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Click here to go back Details of this species in Japan Status: Alien Invasiveness: Invasive Occurrence: Reported Source: Mamiya, 1988; Nakamura and Yoshida, 2004 Arrival Date: 1905 Introduction: Species Notes for this Location: Pine wilt disease is considered to be the most seriuos forest pest in Japan. Though the pine wilt disease was reported in Japan in early 1900, the causal agent (as Bursaphelenchus lignicolus) B. xylophilus was not described until 1972. It is speculated that it reached Japan in pine logs or lumber. Pinus densiflora and P. thunbergii deaths in epidemic proportions were reported at Nagasaki in 1905. In 1925 pine wilt disease was reported 50 km north of Nagasaki and by the late 1930s was present throughout most of Kyushu and Shikoku. The disease was found in Honshu in 1921 and during the 1930s and 40s spread northwards through that island. By the late 1970s the disease had spread to northern . Today the pine wilt disease is found throughout Japan except in Aomori Prefecture, the northern most part of Honshu Island, and in Hokkaido. Management Notes for this Location: The epidemic in Nagasaki was controlled by eradication of dead trees. At present insecticides, nematicides and fumigants are widely used to control disease (Kosaka, Hajime., pers.comm., 2005). Location Notes: Impacts: Economic/Livelihoods: In 1979 timber losses of 2.4 million cubic metres were recorded, during1980 the Japanese government spent $35 million in control operations Last Modified: 17/06/2005 12:51:33 p.m.