IMPACT OF THE ELM LONGHORN BEETLE ON ORNAMENTAL ULMUS TREES IN THE KHOREZM OASIS

Abstract

The ornamental elm (genus Ulmus) has long been valued in Central Asian landscaping for shade and aesthetic appeal. In the Khorezm Oasis of Uzbekistan, species such as the hardy Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) are widely planted in cities and farms. However, these elm trees are under threat from the elm longhorn beetle (a wood-boring cerambycid). Larvae of this pest tunnel through trunk and branch wood, disrupting the tree’s water transport system and causing crown dieback. In Khorezm’s hot, arid climate, environmental stress further weakens trees and amplifies damage. This paper reviews the beetle’s biology, the symptoms and extent of elm damage observed in Khorezm, and recommends integrated control strategies. Results indicate that a combination of monitoring, sanitation, chemical treatment, and biological methods is needed to protect ornamental elms from decline.