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General Impact APHIS (1999) states that, "B. xylophilus harms pine trees and other conifer plants. Upon infection by B. xylophilus, the transmission of water within the plant is hindered, the leaves turn yellow and soon the whole plant wilts and dies. It takes only two to three months from the infection to the death of the plant. Therefore, the wilt disease is internationally recognised to be the most harmful disease of the forestry industry. Up to now the infection has caused death of over 16 million plants. There is about 850 million mu of conifer forest in China. The total area of pine trees, the largest forest resource of China is about 500 million mu. At present B. xylophilus has not arrived in the main forest area of China, but due to existence of Monochamus alternatus, the highly efficient media of B. xylophilus, the suitable climate and lack of natural enemy, B. xylophilus can very easily spread in China and cause disastrous damage to the forestry industry as well as the ecological system and tourism in China." Kosaka et al. (2001) states that, "Some well-managed pine forests such as those used for producing Matsutake mushrooms or those growing in tourist areas are suffering from the disease which has spread from surrounding infected forests."          Location Specific Impacts: Japan   Economic/Livelihoods: In 1979 timber losses of 2.4 million cubic metres were recorded, during1980 the Japanese government spent $35 million in control operations