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  3. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Basic information
Scientific name Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (No picture)
Common names pine wood nematode
Higher taxon Aphelenchidae, Aphelenchida, Secernentea, Nemata
Natural range North America.
Habitat Parasite on pine trees. Propageted by longicorn beetles genus Monochamus.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Entire Japan except Hokkaido and Aomori Pref. Range in Japan
Origin Unknown.
Date The first and second record was in 1905 at Nagasaki Pref. and in 1921 at Hyogo Pref., respectively. Spread throughout almost entire Japan by 1982.
Route Accidental: with imported lumber.
Impact Harmful to pine trees. It affects forestry.
Native organism(s) affected: Pine trees
Regulation in Japan No action for prevention, mitigation, control, or eradication.
Introduced range in other countries None.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Rutherford & Webster (1987) Distribution of pine wilt disease with respect to temperature in North America, Japan, and Europe. Can J For Res. 17, 1050-1059
  • Yamamoto et al. (2002) Local dynamics and global spread pine wilt disease. Jpn J Ecol. 50, 269-276
  • etc.
100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species