Detection of Xylosandrus crassiculus (Granulate ambrosia beetle) in Queensland

Publication Date

Sun, 23 Apr 2017, 22:41

Last Updated

June 23, 2023, 5:22 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-79/2

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Xylosandrus crassiusculus - (XYLBCR)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Hardwoods are the preferred host, however, any broad leaved tree or sapling can be attacked. 46 plant families are known hosts including the following species: Eucalyptus spp, Acacia spp., Ficus spp. Grevillea robusta (silky oak), Toona ciliata (red cedar), Casuarina (she-oak), Macadamia ternifolia (macadamia), Mangifera indica (mango), Persea americana (avocado), Carya illinoinensis (pecan), Coffea (coffee) and Litchi sinensis (litchi). Articles of concern include hardwood timber, in particular nursery stock and stored timber.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and not under official control

Geographical Distribution

There have been five confirmed detections of X. crassiusculus in Australia. All detections are limited to Queensland.

Summary

X. crassiusculatus is probably native to tropical and subtropical Asia and is now considered one of the most abundant and widespread wood-boring beetle species on the planet. It has a very broad host range including over 46 families, however any broad leaved tree or sapling has the potential to be attacked. Granulate ambrosia beetle is an exotic pest known to cause economic and environmental impacts overseas. Hardwood timber products are the major commodities at risk. Females are borers that infest woody stems or timbers and introduce a fungus on which the larvae feed. Damage is caused by both the tunnelling of the female, which reduces structural integrity of the timber and fungal staining. Damage is generally restricted to the lower trunk of standing timbers.

X. crassiusculus has been detected five times in Australia with all detections limited to Queensland. Delimiting surveillance including a short-term and long-term strategy of visual surveillance and trapping is underway. Due to the geographic distance between the detections and X. crassiusculus’s broad host range it is considered not technically feasible to eradicate in Queensland.

Danger

Granulate ambrosia beetle is an exotic pest known to cause economic and environmental impacts overseas. The pest feeds on a wide range of hardwood timber species, which constitute much of Australia’s native forests.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected]

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