United States Department of Agriculture Pest Risk Assessment Forest Service of the Importation into Forest Products Laboratory the United States of General Technical Unprocessed Eucalyptus Report FPL−GTR−124 Logs and Chips from South America A moderate pest risk potential was assigned to eleven other Abstract organisms or groups of organisms: eucalypt weevils In this report, we assess the unmitigated pest risk potential of (Gonipterus spp.), carpenterworm (Chilecomadia valdivi- importing Eucalyptus logs and chips from South America ana) on two Eucalyptus species other than E. nitens, platy- into the United States. To do this, we estimated the likeli- podid ambrosia beetle (Megaplatypus parasulcatus), yellow hood and consequences of introducing representative insects phorancantha borer (Phoracantha recurva), subterranean and pathogens of concern. Nineteen individual pest risk termites (Coptotermes spp., Heterotermes spp.), foliar assessments were prepared, eleven dealing with insects and diseases (Aulographina eucalypti, Cryptosporiopsis eight with pathogens. The selected organisms were represen- eucalypti, Cylindrocladium spp., Phaeophleospora spp., tative examples of insects and pathogens found on the foli- Mycosphaerella spp.), eucalyptus rust (Puccinia psidii), age, on the bark, in the bark, and in the wood of Eucalyptus Cryphonectria canker (Cryphonectria cubensis), Cytospora spp. Among the insects and pathogens assessed, eight were cankers (Cytospora eucalypticola, Cytospora eucalyptina), rated a high risk potential: purple moth (Sarsina violescens), Coniothyrium canker (Coniothyrium zuluense), and root and scolytid bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytopsis brasiliensis, stem rots (Armillaria spp., Phellinus spp., Ganoderma sp., Xyleborus retusus, Xyleborus biconicus, Xyleborus spp.), Gymnopilus spectabilis). For those organisms of concern that carpenterworm (Chilecomadia valdiviana) on Eucalyptus are associated with logs and chips of South American Euca- nitens, round-headed wood borers (Chydarteres striatus, lyptus spp., specific phytosanitary measures may be required Retrachyderes thoracicus, Trachyderes spp., Steirastoma to ensure the quarantine safety of proposed importations. breve, Stenodontes spinibarbis), eucalyptus longhorned borer (Phoracantha semipunctata), Botryosphaeria cankers (Bot- Keywords Pest risk assessment, Eucalyptus, South America, ryosphaeria dothidea, Botryosphaeria obtusa, Botryosphae- log importation, chip importation ria ribi), Ceratocystis canker (Ceratocystis fimbriata), and pink disease (Erythricium salmonicolor). April 2001 Kliejunas, John T.; Tkacz, Borys M.; Burdsall, Harold H., Jr.; DeNitto, Gregg A.; Eglitis, Andris; Haugen, Dennis A.; Wallner, William E. 2001. Pest risk assessment of the importation into the United States of unproc- essed Eucalyptus logs and chips from South America. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-124. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 134 p. A limited number of free copies of this publication are available to the public from the Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53705–2398. Laboratory publications are sent to hundreds of libraries in the United States and elsewhere. The Forest Products Laboratory is maintained in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. 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DeNitto Andris Eglitis Dennis A. Haugen William E. Wallner ii Contents Page Page Wood Import Pest Risk Assessment and Pathogens .......................................................................57 Mitigation Evaluation Team ............................................iv Foliar Diseases............................................................57 Acknowledgments................................................................v Eucalyptus Rust ..........................................................61 Executive Summary ...........................................................vii Cryphonectria Canker .................................................64 Chapter 1. Introduction.......................................................1 Botryosphaeria and Cytospora Cankers......................68 Ceratocystis Canker ....................................................72 Background ......................................................................1 Coniothyrium Canker..................................................75 Statement of Purpose........................................................1 Pink Disease ...............................................................77 Scope of Assessment ........................................................1 Root and Stem Rots ....................................................80 Pest Risk Assessment Process ..........................................1 Chapter 4. Summary and Conclusions ..............................85 Outreach ...........................................................................5 Background ....................................................................85 Site Visits .........................................................................7 Pest Risk Assessment .....................................................85 Resources at Risk .............................................................7 Major Pests of Eucalyptus Species on Imported Logs or Chips ..............................................................86 Chapter 2. Eucalyptus Resources of South America...........9 Factors Influencing Risk Potential..................................88 Eucalyptus Plantations in South America.........................9 Conclusions ....................................................................89 Characteristics of the Proposed Importation ..................11 Chapter 5. Bibliography....................................................91 Previous Interceptions of Quarantine Organisms ...........13 Appendix A—Team’s Site Visits to South America........101 Chapter 3. Insects and Pathogens Posing Risk..................15 Brazil: March 15–April 2, 1998 ...................................101 Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile: April 13–30, 1998 .....106 Introduction....................................................................15 Appendix B—Scientific Authorities for Species Analysis Process.............................................................15 of Eucalyptus ................................................................125 Individual Pest Risk Assessments...................................15 Appendix C—Summary of Reviewers’ Comments and Team’s Responses..................................................126 Insects.............................................................................27 Introduction..................................................................126 Leafcutting Ants..........................................................27 General Comments From Reviewers............................126 Eucalyptus Weevil ......................................................30 Major Issues of Reviewers ...........................................127 Flea of the Tifa Leaf ...................................................33 Issue 1: Geographical Scope of Assessment.............127 Purple Moth................................................................35 Issue 2: Biological Scope of Assessment..................128 Scolytid Bark and Ambrosia Beetles ..........................38 Issue 3: Definition of a Quarantine Pest ...................129 Carpenterworm ...........................................................41 Issue 4: Lack of Adequate Background Information 130 Issue 5: Crossover of Pests (Alternate Hosts)...........131 Platypodid Ambrosia Beetle .......................................44 Issue 6: Import of Potential Pests on Chips ..............131 Round-Headed Wood Borers......................................46 Issue 7: Pest Risk Criteria.........................................132 Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer ....................................49 Issue 8: Pest Risk Potentials .....................................133 Yellow Phoracantha Borer..........................................52 Issue 9: Unknown Virulence–Genetic Variability of Pests...................................................................133 Subterranean Termites ................................................55 Issue 10: Unknown (Sleeper) Pests...........................134 Issue 11: Issue of Tropical Hardwoods.....................134 iii Wood Import