First report of the Cnestus mutilatus in Slovenia and update on Anisandrus maiche and Xylosandrus compactus
Cnestus mutilatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, regulated by the EU as ‘non-European Scolytinae’) is first reported from Slovenia. This species is native to Asia, and was first reported in the EPPO region in the Russian Far East in 2017 and in Italy in 2021 (EPPO RS 2022/147).
Two specimens were trapped during the national survey of quarantine species in July and August 2024 in oak-dominated forest stands (Quercus spp.) at Radmožanci (Pomurska region, north-eastern Slovenia). The authors considers that these findings are not related to the population in Italy because no specimens were detected between the two locations and the specimens in Italy are genetically different, so both populations may result from separate introductions.
An update is provided for Anisandrus maiche and Xylosandrus compactus (formerly EPPO Alert List) which were first recorded in traps in Slovenia in 2023 (RS 2024/052). A. maiche is only present in the eastern part of the country. In 2024 it was recorded in 6 locations compared to 3 in 2023 and the number of specimens trapped increased from 386 to 5603. X. compactus was recorded in the same location as in 2023 with again only 3 specimens trapped.
So far, no tree damage in Slovenia has been attributed to these three recently discovered species.
Sources
Hauptman T, Capuder L, Devetak Z, De Groot M, Faccoli M, Piškur B (2025) First record of the non-native Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford) and further findings of other Xyleborini (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) recently recorded in Slovenia. Zootaxa 5653(1), 143-150.