General Impact
The brown spruce longhorn beetle (Tetropium fuscum) is considered a very high risk invasive species. Outside of its native range, it is a primary pest of spruce and pine trees and is high risk species for spread, establishment, and reproduction potential, as well as inflicting economic and environmental damage. It is only a secondary pest in its native range, usually attacking only weakened and dying trees, while it attacks healthy, vigorous trees in Canadian forests where trees lack developed defense mechanisms, and specific predators or parasites are not present. Outbreak levels may persist for a decade inflicting continual damage over extesive conifer tracts. In Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, T. fuscum has ravaged red spruce trees with mortality rates estimated up to 70% and managed to escape its previous containment area. Spruce accounts for 60% of Nova Scotia's forest volume and T. fuscum poses a serious threat to the conifer lumber industry. Further infestation in Canada is likely to result in large scale ecological changes and biodiversity reduction by changing forest composition. Even control and eradication programs are likely to have environmental effects. Mass tree infestations also cause increased wildfire frequency and intensity (Dobesberger, 2005; NAPPO, 2000).
Location Specific Impacts:Nova Scotia (Canada) Damage to host species: Tetropium fuscum has inflicted serious damage on red spruce in 75-hectare Point Pleasant Park. Nova Scotia's natural resources department has removed over 1,000 of over 5,000 infested trees in attempts to contain the pest. Specialists estimate mortality as high as 70% (Chronicle-Herald, 2000; NAPPO, 2003). However T. fuscum is only known to attack Picea spp. in Canada, and has not been found on other genera of conifers such as Abies or Larix (Dobesberger, 2009). Other: The destructiveness of Tetropium fuscum on Point Pleasant Park causes detriment to the aesthetics and recreational value of this very popular park in Nova Scotia (Chronicle-Herald, 2000) Central Europe (Europe) Economic/Livelihoods: Tetropium fuscum is harmful to European timber industry. It along with other Tetropium spp. inflict 40% volume loss in young stands and 30% in mature stands. The exit holes formed also leave trees suscptible to other pathogens (Dobesberger, 2005). Ecosystem change: Tetropium fuscum is a pest to European trees especially Norway spruce (Picea abies). Although it is an important secondary pest here, it is capable of attacking vigorous trees and causing much damage, altering forests (Dobesberger, 2005) Northern Europe (Europe) Economic/Livelihoods: Tetropium fuscum is harmful to European timber industry. It along with other Tetropium spp. inflict 40% volume loss in young stands and 30% in mature stands. The exit holes formed also leave trees suscptible to other pathogens (Dobesberger, 2005). Ecosystem change: Tetropium fuscum is a pest to European trees especially Norway spruce (Picea abies). Although it is an important secondary pest here, it is capable of attacking vigorous trees and causing much damage, altering forests (Dobesberger, 2005) Southern Europe (Europe) Economic/Livelihoods: Tetropium fuscum is harmful to European timber industry. It along with other Tetropium spp. inflict 40% volume loss in young stands and 30% in mature stands. The exit holes formed also leave trees suscptible to other pathogens (Dobesberger, 2005). Ecosystem change: Tetropium fuscum is a pest to European trees especially Norway spruce (Picea abies). Although it is an important secondary pest here, it is capable of attacking vigorous trees and causing much damage, altering forests (Dobesberger, 2005)
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