The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in collaboration with academic experts, held the ninth webinar in a series of 20 on EU priority pests, focusing on the Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), according to an event report published on 10 July 2026. The webinar provided an overview of the beetle's characteristics and included a practical simulation using the RiPEST tool. The recording is available on EFSA's YouTube channel and the EU Academy platform.
The webinar is part of a broader EFSA initiative to improve plant health crisis preparedness through training on pest surveillance. The series covers 20 priority pests identified by the EU. This particular session targeted Group 2 long-horned beetles, following a similar webinar on Anoplophora chinensis held earlier. The report notes that the training aims to enhance the capacity of EU member states to detect and respond to outbreaks of these invasive species, which pose significant threats to forestry and horticulture. The Asian long-horned beetle is a wood-boring pest native to Asia that has caused extensive damage in North America and parts of Europe, leading to quarantine measures and eradication programs. EFSA's pest survey card on A. glabripennis, published previously, provides detailed guidance for surveillance. The webinar series is funded under a framework contract for technical and scientific support to EFSA's training courses.