In Bulgarian with English abstract. 

AFR area – Bulgaria

Description of the endangered area: Bulgaria. 

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) is a polyphagous pest native to China and the Korean Peninsula (Lingafelter & Hoebeke, 2002), and is currently present in most Chinese provinces. A. glabripennis was accidentally introduced to North America (USA and Canada) and Europe through international trade in wood packaging materials.

Within Europe, A. glabripennis has been recorded in Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland. 

Anoplophora glabripennis can attack and damage fruit, ornamental and forest plants. Host plants can grow in natural forests, in agricultural areas or in urban areas as ornamental trees. Attacks of A. glabripennis are often limited to isolated trees in cities in countries where the pest has been introduced (Faccoli et al., 2016). The availability of host plants and climatic conditions (except in the northernmost regions) are not a limiting factor for its establishment and spread in the countries of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). 

The main route for the introduction of A. glabripennis (eggs, larvae or pupae) into new areas is considered to be international trade, with wood packaging material or bedding made from host plants of the species. 

The number of new outbreaks and interceptions reported since the late 1990s in North America and Europe indicates that despite the implementation of international regulations, the risk of accidental introduction of this pest via wood packaging material remains high. For this reason, it is important to implement surveillance and early detection activities in areas with higher trade flows. 

At this point, no outbreaks have been detected in Europe outside urban areas (EPPO, 2020). Given the current distribution of the species, its biology and its regular capture worldwide, it is possible that A. glabripennis will become established in a large part of Europe (MacLeod et al., 2002).  Based on this information, the species is classified as a quarantine pest for Europe.(EPPO, 2020). 

Anoplophora glabripennis has been added to list A2 of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests for the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) region, meaning that the pest is locally present in the EPPO region. It is also included in Annex II, Part A of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/20725 of the Commission with the status of Union quarantine pests and in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/17026 of the Commission supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a list of priority pests.

There is currently no evidence that A. glabripennisis present on the territory of the analyzed endangered zone (Bulgaria). 

The climatic regions in Bulgaria (European-continental and continental-Mediterranean climatic regions) could be suitable for the improvement and propagation of the pest, but low temperatures in winter may have a negative impact on the establishment and spread of A. glabripennis in some parts of the country, as the initial stages of the species' development do not survive below 10°C. However, taking into account climate change in Bulgaria and the trend towards warming in most regions of the country and the forecast of milder winters in the coming decades, it is assumed that the conditions for the establishment of the species will all be suitable. 

Anoplophora glabripennis attacks a large number of broadleaf forest species, with a particular preference for Acer sp., which are widely distributed in Bulgaria, therefore, in the event of the possible entry and establishment of A. glabripennis in the country, it can be expected that this pest would have an ecological and direct economic impact, as possible phytosanitary measures would have an effect on the production and export of products (quantity, cost price). The implementation of possible phytosanitary measures in Bulgaria will lead to costs mainly for labor and materials related to monitoring and phytosanitary measures.