Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Update on Asian longhorn beetle
Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.
From Forest Health News 123, October 2002.
Forest Health News has previously reported on attempts to contain the Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) first discovered in North America in 1996 (FHNews 91:1, 106:1, 114:2, 118:2), and now also present in Europe (FHNews 110:1). Until recently confined, in the United States, to New York and Illinois, the beetle was discovered only this month in 98 maple trees in nearby Jersey City, New Jersey, although it may possibly have been in the area for several years. Eradication attempts continue in New York and Chicago, despite difficulties with access to private property, and many infested trees have been felled and burnt, or injected with insecticide (The New York Times).
From Forest Health News 114, December 2001,
In earlier issues we reported on the spread of the Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), which is currently causing concern in both North America and Europe (FHNews 106: 1; 110:1). This insect pest was first detected in the United States in 1996. It was recently found outside the existing quarantine boundaries, which were consequently extended last month by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in an effort to confine the insect within the states of New York and Illinois. Interstate movement of a wide range of living and dead hardwood material is being closely regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), who are consulting fully with the public. All infested trees are being removed, chipped and burned, and insecticide is being used to reduce the numbers of beetles attacking new trees. The Asian
longhorn beetle was introduced to North America in solid wood packing material, but APHIS officials are now intercepting several species of longhorn beetle on nursery stock and bonsai plants originating from
countries in Asia. Imports of the latter increased nine-fold between 1993 and 1998.
Now there is a new threat from the closely related citrus longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis). Despite its name this insect attacks a wide range of tree species, including maple, poplar, willow, and fruit trees such as apple and pear. A. chinensis was found in August in quarantined nursery stock in Tukwila, Washington. Several beetles are known to have escaped, and state authorities have established a quarantine zone around the site. Some scientists consider the citrus longhorn beetle to be a greater threat to hardwood trees in North America than the Asian longhorn beetle.
For more details, refer:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/albpestalert/index.htm
Information: Judith Antipin, Mark Buccowich, USDA Forest Service; Daniel J. Parry, APHIS
This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)
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