Les Jones

Science > Wood-boring Beetles in Imported Pine Cones

Terri Killeffer sends along this note:

A devastating wood-boring beetle has been detected in scented pine cones imported from India and sold in Florida stores, prompting the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to urge consumers who have recently bought such products to return them immediately. The pest was found in the Target store in Gainesville.

Gainesville Sun.com

December 12. 2003 10:03AM
WOOD-BORING PEST IN SCENTED PINE CONES
Destructive beetle found in area Target

Greg C. Bruno
Sun staff writer
greg.bruno@gvillesun.com

A devastating wood-boring beetle has been detected in scented pine cones imported from India and sold in Florida stores, prompting the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to urge consumers who have recently bought such products to return them immediately.

The pest was found in the Target store in Gainesville.

Denise Feiber, a state division of plant industry spokeswoman, said the discovery of chlorophorus strobilicola - a type of long-horned beetle - was made in North Carolina last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It was the first time the pest had been discovered in the United States, Feiber said. In India, the beetles have decimated pine tree populations, feeding on the cones and limiting pine tree production.

After last week's discovery, the federal agency issued a recall of all cones sold in Target stores, where the discovery was first made. But this week, state inspectors expanded their search and found the pest in a "Candle-Lite Potpourri" brand product in a Wal-Mart store in Charlotte County.

"We don't know what the impact is going to be to our native pines," Feiber said. But based on observed impacts to trees in India, "it could be a huge problem."

The USDA believes the beetles, which were found in potpourri arrangements in four East Coast states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey, have been crossing Canadian border ports since April 2003.

"Consumers who have purchased scented pine cones should return them to the store," the state agency said in a statement Thursday. "If they have already opened the package, they are urged to double bag the item and return it to the store or double bag the product, tie it securely and dispose of it in the trash."

Consumers needing more information on how to identify or dispose of the beetles are asked to call toll-free at (888) 397-1517.

Greg Bruno can be reached at (352) 374-5026 or greg.bruno@gvillesun.com.