Longhorned Beetles Found in Imported Artificial Xmas Trees

By United States Department of Agriculture

Federal inspectors recently detected brown fir longhorned beetles, Callidiellum villosulum in artificial Christmas trees with wooden trunks imported from China. The infested wood product detected by a homeowner in Saginaw Michigan was referred to the state's Department of Agriculture and traced back to the store where it was traced back to the store where it was purchased. Further investigation found that the treatment administered to the shipment did not meet U.S. Entry requirements. A limited recall was issued for those artificial Christmas trees.

Brown fir longhorned beetles may be a threat to arborvitae, cypress, juniper, cedar and possibly other landscape plats. The genus Callidiellum comprises three established species in North America. The genus cupressi from coastal California, viridescens from Arizona and rufipenne first detected in North Carolina and Connecticut. The species,C. Villosulum is found in eastern China and is considered a secondary pest because it primarily attacks only weakened or recently felled conifers.