Control of Red necked longicorn (continued)
Trunk sprays with a strong residual synthetic pyrethroid is perhaps the only option should red necked longicorn become established in a fruit growing region.
This would be highly disruptive to the predatory mites and general orchard ecosystem.
The pheromone of red necked longicorn has recently been identified in a collaborative effort by a team of research workers based in China, Japan and USA.
Sinogreen is looking at the possibility of using this for control using an ‘attract and kill’ strategy.
Movement and threat to Aus and NZ
Red necked longicorn is a serious quarantine concern for Australia.
In Europe, they are believed to have entered as larvae within wood pallets. This beast could enter Australia and New Zealand in the same way.
Once a few adults emerge, they could establish and build up in prunus street trees, fruit trees and ornamentals in home gardens and wild roadside peaches. They can fly and can readily move about in a district once established.
Red necked longicorn poses a threat to the Australian stone fruit industry. Their feeding habits and long life cycle would make them difficult and expensive to control and eradicate.
See this article in Tree Fruit Nov 2017
