First report of Trichoferus campestris in Germany
The NPPO of Germany recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Trichoferus campestris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. In July 2016, several beetles of T. campestris were found in a residential building by a private individual in Wilhelmshaven (Lower Saxony). The identity of the pest was confirmed on the basis of its morphological characteristics. As a wooden wreath used for decoration with exit holes was found in this home, it is presumed that the beetles had developed inside it and emerged from it. This wreath was made with wooden twigs of a climbing plant whose identity and origin could not be determined for the moment, but further investigations are ongoing. A preliminary risk analysis has been carried out by the German NPPO which concluded that although T. campestris probably has the potential to establish outdoors in Germany and other European countries, data was generally lacking to assess its potential of damage. The pest status remains to be determined.
Sources
NPPO of Germany (2016-08).