Agrilus planipennis found in Saint Petersburg, Russia
In August 2020, signs of the presence of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae – EPPO A2 List) were noticed on declining ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica and F. excelsior) in Saint Petersburg (Martyshkino settlement, Petrodvorets district), Russia. Affected trees had dying branches, D-shaped exit holes and larval galleries. In early September 2020, entomologists confirmed the identity of the pest. Considering the abundance of exit holes and larval galleries, it was estimated that the insect has been present in this area for at least 3 years. Until this finding in Saint Petersburg, it was thought that the Northwestern border of the pest range in European Russia was in Tver province. The authors considered that the presence of A. planipennis in Saint Petersburg is a threat to the nearby palace gardens of Peterhof (immediate vicinity) and Oranienbaum (5 km away). In addition, the presence of the pest in Saint Petersburg represents a significant shift towards the borders with Estonia and Finland. The authors also concluded that surveys should be carried out in Saint Petersburgh historical centre, as well as in adjacent areas of the Leningrad province, and that infested ash trees should be removed before the onset of adult flight activity (end of May 2021).
Sources
Volkovitsh MG, Suslov DV (2020) The first record of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in Saint Petersburg signals a real threat to the palace and park ensembles of Peterhof and Oranienbaum. In: Musolin DL, Kirichenko NI, Selikhovkin AV (eds.) Dendrobiotic invertebrates and fungi and their role in forest ecosystems. Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia. pp. 121-122. DOI: 10.21266/SPBFTU.2020.KATAEV