Eradication of Anoplophora glabripennis in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria
In Austria, the presence of Anoplophora glabripennis was first reported in 2001 in Braunau-am-Inn (Oberösterreich) and strict eradication measures have been applied there since then. Intensive surveys in the infested area (covering the whole city territory) were carried out by specially trained inspectors and tree climbers, as well as by sniffer dogs. Detailed computerized maps (GIS) of approximately 13;000 trees were established. All potential host trees growing in the vicinity of ‘hot spots’, along roads, railways tracks and in small dense forests (5.5 ha in 2008/2009 and 8 ha in 2011/2012) were preventively felled. In the case of positive findings of the pest (morphological and molecular identification), entire trees were immediately felled, chipped and incinerated. Random monitoring of host trees and inspections of hardwood cuttings were also carried out in the buffer zone. As a result of this intensive monitoring and eradication programme, no new infestation or living specimens of A. glabripennis have been detected in the infestation zone or within the 2 km buffer zone since 2009-06-29. This means that for 4 years (corresponding to at least 2 complete development cycles of the pest), no signs of the pest have been identified. Therefore, the NPPO of Austria declared in July 2013 that the outbreak of A. glabripennis in Braunau-am-Inn has been successfully eradicated.
A distinct and isolated outbreak was detected at the end of July 2012 in Geinberg (district of Ried im Innkreis, Oberösterreich) where 1 exit hole and 3 trees with living larvae were found. Eradication measures were immediately taken with the establishment of a demarcated area and the destruction (felling, chipping, incineration) of all host trees within a clear cut zone of 500 m radius. An intensive monitoring program (visual inspections, sniffer dogs) is being carried out within an area of 1100 m radius. The source of the infestation was Chinese wood packaging material used for granite stone imports that was stored at the outbreak site. There is no correlation to the outbreak area in Braunau (;20 km distance) or Neukirchen in Germany (;27 km distance). Since July 2012, no further specimens or signs of infestation were detected. It is considered that the pest has probably been eradicated from Geinberg. However, the absence of the pest has to be verified during 2 complete development cycles (i.e. 4 years in the case of A. glabripennis) before eradication can officially be declared successful over the whole territory of Austria.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2013-07) and Federal Forest Office (2013-08).