Anoplophora glabripennisinfestation (col.: cerambycidae) in Italy

In June 2007, the Asian longhorned beetleAnoplophora glabripennis(Motschulsky) was found at Corbetta, in Lombardy, 23 km west of Milan, Italy. The invasive exotic pest was observed in four host trees, one sycamore mapleAcer pseudoplatanusL. and three silver birchesBetula pendulaRothmahler. During summer 2007, 20 living and 107 deadA. glabripennisbeetles were collected on or around the infested trees. The dissection of the infested material showed that 287 beetles emerged from the trees during previous years and 158 living larvae of varied ages were still developing in April, 2008. Fortunately, it appears that predation by birds on early stage larvae developing under the bark, played a major role in limiting the developing pest population.A. glabripennisis native to China and Korea where it is considered as a serious pest of many deciduous trees including maples, poplars, and willows. During the last decade, it was accidentally introduced into the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany and France in wood packaging material of goods imported from China. The current discovery in Italy is the first record of the Asian pest in this country.