First report of Scirtothrips aurantii in Spain
The NPPO of Spain recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of Scirtothrips aurantii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A1 List) on its territory. S. aurantii is native to Africa, and so far, it had only been recorded from outside this continent in Yemen. In the framework of the Citrus Phytosanitary Surveillance Plan of Andalucía, on 28th September 2020, individuals of Scirtothrips were detected on yellow traps located in citrus plots (Citrus sp.) of the municipalities of Cartaya and Lepe (Huelva province, Andalucía). At the same time, a company located in the same area reported the presence of adults and larvae of Scirtothrips on strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), blackberry (Rubus sp.) and blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) plants. These insects were later identified as Scirtothrips aurantii by the Regional Laboratory and the National Reference Laboratory on arthropods. A demarcated area composed of infested plots and their surroundings has been established and includes 12 municipalities in the province of Huelva. Official phytosanitary measures will be taken in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and will include insecticide treatments of the crops.
The pest status of Scirtothrips aurantii in Spain is officially declared as: Present, under eradication, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2020-11).