Insects (2019) 10 (6 - 180)

Sizhu Zheng, Andrew J. Johnson, You Li, Chunrong Chu and Jiri Hulcr (2019)
Cryphalus eriobotryae sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a new insect pest of loquat Eriobotrya japonica in China
Insects 10 (6 - 180)
Abstract: A previously unknown bark beetle species, Cryphalus eriobotryae sp. nov. Johnson, 2019 has emerged as a lethal pest of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) in China. The description of new species has been provided. The new species is distinguished from the other Cryphalus by the weakly aciculate frons, by the antennae, with unevenly spaced procurved sutures, by the short pronotal disc, with hair-like setae, and by the widely spaced mesocoxae. The survey of plantation records from around Suzhou suggests that this beetle was introduced from another area not long before 2017. In the surveyed loquat plantation in 2018, 20–90% of trees showed signs of infestation, and 5% were killed in 2018, resulting in the death of over 1000 trees. Outbreaks of the apparently loquat-specific Cryphalus eriobotryae can be diagnosed by hundreds of cankers on the trunk, and wilted foliage. This pest is of concern as a loquat plantation pest and as a pest of fruit production and ornamental trees within Suzhou, and globally.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Jiri Hulcr

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
new introduction of pest

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cryphalus eriobotryae	Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)	China (south)
	Cryphalus eriobotryae	Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)	China (NE)