1. Imported furniture – A pathway for the introduction of plant pests
into Europe
J. C. Ostoja-Starzewski
The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ UK; e-mail: joe.ostoja-starzewski@fera.gsi.gov.uk
The finding of two pests which are on the EPPO Lists of pests recommended for regulation
and are EU quarantine listed pests: Monochamus alternatus and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus,
within the structural components of imported furniture are discussed. This highlights the
plant health risks associated with this neglected pathway.
In May 2013 a single live adult Monochamus alternatus,
Hope (Japanese pine sawyer) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
(Fig. 1), a species of longhorn beetle that naturally occurs
in China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Taiwan and Vietnam, was
found for the first time in the UK in a warehouse facility.
In common with other non-European Monochamus spp. this
pest is on the EPPO A1 List of pests recommended for reg-
ulation and an EU A1 quarantine listed pest, as it directly
damages coniferous trees and is a very efficient vector of
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner Buhrer) Nickel (the
pinewood nematode) that is on the EPPO A2 List of pests
recommended for regulation and an EU II/A1 listed pest
itself and the causal agent of pine wilt disease. Unfortu-
nately the geographical origin of that particular specimen
of M. alternatus could not be determined. A more signifi-
cant finding of M. alternatus was made in the UK in July
2013 when a member of the public captured a live adult
that had emerged from one of a pair of recently purchased
dining room chairs (Fig. 2). The beetle had clearly devel-
oped within part of the internal soft wood framework of the
chair (Fig. 3) and had then bitten through a layer of plastic,
2 cm of upholstery foam and finally the outer faux leather
covering before emerging (Fig. 4). Whilst this chair was
being examined a second live beetle emerged and was cap-
tured. The chairs had been manufactured and imported
directly from China thus indicating the probable origin of
the beetles. Both the chairs and the insects were taken for
further laboratory analysis.
Fig. 1 Adult male Monochamus alternatus Hope. ©Fera. Fig. 2 Type of chair found to be infested. ©Fera.
34 ª 2014 The Author. Journal compilation ª 2014 OEPP/EPPO, EPPO Bulletin 44, 34–36
Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin (2014) 44 (1), 34–36 ISSN 0250-8052. DOI: 10.1111/epp.12103

2. Samples of the wood in which the two beetles had devel-
oped and subsequently emerged were extracted and found
to contain large numbers of live B. xylophilus. This is a
very significant finding, for, although both organisms have
been intercepted in the EU on previous occasions (see EU-
ROPHYT notification reports), this is the first time that live
pinewood nematode and one of its known vectors have
been found together in goods imported to the EU. With the
assistance of the UK Forestry Commission a further 12
chairs from the same consignment were retrieved, decon-
structed, examined and sampled. This process resulted in
the detection of three dead; one live M. alternatus larvae
and further clear evidence of beetle activity (in the form of
bore holes and larval galleries) was seen (Fig. 5). In addi-
tion many of the soft wood components (most probably
pine wood) had extensive blue/grey fungal staining (Fig. 6).
This symptom is often but not exclusively associated with
infestations of pinewood nematode. Analysis is still ongo-
ing to determine if any fungal plant pathogens can be
detected in this wood.
Wood that is to be used in the manufacture of such
goods should be disinfested prior to use following the Inter-
national Standard for Phytosanitary Measures for the treat-
ment of wood packaging material, ISPM 15 (http://www.
ispm15.com/faq.htm). The method involves a heat treatment
that aims to raise the core temperature of the wood to 56°C
for a minimum of 30 min. In this case the presence of live
invertebrates indicate that at least some of the wood com-
ponents in this consignment of furniture had either not been
treated or had been inadequately treated.
Large volumes of furniture of similar construction to the
infested chairs found in the UK are imported annually into
Europe from China and elsewhere. Importation figures
obtained by the UK Forestry Commission indicate that in
the previous financial year (2012/13) the UK alone imported
approximately 84 000 dining chairs of the type found to be
infested in this instance. These findings illustrate that this
trade clearly offers a pathway with the potential for multiple
and widespread introductions of M. alternatus, B. xylophilus
and other wood inhabiting pests.
L'importation de meubles ‐ une filière pour
l'introduction d'organismes nuisibles aux
végétaux en Europe
Cet article examine le signalement de deux organismes
nuisibles presents sur la Liste OEPP des organismes
nuisibles recommandes pour reglementation et qui sont des
organismes de quarantaine pour l’UE: Monochamus
alternatus et Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a l’interieur des
Fig. 3 Beetle emergence hole (Diameter 8 mm). ©Fera.
Fig. 4 Hole through outer faux leather covering. ©Fera.
Fig. 5 Larval galleries in soft wood components. ©Fera.
Fig. 6 Fungal discolouration of soft wood component (↔=55 mm).
©Fera.
Furniture imports – a pathway for pests 35
ª 2014 The Author. Journal compilation ª 2014 OEPP/EPPO, EPPO Bulletin 44, 34–36

3. composants structurels de meubles importes. Ceci souligne
les risques pour la sante des vegetaux poses par cette filiere
mal prise en compte.
Импopт мeбeли кaк пyть пoпaдaния вpeдныx
для pacтeний opгaнизмoв в Eвpoп
B cтaтьe paccмaтpивaeтcя oбнapyжeниe в cтpyктypныx
кoмпoнeнтax импopтиpoвaннoй мeбeли двyx вpeдныx
opгaнизмoв, кoтopыe чиcлятcя в пepeчняx EOКЗP
peкoмeндyeмыx для peгyлиpoвaния вpeдныx opгaнизмoв
и являютcя кapaнтинными для EC: Monochamus alternatus
и Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Этo пoдчepкивaeт
cyщecтвyющий pиcк для здopoвья pacтeний, cвязaнный c
тaким бeзнaдзopным пyтeм pacпpocтpaнeния.
36 J. C. Ostoja-Starzewski
ª 2014 The Author. Journal compilation ª 2014 OEPP/EPPO, EPPO Bulletin 44, 34–36