Update on the situation of Anoplophora glabripennis in Italy
In Italy Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae – EPPO A1 List) was first found in 2007 in Lombardia region. It was later found in Veneto region in 2009, in Marche region in 2013 and in Piemonte in 2018 (EPPO RS 2007/166, RS 2019/234). In all regions, it is subject to eradication measures following EU Decision 2015/893. The NPPO of Italy recently provided an update of the situation of this pest in Lombardia, in Marche, and in Veneto, based on the monitoring done in 2019. Veneto is now free from the pest.
- Lombardia
In Lombardia, A. glabripennis was first found in the municipality of Corbetta (Milano province) in June 2007, and in 2010 and 2013 respectively in the neighbouring municipalities of Vittuone and Sedriana (EPPO RS 2007/166, RS 2014/023). The 3 outbreaks are now managed within one demarcated area including the infested area and a buffer zone. Intensive monitoring (annual inspections, traps) is carried out across the demarcated area. During the 2019 survey, 6 Acer plants were found to be infested within the infested zone. No adult specimens were caught in the 15 traps placed. In total, 45 plants have been cut down including host plants present within a 100 m radius from those infested as specified in EU Decision 2015/893. It is noted that there are no nurseries within the demarcated area.
In 2017, another outbreak was detected in the municipality of Trescore Balneario (Bergamo province), about 75 km away from Corbetta. A demarcated area with a 2 km buffer zone has been established. In 2019, the demarcated area was covering 3 municipalities (Trescore Balneario, Cenate Sotto and Zandobbio). During the 2019 survey, 97 plants (of the following genera: Acer, Aesculus, Betula, Populus, Salix) were found to be infested within the infested zone. No adult specimens were caught in the 26 traps placed in this zone. In total, 376 plants have been cut down, including host plants present within a radius of 100 m around infested plants. No infested plants have been found in the 9 nurseries located within the demarcated area.
A communication campaign is performed in the Milan airports and trains every year to raise public awareness on Anoplophora species.
- Marche
In Marche, A. glabripennis was first found in the municipality of Grottazzolina (Fermo province) in August 2013 (EPPO RS 2013/189, 2014/064, 2019/234), in the municipality of Ostra (Ancona province) in 2016, and in July 2019 in the municipalities of Fermo (Fermo province) and Civitanova (Macerata province) (RS 2019/234). In March 2020, a new outbreak was found in Sant'Elpidio a Mare (Fermo province).
Following official monitoring in Grottazzolina, and findings of infested plants outside the infested area, the demarcated area has been extended over the years. In 2019, the demarcated area associated with this outbreak was covering 10 municipalities (Fermo, Belmonte Piceno, Grottazzolina, Magliano di Tenna, Monte Giberto, Montegiorgio, Montottone, Ponzano di Fermo, Rapagnano, Torre San Patrizio). Eighteen nurseries are located within the demarcated area. In 2019, 22 plants were found to be infested within the demarcated area. In total, 270 plants have been cut down, including host plants within a radius of 100 m around infested plants as specified in EU Decision 2015/893. No infested plants have been found in the nurseries. Since 2013, 4381 plants have been found to be infested and cut down.
The other outbreak discovered in 2019 in the municipality of Fermo is about 8 km away from this area. To date, 6 infested plants have been found (5 Ulmus and 1 Acer). In total, 89 plants have been cut down. No infested plants have been found in the nurseries inside the demarcated area.
In March 2020, a new outbreak was found in the municipality of Sant'Elpidio a Mare, also in Fermo province. To date, 11 Ulmus plants located near a small commercial area have been found infested. Eradication measures are applied and biomolecular analysis are underway to identify the origin of the outbreak.
In the municipality of Civitanova (30 km from Grottazzolina), during 2019 survey, 13 plants were found to be infested within the infested zone (6 Acer, 4 Aesculus, 1 Populus, 1 Salix, 1 Ulmus). In total, 53 plants have been cut down, including host plants within a radius of 100 m around infested plants. No infested plants have been found in the nurseries.
Near Ostra, the infested area associated with the initial outbreak discovered in 2016 now covers 4 municipalities (Ostra, Senigallia, Ostra Vetere, Trecastelli). During the 2019 survey, 844 plants were found to be infested. In total, 1304 plants have been cut down, including host plants within a radius of 100 m around infested. The infested area slightly increased between 2018 and 2019.
- Veneto
In Veneto, A. glabripennis was first found in the municipality of Cornuda and the neighbouring municipality of Maser in 2009 and 2010 respectively, (EPPO RS 2009/157, 2010/201, 2014/010, 2019/234). Official measures have been applied since then, and the demarcated areas have been merged. No infested plants have been found since 2017. The outbreak in Cornuda (and Maser) was therefore officially declared eradicated in August 2020.
The pest status of Anoplophora glabripennis in Italy is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2020-05, 2020-06, 2020-08).
EU (2015) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/893 of 9 June 2015 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky). OJL 146, 16–28. http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2015/893/oj