Anoplophora chinensis found again in the Netherlands
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that 2 larvae of Anoplophora chinensis were found in 1 Carpinus tree in December 2009. This second outbreak is located in the centre of the major tree nursery area of Boskoop, 30 km away from the first one in Westland (see EPPO RS 2009/173). On this Carpinus tree, inspectors had noticed (on 2009-12-07) a recent exit hole, and dissection of the tree in the laboratory revealed the presence of the 2 living, mature larvae. At the same location, 7 old exit holes (at least 2 to 3 years old) were also detected in 2 old dead stumps of Acer palmatum. All plants were part of a hedgerow of a company which has imported A. palmatum plants from China over a long period (at least since 1993). These exit holes were not easily visible as the trees were covered by ivy (Hedera spp.).
Eradication measures were immediately taken. All deciduous trees (Corylus, Euonymus, Fraxinus, Ilex, Quercus, Rhododendron and Sambucus), as well as Cryptomeria and Pinus spp., within a range of 100 m of the infested trees are being removed and destructively inspected at the laboratory to eliminate all possibly remaining life stages. This will be completed at the end of March, well in advance to the adult emergence which is not expected before the end of May (based on the Italian experience). At the same time an intensive inspection of all host trees is being performed within a range of 100-200 m around the infested site (including 2 companies, 27 private gardens, 5 gardens of public buildings). For the moment, no further specimens or signs of the pest have been detected within this area of 200 m radius.
In addition, a buffer zone of 2 km radius around the infested trees has been demarcated. In this area and for a period of 4 years, the movement of plants for planting of 17 host plant species (as listed by the EU*) will not be allowed before official inspections have taken place (including both visual inspections and destructive sampling) and have found that the plants were free from A. chinensis. These official inspections will be done in addition to the regular ones which are already being performed (on average twice a year) in those registered nurseries that are exporting plants for planting (EU plant passport system). Finally, inspections have been carried out across the Netherlands at 41 locations, mainly sites of companies which had imported Acer trees from Asia in the past, and they did not detect A. chinensis.
The pest status of Anoplophora chinensis in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient – actionable, under surveillance. The pest has been detected as an occurrence of two larvae and is not expected to establish.
_____________
* Host plants listed in the Commission Decision 2008/840/EC on emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Anoplophora chinensis (Forster): Acer spp., Aesculus hippocastanum, Alnus spp., Betula spp., Carpinus spp, Citrus spp., Corylus spp., Cotoneaster spp., Fagus spp., Lagerstoemia spp., Malus spp., Platanus spp., Populus spp., Prunus spp., Pyrus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands, 2010-02.
INTERNET (last accessed 2010-02)
Plantenziektenkundige Dienst website
Pest report of 2010-01. 2010 - Two larvae of Anoplophora chinensis in hedgerow of company importing Acer palmatum plants from China. http://www.minlnv.nl/portal/page?_pageid=142,2268041;_dad=portal;_schema=PORTAL;p_file_id=49862
Factsheet measures buffer zone Boskoop. http://www.minlnv.nl/aziatischeboktor