Update of the situation of Agrilus planipennis in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae - EPPO A2 List) was first detected in 2019 in the region of Luhansk (EPPO RS 2019/202, RS 2020/070) and then it further spread to the region of Kharkiv (RS 2021/216).
In a recently published article based on surveys performed in 2020 and 2021, it is noted that in 2020-2021 about 60 to 90% of ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and F. excelsior) were infested by A. planipennis in the plots surveyed in the Luhansk region, as well as in the Kharkiv region. It is considered that the beetle first arrived in Luhansk region in 2016-2017 at the latest. The native F. excelsior is less susceptible to A. planipennis than F. pennsylvanica. However, when F. excelsior is affected by ash dieback caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (formerly EPPO Alert List), it becomes more prone to be infested by A. planipennis.
Sources
Davydenko K, Skrylnyk Y, Borysenko O, Menkis A, Vysotska N, Meshkova V, Olson Å, Elfstrand M, Vasaitis R (2022) Invasion of emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis and ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Ukraine—a concerted action. Forests 13(5):789. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050789