Update on the situation of Aonidiella citrina in Italy
As reported in EPPO RS 95/035, an outbreak of Aonidiella citrina (Homoptera: Diaspididae – EU Annexes) was found in 1994 in Calabria, Italy. Surveys were done in 1991-2001 in citrus orchards in Calabria and Sicilia using pheromone traps. Results showed that the pest is still limited to the area where it was first detected and has not caused serious damage. The situation is very similar to the one described in earlier surveys done in 1999-2000 (see EPPO RS 2002/134), i.e. A. citrina occurs only in the Sibari Plain (localities of Corigliano and Rossano, Calabria) and it is not observed in citrus orchards in Sicilia. The situation of Aonidiella citrina in Italy can be described as follows: Present, first found in 1994, confined to a limited area in the Sibari Plain in Calabria.
Sources
Palmeri V, Benfatto D, Mazzeo G, Di Leo A (2005) Observations on the yellow scale on citrus in Italy. Informatore Fitopatologico no. 3, 54-58.