The Asian longhorn beetle (anoplophora glabripennis), the Two Spotted Oak Buprestid (Agrilus Biguttatus) and the large pine weevil (hylobius abietis) and Their Relationship to Forests in the United Kingdom
Miranda Sanderlin
Summary Invasive species of beetle threaten forests in the United Kingdom every year with increasing impact. These beetles cause costly damage, both environmentally and ecologically. The Asian longhorn beetle (anoplophora glabripennis), the Two Spotted Oak Buprestid (Agrilus Biguttatus) and the large pine weevil (hylobius abietis) are three beetles that pose increasing threats to UK forestry. An outbreak of A. glabripennis in 2012 caused the felling of over 2,000 trees. The UK climate is not particularly favorable …show more content…
It lays 5-6 eggs in a big tree, generally around 80 years or older, complete with thick bark. Egg development is dependent on temperature and takes around two to six weeks. Larvae have a distinctive horned tail segment. Moist wood is key to larvae survival, and therefore this species cannot be transported in dry, dead wood. Woodpeckers and other predatory birds consist of the main predators for A. biguttatus (Moraal et al., 2000). Once the larvae pupates, the adult beetle emerges from the tree leaving behind a distinctive D-shaped exit …show more content…
abietis is widely distributed through the United Kingdom with focus in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The 1.5 cm long adult beetle is brown with yellow patches on their body. Though described as a pest as early as the 19th century, damage caused by the H. abietis did not become a problem until the early 20th century (Dillon et al., 2008). The beetle breeds primarily in the stumps of conifer species, with pine being the most commonly chosen host. After adult beetles lay eggs in the bark of the felled tree stumps, weevils take 12-36 months to develop from an egg to an adult. Adult weevils can live up to 4 years and tend to hibernate in leaves over winter (Dillon et al., 2008). Adults can also travel great distances, with lengths of 10 km being most common. H. abietis can only fly temperatures above 18°C and in wind speeds are less than 4 m/s (UK Forestry
Miranda Sanderlin
Summary Invasive species of beetle threaten forests in the United Kingdom every year with increasing impact. These beetles cause costly damage, both environmentally and ecologically. The Asian longhorn beetle (anoplophora glabripennis), the Two Spotted Oak Buprestid (Agrilus Biguttatus) and the large pine weevil (hylobius abietis) are three beetles that pose increasing threats to UK forestry. An outbreak of A. glabripennis in 2012 caused the felling of over 2,000 trees. The UK climate is not particularly favorable …show more content…
It lays 5-6 eggs in a big tree, generally around 80 years or older, complete with thick bark. Egg development is dependent on temperature and takes around two to six weeks. Larvae have a distinctive horned tail segment. Moist wood is key to larvae survival, and therefore this species cannot be transported in dry, dead wood. Woodpeckers and other predatory birds consist of the main predators for A. biguttatus (Moraal et al., 2000). Once the larvae pupates, the adult beetle emerges from the tree leaving behind a distinctive D-shaped exit …show more content…
abietis is widely distributed through the United Kingdom with focus in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The 1.5 cm long adult beetle is brown with yellow patches on their body. Though described as a pest as early as the 19th century, damage caused by the H. abietis did not become a problem until the early 20th century (Dillon et al., 2008). The beetle breeds primarily in the stumps of conifer species, with pine being the most commonly chosen host. After adult beetles lay eggs in the bark of the felled tree stumps, weevils take 12-36 months to develop from an egg to an adult. Adult weevils can live up to 4 years and tend to hibernate in leaves over winter (Dillon et al., 2008). Adults can also travel great distances, with lengths of 10 km being most common. H. abietis can only fly temperatures above 18°C and in wind speeds are less than 4 m/s (UK Forestry