Host plants of Euwallacea fornicatus in Australia
In Australia, an outbreak of Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae – EPPO A2 List) was first found in 2021 in the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australia (EPPO RS 2022/001). The outbreak is still limited to this area and phytosanitary measures are in place to prevent any further spread. A list of more than 190 host plants of E. fornicatus sensu stricto has recently been published, indicating whether the pest is able to successfully reproduce on these hosts or not. Plant species were added to this list when the identity of the beetle and/or its symbiotic fungus was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Among the reproductive host tree species, the following ones were considered to be preferred hosts in Western Australia: Acer negundo, Coprosma repens, Delonix regia, Erythrina x sykesii, Ficus macrophylla, Ficus rubiginosa, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Platanus x acerifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia. The list of host plants of E. fornicatus has been updated in the EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/EUWAWH/hosts
Sources
Government of Western Australia. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB). Australian Host List (version 24.0, 2024-09-30). https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/PSHB-WA-Host-List_2.pdf