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Euscepes postfasciatus

Basic information
Scientific name Euscepes postfasciatus

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イモゾウムシ
Common names West Indian sweetpotato weevil
Higher taxon Curculionidae, Curculionoidea, Coleoptera
Natural range Caribbean islands
Habitat Parasite on tuburous root of Convolvulaceae plants such as sweet potato.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Central to southern part of Ryukyu Archipelago. Ogasawara Islands. Range in Japan
Origin Hawaii, Saipan, or some other Pacific Islands.
Date The first record in Japan was at Okinawajima Island in May 1947. After, this species has spread as following: Miyakojima and Ishigakijima is. 1951; small islets around Okinawajima Is. 1952-1954; Amami Islands 1966-1968.
Route Accidental: Hitchhiking on U.S. military transport, or with sweet potato transported with evacuation from Pacific Island after W.W.II. From Miyakojima to Ishigakijima Is. hitchhiking on sweet potato.
Impact Damage on agriculture of sweet potato and Convolvulaceae plants.
Native organism(s) affected: Convolvulaceae plants; Crops (sweet potato)
Regulation in Japan Quarantine Pest. To prevent spread of this species, import of live vines, leaves, tuberous roots, and other underground portions of plants of Ipomoea, Pharbitis, and Calystegia, live tuberous roots and other underground portions of cassava from areas with Cylas formicarius to Japan is prohibited. In addition, transport of above plants from southern (up to 28°40’N) islands even within Japan needs quarantine inspection (sweet potato) or is prohibited (other plants) by the Plant Protection Law.
Introduced range in other countries South America, Pacific Islands.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Hayashi et al. (eds) (1984) The Coleoptera of Japan in Color Vol. IV. Hoikusha, Osaka (in Jpn)
  • Kohama & Takahara (2002) Exotic insects in Okinawa. Bull Okinawa Pref Mus. 28, 55-92 (in Jpn)
  • Nakane et al. (1978) Inconographia Insectorum Japonicorum Colore naturali edita Volume II (Coleoptera). Hokuryukan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Plant Protection Station (2011) Quarantine Pest List (The Annexed Table 1 of the amended Enforcement of Ordinance of the Plant Protection Law) (Accessed on 2012-3-29) http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list1.html.
  • Plant Protection Station (2012) List of the Import Prohibited Plants (The Annexed Table 2 of the amended Enforcement of Ordinance of the Plant Protection Law) (Accessed on 2012-3-29) http://www.pps.go.jp/english/law/list2.html.
  • etc.
 100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species