Date: Fri 15-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Japanese-cedar-longhorn-beetle

Full Text:

Beetles Seen As Threat To State's Native Trees

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

State agricultural officials have announced an emergency alert about an exotic

Asian beetle that has been discovered in Connecticut and may pose a serious

threat to native trees.

The announcement of the discovery in arborvitae trees of Callidiellum

rufipenne , commonly referred to as the smaller Japanese cedar longhorn

beetle, was made by John F. Anderson, the director of the Connecticut

Agricultural Experiment in New Haven, on Friday, January 8.

Mr Anderson emphasized that the beetle, which is native to China, Taiwan,

Korea and Japan, is not the Asian longhorn beetle that has been found in New

York state and Connecticut and has been the subject of intensive searches to

see if it is in Connecticut.

The smaller Japanese cedar longhorn beetle was discovered in an arborvitae

growing in Milford last September.

"Subsequent investigation has located this beetle in Stamford, Greenwich and

North Haven. However, we do not know when and where the plants became

infested," Mr Anderson said. The beetles were found in plants that originated

in British Columbia, Oregon and Connecticut. The infested trees were planted

in 1997 or 1998, he said.

Mr Anderson asked for public assistance in the search for infested trees.

Although unsold infested trees may be relatively easy to locate, nursery trees

that have been seen dispersed to individual homes or other sites may be

difficult to track down, he said. The beetles may pose a threat to wild and

cultivated cedars, junipers and pines in addition to arborvitae. There is no

pesticide to combat the winged insects.

Gov John G. Rowland has approved an emergency regulation that authorizes the

examination of nursery stock and other regulated items by state inspectors or

other personnel authorized by the director of the experiment station. If

infested stock is found, it will be quarantined and either destroyed or

returned to its point of origin outside Connecticut. The owner will be given a

receipt indicating the number of trees or other plants that are removed.

The smaller Japanese cedar longhorn beetles are ¬- to «-inch long. The males

are iridescent deep blue to black with brownish-red to red patches on the

upper corners of the wing covers; they have a reddish-orange abdomen. The

antennae of the male are slightly longer than his body. The female has

brownish-red to red wing covers, and a reddish-orange abdomen. The antennae

are about three-fourths of the length of her body.

The main damage is caused by the beetle larvae, which tunnel under the bark of

living plants. The larval galleries increase in width from beginning to end,

and sometimes girdle a branch.

In the fall, the larval galleries may be readily visible because the bark

sometimes splits to expose the sawdust-filled channel in the wood below.

Callusing is often visible at the edge of the channels.

Mr Anderson said that, based on the number of infested trees found, it appears

there may be only "several hundred to a couple of thousand" infested trees.

This makes it possible to hope that the beetle can be eradicated before it

establishes itself.

"We are fortunate that the beetles are dormant until spring, so we have time

to find many of the trees that may be infested," Mr Anderson said. "To prevent

this insect from becoming established, we need the cooperation of all who may

have purchased an arborvitae tree or had one planted in their yard during 1997

and 1998. We want them to check their trees for evidence of beetle damage.

"If their arborvitae show signs of beetle damage," he continued, "they should

notify the experiment station. Plant inspectors from the experiment station or

volunteers from the Connecticut nursery industry will then inspect the trees."

Anyone who suspects their arborvitae, juniper, cedar, or pine trees might

harbor the beetle can send an email to carol.lemmon@po.state.ct.us or call

toll-free, 877/855-2237, to report it.

State agricultural officials said the beetles affect the multi-million dollar

nursery/greenhouse industry in Connecticut because 17 local nurseries grow

thousands of arborvitae and sell their plants both in and out of the state.

Other nurseries and retail stores sell arborvitae that originate in

Connecticut and elsewhere. Thousands of arborvitae are planted as ornamentals.

Nurserymen Disagree

The Connecticut Nurserymen's Association disagreed that the beetle poses a

serious threat. The 500-member CNA, which represents nurseries, garden centers

and landscapers, said state nurserymen believe the new beetle poses little

threat and can easily be eradicated before it does any serious damage.

"Out of millions of trees in Connecticut, the c.rufipenne beetle has been

found in only a few arborvitae, junipers and cedars," said CNA President

Rayona Hobbs. "And the beetle, at this point, has surfaced only in four

nurseries in southern Connecticut."

The CNA pledged to help the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station find

affected trees and destroy the beetle before it establishes itself in the

state's landscape.

The CNA emphasized that almost 100 percent of all trees and shrubs at garden

centers and nurseries in Connecticut are pest-free. The association already

had spread the word to nurseries around the state about the beetle and how to

find it, Ms Hobbs said. Homeowners should not be deterred from pursuing their

spring garden and planting plans, she added.

"The people of Connecticut need to know this insect has previously been known

to come from Asia, and it probably hitched a free ride on trees shipped in

from somewhere outside the state," Ms Hobbs said. "Our nurseries and garden

centers will make sure their customers get the healthy, pest-free and shrubs

they deserve."

Survey Planned

The staff of the experiment station, assisted by officials of the US

Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, plans

to conduct a sampling survey this year to determine if and where the smaller

Japanese cedar longhorn beetle has become established.

In the spring, staff scientists will attempt to capture the beetles with

plastic traps baited with chemical attractants, such as cedar oil, and sticky

bands on eastern red cedar and arborvitae. They also will search the foliage

of arborvitae for adult beetles.