Population characters and new records of emerald ash borer Argrilus planipennis Fairm. (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)in saint petersburg in 2022

Studies of the secondary population of the European ash borer Agrilus planipennis (EAB) in St. Petersburg and its surroundings were continued. The obtained data show that the population is persisting in St. Petersburg. The danger of mass destruction of ash stands, the role of which in the structure of urban plantatings is very important, still exists. Felling of infested trees in the two detected outbreak locations stopped further reproduction of EAB in these areas. In three other loci, the reproduction of the wood borer continues. Repeated examination of model trees in the outbreak site in Nevskii District showed an increase of the pest population density. The survival rate of EAB remained approximately at the same level as in 2020. The population density increases with the height of the infested tree trunk area. The role of parasitoids is insigni cant. The infested wood simultaneously contained pest at all stages of development - larvae, pupae and adults. Apparently the life cycle of EAB in St. Petersburg to a large extent depends on weather conditions and the microhabitat features; an increase in the sum of e ective temperatures is a key factor for its successful development. Symptoms of colonization by the pest (exit holes) appear only after the rst beetles’ emergence, a signi cant part of the individuals remains in the wood at the larval and pupal stages. Therefore, the timely detection, cleaning and destruction of trees with exit holes is the main tool for controlling the EAB spread. An e ective auxiliary measure would be the introduction of the parasitoids of this pest, which are currently practically absent in the local EAB population. Constant monitoring of ash trees is necessary, primarily in the known localities where pest appeared in Petrodvortsovyi and Nevskii districts. For a principal solving the problem of the further EAB spreading control, the active involvement of all municipal and federal management structures responsible for city plantings is necessary.

outbreak foci, invasion, population characteristics, monitoring