City longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta): A review of the species, its distribution, ecology, damage, prevention and control

Abstract

The city longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta) (CLB) (Coleoptera – Cerambycidae) is a polyphagous invasive pest of both healthy and suppressed broadleaved trees in central Asia. CLB causes a great degree of damage in the countries of its origin. To understand this pest in a better way, a detailed review study has been conducted to gather all the valuable information related to the CLB. This review study covers the main aspects of the CLB, its morphology, ecology, distribution, damage, and control measures. The life span of the CLB is two years. It is mainly distributed in the central Asian countries and preferably damages broadleaved tree species, especially Juglans regia, Populus alba, P. euphratica, Acer spp, Salix alba, S. babylonica, Malus pumila, M. sylvestris, Platanus orientalis and Ulmus spp. Effective control and management practices include cutting, removing + burning of infested trees, cultivating high resilient tree species, use of biocontrol agents (i.e. fungus), and use of aluminium phosphide as a pesticide to significantly help control the CLB population. A CLB invasion in a new favourable habitat could impose a serious threat to broadleaf forests and plantations. Therefore, the keen monitoring and surveying of woodland management techniques are recommended. The strict monitoring and inspection of traded wood material at airports and seaports are highly recommended. There is a need to conduct multiple research studies to profoundly understand the CLB phenology, ecology, transportation mode, and damage severity to bridge the gap.

Assessing the Global Pest Risk of Aeolesthes sarta with Regards to the Host Specie Populus alba under Climate Change Scenarios

“…Aeolesthes sarta or Trirachys sarta, commonly known as the City or Sarta Longhorned Beetle (belonging to the Trirachys genus), is one of the foremost species of the Cerambycidae family [4]. It is polyphagous, and mainly attacks broadleaved tree species, including Populus spp., Juglans spp., Acer spp., Salix spp., Malus spp., Platanus spp., and Ulmus spp.…”

“…It is polyphagous, and mainly attacks broadleaved tree species, including Populus spp., Juglans spp., Acer spp., Salix spp., Malus spp., Platanus spp., and Ulmus spp. [4]. Larvae of this family primarily feed internally on live or dead plant tissues [5].…”

“…The species is highly problematic in regions with hot, dry climates [14]. In central Asia, the longhorn beetle is a major pest affecting most broadleaved trees [4].…”

“…However, the vast majority of poplars still thrive in natural forests [15]. Populus alba is among the dominant host species severely and repeatedly attacked and damaged by A. sarta in its countries of origin [4,[18][19][20][21]. A. sarta can attack and reproduce on the main stem and large branches distinctively [18].…”

Invasive bark beetle Dryocoetes himalayensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) – A threat for walnut trees (Juglans spp.) in Europe?

“…Rhagoletis completa was added to the A1/A2 List of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests in 1975 and deleted in 1996; P. juglandis was added to the A2 List in 2015 (Eppo, 2023a(Eppo, , 2023b. Besides P. juglandis, only Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford, 1894) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) (reported from the USA by Katovich (2004)) and Trirachys sartus (Solsky, 1871) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) (reported from Central Asia by Hayat (2022)) are mentioned as considerable bark and wood-boring insect pests of walnuts.…”