Beetles and Gall Wasps

Joe Ostojá-Starzewski

Back to presentations: Pests and diseases on trees and shrubsJoe Ostojá-Starzewski reviewed a number of Beetle and wasps attacking tree species.
Citrus Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) Asian Longhorn Beetle (A. glabripennis): Several findings in the 1980s and 1990s on Acer and Malus from Japan and Korea. 2005 -Outbreak at a nursery on Acer palmatum from China. 2006 – Found on imported Acer, Cercis and Malus and other finds reported in the press and noted by FR. 2008 -Many infested Acer trees imported from China to the Channel Islands and sold by mail order across the UK. These beetles although large may evade detection, clues include: ‘T’ shaped slits in bark (for oviposition). Exit holes of emerging adults. Piles of frass. Chewed leaves. Chewed bark. Bulging of trunk (pupal chambers).

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) arrived in North America and Canada from China in 1990s, but its presence was only officially confirmed in 2002. It is estimated to have killed 70 million ash trees in North America so far! Its detection is far from easy, but clues are Crown dieback, Chlorosis, Appearance of Epicormic shoots, Bark deformities, Over abundant seed crop, Signs of insect damage, Foliar feeding damage, ‘D’ shaped emergence holes, and meandering bark galleries.

The oriental chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus) is a pest of Castanea species that has now arrived in Europe.