First report of Xylotrechus chinensis in Crete, Greece
In spring 2017, mulberry trees (Morus sp.) near the harbour of Heraklion in Crete (Greece) were found to be heavily infested by a cerambycid species. The pest was identified as Xylotrechus chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae – Tiger longicorn beetle) by morphological and molecular methods. So far, about 200 trees have been recorded as infested by X. chinensis. Of these trees, about 15% exhibited complete desiccation while the rest exhibited typical symptoms of infestation (e.g. exit holes). Infested trees are being removed and destroyed to try to eradicate the outbreak. It is considered that the pest may have been present since 2014-2015.
The situation of Xylotrechus chinensis in Greece can be described as follows: Present, restricted distribution, under official control.
Sources
Leivadara E, Leivadaras I, Vontas I, Trichas A, Simoglou K, Roditakis E, Avtzis DN (2018) First record of Xylotrechus chinensis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Greece and in the EPPO region. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 48(2), 277–280. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12468