Species alert
Anoplophora chinensis found in Denmark
Scientific name: Anoplophora chinensis (Forster, 1771)
Common name: Citrus longhorned beetle
Synonyms:
Anoplophora malasiaca (Thomson 1865)
Calloplophora abbreviata Thomson 1865
Calloplophora afflicta Thomson 1865
Calloplophora sepulcralis Thomson 1865
Calloplophora luctuosa Thomson 1865
Calloplophora malasiaca Thomson 1865
Cerambyx farinosus Houttuyn 1766
Cerambyx pulchricornis Voet 1778
Cerambyx sinensis Gmelin 1790
Lamia punctator Fabricius 1777
Melanauster perroudi Pic 1953
Adult Anoplophora chinensis
Larvae of Anoplophora chinensis
Exit holes in Acer palmatum
Photos from The Danish Plant
Directorate fact sheet.
On June 11th 2011 one citrus longhorned beetle was found in a private garden
in Odense, Funen, Denmark. A citizen reported three exit
holes in a Acer palmatum tree in a private garden. After the authorities
were notified, one adult beetle was captured, while two others are assumed to
have escaped. An intense official survey has been carried out and local citizens
mobilized, but no other specimen of citrus longhorned beetle have been found,
neither any sign of oviposition or foraging on other host trees in surrounding
areas.
The media attention on the subject led to a second report
of an older finding in Odense in 2010. A citizen had taken a photo of a citrus
longhorned beetle. The recent official survey showed that the only tree of
relevance had only one exit hole.
Based on a risk assessment, the Danish Plant Directorate
has concluded that both cases are cases of ‘transience’, i.e. the risk of
establishment of A. chinensis from those findings is negligible,
and, apart from continued surveillance for the pest, no further action need be
taken.
The citrus longhorned beetle is not harmful to humans but
can do great damage to trunks and roots of deciduous trees such as Acer spp.,
some fruit trees, Salix spp. and Populus spp.
The species is regulated by the harmonised EU plant health
regulation and may not be introduced or spread within EU. It is also included in
the EPPO list of pests proposed as quarantine pests. In Denmark, the Danish
Plant Directorate under the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries,
is the national plant protection organisation responsible for implementing EU
regulation regarding plant health. .
Actions taken: The Plant
Directorate has surveyed all relevant areas intensely, carried out a trace back
of planted trees, informed the plant trade and local citizens and assessed the
actual risk.
Distribution: The native
range of Anoplophora chinensis is East Asia. In EU, the pest has
currently established in Italy (but being under official control aiming at
eradication). Outbreaks in France and Netherlands have been eradicated.
Pathway:
In this case carried with imports of Acer palmatum from China, generally
introduced with infested plants for planting of woody species, especially bonsai
plants. Import to EU of Acer spp. from China has been prohibited since 2010.
How to find the citrus longhorned beetle:
The most obvious symptoms of an attack of Anoplophora chinensis are 0.6 -
1.1 cm wide round exit holes in the trunk up to 70 cm above or under the ground,
made by the adult beetles after hatching. Bark shavings can be found in the exit
holes and in small piles at the bottom of the attacked tree. Other symptoms are
gnawing marks on stem and branches and, less obvious, tunnels in the trunk.
What can you do:
- Look out for the citrus longhorned beetle
- Check the trunk and roots for exit holes above and under the ground and
for gnawing marks
More information:
Contact: Contact person
in The Danish Plant Directorate is Kristine Riskær, Office manager, Seeds and
plants department, Telephone: +45 45 26 37 00, E-Mail:
krri@pdir.dk
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