First report of Cerataphis brasiliensis in France on imported palms
The NPPO of France recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding on its territory of Cerataphis brasiliensis (Homoptera: Aphididae) on palms (Butia capitata). The pest was observed in a nursery located at Grimaud (Var), on palms which had been imported from Brazil in June 2004. Damage was characterized by premature yellowing of leaflets, leading to partial or total desiccation of the palm(s). Young palms were shiny and heavily covered by honeydew. Apterae and alatae were first observed in July and September 2004, respectively. It is suspected that the pest was introduced by the import of plant material from Brazil. The whole lot of plants was placed under quarantine, awaiting for appropriate measures to be taken. It is also mentioned that in the EPPO region, the presence of C. brasiliensis in Canary islands (ES) and Madeira (PT) was recently reported in the literature.
EPPO note: According to Howard (2001), C. brasiliensis originates from Asia but is now widespread on palms throughout the humid tropical regions of the world. It has probably been spread by movement of living palms. This species has a complex life cycle in its native area. Generations alternates between a dicotyledonous host (Styrax benzoin) on which it causes galls, and numerous palm hosts.
Sources
NPPO of France, 2004-10.
Germain, J.F.; Chapin, E. (2004) Découverte en France métropolitaine du puceron des palmiers Cerataphis brasiliensis (Hempel) (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Hormaphidinae).
Revue française d’Entomologie (N.S.) 26(4), p 174.
Howard, F.W.; (2001) Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha. Aphididae. In: Insects on Palms. Eds Howard, F.W. Moore, D.; Giblin-Davis, R.G.; Abad, R.G. CABI, Wallingford, UK. p 161-166.