The destructive brown spruce longhorn beetle has been found in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in a monitoring trap set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The beetle kills some spruce trees. It usually attacks dying or stressed trees, but can go after healthy ones too.

A quarantine zone has been established in a 1km area zone. Residents in the area have been told not to remove spruce logs, chips or any wood products from their properties.

"We have a pulp mill, lumber mills, lots of woodlot owners. So I think there's an onus on [the Department of Natural Resources] and CFIA both to come together and see how serious a problem this is and see what's the best way to mitigate it," said Charlie Parker, the MLA for Pictou West.

The insect is native to northern and central Europe. It was first detected in Halifax in 1999 at Point Pleasant Park, most likely after hitching a ride overseas and landing at the port next to the park.

As a result of the spread of the pesky beetle, 28 areas in Nova Scotia are under wood quarantine orders.

Source:
Pesky beetle discovered near Pictou (CBC)

More information about the brown spruce longhorn beetle:
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle - Tetropium fuscum (CFIA)