An adult Aromia bungii which damages cherry and ume trees (photo courtesy of Aichi prefectural government)
The Aichi Agricultural Research Center reported by Thursday, June 20, that it confirmed inhabitation of Aromia bungii, a species of longicorn beetle which gives damage to cherry and ume (Japanese apricot) trees, in Ama district in the western part of Aichi Prefecture for the first time in Japan.
The center is calling for catching and killing of the beetles if found, since no pesticide labels are approved to exterminate them.
According to the center’s pest control division, an adult insect was captured in July 2012, and Nagoya Plant Protection Station has confirmed it as the longicorn beetle. 15 cherry and ume trees near the location where the insect was captured were found damaged. Most of the damaged trees were aged or weakened, and the damage could kill them.
In Ama district, insect excrement and wood chips were found from cherry trees in May this year, and Aichi prefectural government is requesting farmers to capture and kill adult insects and larvae. Since larvae develop inside solid wood, the effective method to capture them would be to look for holes on the trees where larvae come out and dig into them using chisels.
Aromia bungii is a species ranging in China, Taiwan, the Korean peninsula and the northern part of Vietnam. The insect is known to live in various kinds of trees including cherry, persimmon, ume, peach, pomegranate, olive, willow and oak.
(June 21, 2013)