First reports of Xylosandrus crassiusculus in Brazil, French Guiana and Guatemala
The ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae – EPPO Alert List) probably originates from Asia and has been introduced into other parts of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Central America (Costa Rica and Panama). More recently, X. crassiusculus has expanded its range in Central and South America, as new records have been made in Brazil, French Guiana and Guatemala. It is noted that because regular trapping programmes have been carried in Brazil and French Guiana, the pest is probably of recent introduction in these areas. The origin of these introductions remains unknown and more studies are needed to better understand the invasion history of X. crassiusculus in these new areas.
Brazil: specimens were caught mainly in forest environments in several sites in the states of Amapá (first found in 2014), Pernambuco (2014), Rio de Janeiro (2012) and São Paulo (2013).
French Guiana: the first specimen was caught in October 2009 in Cayenne-Camopi in a primary rainforest, distant from the coast and major towns.
Guatemala: the first specimens were found in September 2008 in the department of Izabal.
Sources
Flechtmann CAH, Atkinson TH (2016) First records of Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from South America, with notes on its distribution and spread in the New World. The Coleopterists Bulletin 70(1), 79-83.