Firewood is well documented as a
pathway for moving plant pests, and as
such, state and federal regulations have
been enacted to minimize the potential
for spreading pests in firewood.
However, other wood products, even
seemingly "safe" products, may also
harbor insects.
Recently, several incidents of
exotic wood boring insects in rustic
log furniture have been discovered
in the United States. The furniture
was imported from various suppliers
oversees, and multiple species of
insects were recovered in the wood.
This has resulted in efforts by State
Departments of Agriculture, working
along with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, retailers and importers,
to recover and destroy the infested
furniture. One recall of infested
log furniture from a single supplier
ultimately involved furniture in over
40 states. While records indicated no
buyers in Nebraska purchased any of
the furniture, the situation highlighted
the potential for movement of plant
pests in non-traditional pathways.
The insects found in the furniture
included the brown fir beetle
(Callidiellum villosulum) and the
velvet longhorn beetle (Trichoferus
campestris). It is believed these
beetle larvae can remain viable in
dry wood, such as furniture, for long
periods of time before completing
their life cycle and emerging as adults.
Neither beetle is known to occur in
Nebraska, but both have the potential
to become established in U.S. forests
and cause significant damage to native
ecosystems and urban forests.
Most wood products entering the
U.S. are required to meet specific
certification requirements related to
plant pests before being imported.
However, problems can arise when
the wood is not properly heat treated
or fumigated prior to being exported.
Sometimes, too, a wood product is
not recognized as a pest pathway, and
migration steps are not required for
import.
Other examples of imported
household articles found infested with
plant pests include pet chews, potpourri
and even faux Christmas trees. The
Florida Department of Agriculture
discovered several species of insects
infesting wooden sticks imported as pet
chews, in 2016. In recent years, pine
cones in potpourri and faux Christmas
trees with real wood trunks were the
focus of national recalls when they
were found to be infested with exotic
insects.
These examples highlight the risk
for introduction of plant pests that
could be damaging to our state, and
help to illustrate why state and federal
regulations exist on the movement of
plants and plant products. ■
Furniture Pests
By Julie Van Meter
State Entomologist, Nebraska
Department of Agriculture
Presented by
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 21
Furniture with larval galleries. BOTH PHOTOS
COURTESY MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Larva found in rustic
log furniture.
