An overview of the ongoing research on Anoplophora chinensis in Regione Lombardia : a special focus on biological control studies and use of sentinel trees technique.

The Longhorned beetle Anoplophora chinensis (Förster) (form malasiaca), commonly known as Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), has been found for the first time in northern Italy in 2001 where it is considered as a serious threat to the urban and natural environments. The species is very likely originating from Japan. During ten years of eradication efforts aiming at containing this invasive woodborer, various research studies were carried out. A new research project funded for 3 years by the Lombardy Region, will be developed from 2011 through 2013. It will include deeper studies and analyzes selected for their positive impact on the suppression of CLB populations. Finalizing a biological control technique to contain the pest, and using sentinel trees as a tool for surveying and suppressing the populations of CLB, are our main goals. In the major CLB infestation around Parabiago, Italy, a gregarious egg parasitoid of A. chinensis was discovered. It was new for science and was described and named Aprostocetus anoplophorae Delvare (Delvare et al., 2004). Since its discovery, it appeared to be the best candidate for biological control of CLB. The cooperative research of the next two years with USDA/ARS/European Biological Control Laboratory, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France will include laboratory studies in the quarantine of EBCL in France to establish a colony of the egg parasitoid, to determine an appropriate rearing method for it, to study its biology and behavior, as well as conducting field studies in Italy with the aim of establishing the parasitoid in areas of the CLB infestations in Lombardy where it does not occur yet. The sentinel trees method is based on the use of highly attractive tree species (e.g. Acer saccharinum) for an attract and kill purpose, to monitor pest presence and suppress its populations in areas where infestations are developing, or in sites that previously harboured pest populations. The attract and kill technique is particularly suitable for areas that are difficult to monitor. Simply stated, the primary objective is to attract the beetles and kill them 36 with a contact insecticide that has been previously sprayed on the base of the trunks. The pesticide would be applied to the 50 cm lower section of the trunk where CLB adults lay eggs. The objective would be to kill the beetles before they oviposit. Killing beetles that are attracted to and land on the sentinel trees gave this strategy its name: attract-and-kill