Callidiellum villosulum found on imported wooden equipment for pets in Poland and France
In 2019, 10 live specimens of Callidiellum villosulum (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were observed in 2 pet stores in the cities of Cracow and Warsaw, Poland. C. villosulum (brown fir longhorn beetle) is native to Southeastern China and its known host plants mainly belong to the Taxodiaceae family (Cunninghamia lanceolata, Cryptomeria japonica, Taiwania cryptomeriodes), but also to Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis formosensis) and Pinaceae (Pinus taiwanensis). In January 2019, 1 live male specimen of C. villosulum was found on the floor of a pet store in Cracow. Despite further searching, no other specimens could be found in the store and it was assumed that the beetle had emerged from wooden elements of animal cages for sale. In February 2019, 4 live male specimens of C. villosulum were found in another pet store in Warsaw. Beetles were found on an inadequately sealed package of wooden bridges for rodents (probably made of Cryptomeria japonica). Five exit holes could be observed on wooden parts. After placing these wooden items in isolated and suitable breeding conditions, 5 live beetles (all females) emerged from them. This is the first time that C. villosulum is intercepted on imported wooden equipment in Poland. It can be recalled that C. villosulum had also been intercepted in 2013 on wooden commodities imported in Malta (EPPO RS 2014/162). In other parts of the world, interceptions have also been reported from Australia (on wood packaging material), Canada, Japan, and the USA (in real trunks of artificial Christmas trees from China).
Interestingly, similar findings were made in France in 2019 on wooden cages for rodents in two pet shops located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle and Moselle departments.
The pest status of Callidiellum villosulum in France is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
These recent findings from Poland and France clearly indicate that C. villosulum has the potential to be moved between continents via rather unusual pathways, such as wooden items for pets, in addition to wood and wood packaging material.
Sources
Kurzawa J, Stępień S, Bobrek M, Borek R (2020) [Two interceptions of Callidiellum villosulum (Fairmaire, 1900) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in continental Europe]. Acta entomologica silesiana 28, 1-6 (in Polish). https://zenodo.org/record/3726708#.Xp77tsgzbIU
NPPO of France (2019-05).