First record of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in France
The NPPO of France recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae - EPPO A2 list) on its territory. On 2006-09-12, 4 larvae collected from a Phoenix canariensis were identified and confirmed as being R. ferrugineus. The infested palm trees (10 m tall) were located in a private garden at Porto-Vecchio, in the south of Corsica.
A surveillance programme using traps had been initiated earlier in 2006 in several volunteer nurseries located in the departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes (region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur). In the deparment of Var, an adult beetle was caught on 2006-10-20 in 1 nursery at Grimaud on different palm species which had been imported from Italy, Spain, Brazil and Egypt. However, as of 2006-11-17, no infested palm could be identified despite all inspections made. Three other cases were then reported from Var:
- 2 females were identified on 2006-10-24 on a P. canariensis, which had been planted in 1996 in a private garden at Sanary-sur-Mer. The tree was growing in urban environment but in the vicinity of a nursery.
- 1 outbreak was identified on 2006-11-15 in a nursery at Sainte-Maxime, on an imported lot of P. canariensis (arrived in September 2006 from Italy).
- 1 outbreak was found on 2006-11-16 at a public park of La Croix Valmer, in 1 P. canariensis which had been planted in 1980.
Finally, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, an adult was caught on the 2006-11-21 at Saint-Martin-du-Var, in a nursery growing different palm species.
For all 6 outbreaks, surveys are being carried out and traps have been installed to determine the extent of the infestation. All palms trees identified as being infested by R. ferrugineus will be destroyed.
The situation of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in France can be described as follows: Present, first recorded in 2006, few outbreaks found in the departments of Corse du Sud (1), Var (4) and Alpes-Maritimes (1), under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France, 2006-11.