In Bulgarian with English summary

СТАНОВИЩЕ относно възможностите за навлизане и установяване на вредителя Aromia bungii в Р България и възможните последствия за производството на костилковите овощни видове

The aim of this opinion is to identify the possibilities for entry, establishment and the possible methods for control of a pest Aromia bungii in the republic of Bulgaria, as well as the eventual consequences for the production of stone fruit species.

On 11 October, the European Commission published a list of 20 regulated quarantine pests (according to Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031[1]) which are classified by the Panel of Plant Health of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as “priority pests” and pose the most serious economic, environmental and social threat to the countries of the European Union (EU).

This priority pests include the considered in this opinion Aromia bungii.

Aromia bungii Fladerman (order Coleoptera: family Cerambycidae – longhorn beetles) originates from the south-eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions. A common name for the species is Red-necked longhorn beetle.

bungii was first discovered in Europe in 2008, when three adults were found in wooden pallets in a warehouse in Bristol, UK.

Damages are caused by the larvae of A. bungii, which attack old trees and trees in poor phytosanitary condition. They harm the sap wood and heart wood of the trunk and larger branches making 17-22 cm long tunnels.

The economic significance of A. Bungii is known mainly in China, for cultivated apricots, peaches, plums and cherries, where economic losses can be considerable (30 to 100%).

The main pathways of introduction of A. bungii to the region of European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) will be most likely through wooden packaging material. Other possible pathways of entry are trees or wood products of the Prunus species, which are large enough to maintain live larvae, until the emergence of adults.

Plants for planting and bonsai may also contain eggs or young larvae.

The species can enter the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria through wooden packaging material (pallets, crates, etc.), trees or wood products from different trees of the genus Prunus, which are large enough to maintain live larvae until the emergence of adults; also through plants for planting and bonsai.

Currently, there are no data on the presence of A. bungii in our country, but the climatic conditions, suitable for the successful establishment and development of the species, as well as its preferred host plants are available, and that poses a risk to the production of stone fruit species.

The possible entry, establishment and development of A. bungii is likely to lead to serious economic losses for farmers, so that strict observance of phytosanitary measures for control and acquaintance of farmers with the dangers, posed by this pest, are necessary.