First report of Ambrosiodmus rubricollis in Italy
The NPPO of Italy recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Ambrosiodmus rubricollis (syn. Xyleborus rubricollis, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on its territory. This Ambrosia beetle was found in the Botanical garden of Padova (Veneto region). It was observed in spring 2009 on a horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) by researchers of the University of Padova. Further inspections were carried out in the botanical garden and its vicinity but no other infested tree could be found. According to the EPPO Secretariat this is the first time that this ambrosia beetle is reported from Italy and Europe.
A. rubricollis is considered to originate from Asia but data is lacking on its detailed distribution. It has been introduced into Australia and the USA. It was first found in Maryland in 1968 and is now commonly found in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. Data is also lacking on its host range and on the potential damage it might cause to its host trees. The currently known geographical distribution of A. rubricollis is as follows:
EPPO region: Italy (1 isolated finding in Padova, Veneto region).
Asia: Korea (without any further detail).
North America: USA (Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia).
Oceania: Australia.
Sources
NPPO of Italy, 2009-07.
Choo HY, Woo KS (1983) A list of the bark and ambrosia beetles injurious to fruit and flowering tree from Korea (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Korean Journal of Plant Protection 22(3), 171-173 (abst.).
Lightle DM, Gandhi KJK, Cognato AI, Mosley BJ, Nielsen DG, Herms DA (2007) New reports of exotic and native ambrosia and bark beetle species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Ohio. Great Lakes Entomologist 40(3/4), 194-200 (abst.).
Rabaglia RJ, Dole SA, Cognato AI (2006) Review of American Xyleborina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) occurring North of Mexico, with an illustrated key. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99(6), 1034-1056.