Anoplophora chinensis found again in Croatia
In Croatia, Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae – EPPO A2 List) was first found in a nursery in Turanj, near Zadar, in 2007 (see EPPO RS 2009/047). The infested plants belonged to a consignment of potted plants (600 Magnolia sp., Lagerstroemia sp. and 9 200 Acer palmatum) which had been imported from China in February 2007. The infestation was discovered six months later when 1 dead adult and about 50 trees infested with larvae were found. A survey program was initiated in 2008, and phytosanitary measures were implemented to eradicate the pest and prevent any further spread. During the following years, visual inspections were performed 6 times per year, from May to October. From 2008 to 2010, 112 larvae of A. chinensis were detected, and all of them were found in the nursery in Turanj. Although mixed with highly infested plants, not a single magnolia was found to be infested with A. chinensis, whereas roses growing nearby were found to be infested (7 positive samples). In 2011, sniffer dogs were used for the first time in Croatia for the detection of A. chinensis, in cooperation with the Austrian team which has initiated this non-destructive inspection method. The investigation of the same area resulted in the finding of only 1 infested Lagerstroemia indica plant in the same nursery in Turanj.
In 2014, during the A. chinensis official survey, 101 visual inspections were carried out in 76 locations (7 nurseries, 25 garden centres, and 44 public areas and private gardens). Out of the 29 collected samples, 28 were positive. The presence of A. chinensis was confirmed in the coastal and urban areas of Sveti Filip i Jakov and Turanj (both in Zadar county). The pest was found on plants of Acer sp. and Melia azedarach in family-run campsites, private gardens, one nursery and a public area (at the beach). In addition, one outbreak of A. chinensis was detected in the continental part of Northern Croatia, in one nursery in Rugvica (Zagreb county). In this nursery, larvae of the pest were detected in 3 Acer plants. During this survey, forest areas were also inspected. In total, 9 visual inspections were carried out in forests located in the vicinity of garden centres, as well as around the nurseries in Turanj and Rugvica. 14 samples of larvae were collected (including 2 from Turanj and 11 from Rugvica), but all PCR results were negative. Eradication measures were immediately put into place and included: destruction of 41 infested trees (Acer sp., M. azedarach) and of 162 potential host plants present within a radius of 100 m around infested trees (Acer, Citrus, Malus, Platanus, Populus, Pyrus, Rosa, M. azedarach and Prunus laurocerasus); prohibition to move potentially infested plants out of the demarcated area; prohibition to plant new host plants in the demarcated area; information campaign to raise public awareness (leaflets, brochures and web pages inviting the public to notify the NPPO of any suspicious findings).
The situation of Anoplophora chinensis in Croatia can be described as follows: Transient, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Croatia (2015-04-14).
Personal communication with Andrija Vukadin (Institute for Plant Protection, Zagreb, Croatia, 2015-03).
Vukadin A (2015) [New findings of Anoplophora chinensis on Acer negundo and Melia azedarach in public areas in Sveti Filip i Jakov and Turanj]. Glasilo Biljne Zastite 15(1/2), 12-13 (in Croatian).