO RS 2001/135). Most infested trees were growing along a small street, but 2 infested trees were also detected in a small forest (less then 1 km away from the street concerned). Eradication measures were immediately applied. As of July 2002, results of the monitoring programme carried out in the city and its surrounding showed that 9 additional trees were found infested by A. glabripennis, including for the first time Platanus hispanica. Eradication and monitoring activities are continuing.
Situation in USA
A. glabripennis was first reported in 1996 in the New York city borough of Brooklyn. Another focus was reported in the city of Chicago, Illinois, two years later. It is felt that both populations were introduced separately on wood packing material from Asia, perhaps 10 years before being detected. Eradication programmes are being carried out, and include survey, control, regulatory efforts, public education, tree restoration and research. So far over 5,500 trees have been removed in New York and over 1,500 trees in Illinois. Surrounding trees are treated by insecticide injections (mainly with imidacloprid), and in 2002 more than 130,000 trees in New York and more than 50,000 trees in Illinois were treated. Quarantine areas have been delimited in New York (312 km²) and in Illinois (80 km²). Since 1999, numbers of infested trees found and removed have been declining in both New York and Illinois, as a result of the considerable efforts being made to prevent any further spread of A. glabripennis and achieve eradication.
Sources
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Symposium in der BBA: Der Asiatische Laubholzbockkäfger – ein Risiko für den Baumbestand.
Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pflanzenschutzdienstes,55(4), 65-98.
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