Corythauma ayyari: a new lacebug found in France, Israel and Italy
Corythauma ayyari (Hemiptera: Tingidae), the jasmine lace bug, is originating from Asia. According to the literature, it has been recorded on the following host plants: Jasminum, Lantana, Musa, Hedychium, Ocimum and Daedalacanthus nervosus. On Jasminum, feeding by nymphs and adults results in small chlorotic spots on the upper leaf surface. The leaf undersides characteristically become black or dark brown due to the presence of excrement. Photosynthesis is reduced as the insect damages the palisade parenchyma. Attacked leaves may curl up, desiccate and fall prematurely. C. ayyari is known to occur in India, Laos, Malaysia (Penang Island), Pakistan, and Thailand. However during the last decade, its presence has been reported from Israel (2004), France (2009) and more recently Italy.
In Israel, C. ayyari was first discovered in 2004 attacking ornamental jasmine near Tel Aviv. Large numbers of adults, sometimes together with nymphs, were sporadically observed in Herzliya (near Tel Aviv) during August-October from 2004 to 2011. C. ayyari was observed on Jasminum sambac (=J. pubescens) and Volkameria inermis.
In France, the first outbreaks of C. ayyari were observed in 2009 on jasmine plants at Puget sur Argens (Var department).
The NPPO of Italy recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of C. ayyari on its territory. In December 2012, the insect was detected on a single potted plant of Jasminum officinale located on a private balcony in Caserta, Campania region. The affected plant showed leaf depigmentation and patches of excrement on the underside of the leaves. The origin of this infestation is not known. C. ayyari was found on a single,
10-year old potted plant and further investigations carried out in adjacent gardens did not detect the pest. The infested plant was destroyed.
10-year old potted plant and further investigations carried out in adjacent gardens did not detect the pest. The infested plant was destroyed.
The pest status of Corythauma ayyari in Italy is officially declared as: Transient, detected on a potted plant. Further investigation will be carried out in the area.
Sources
INTERNET
FREDON-PACA
Bulletin de Santé du Végétal. Zones non agricoles et pépinières ornementales, no. 28 (2012-10-01). http://www.fredonpaca.fr/IMG/pdf/BSV_ZNA_PO_no28_01102012.pdf
Novoselsky T, Freidberg A (2013) Note: Corythauma ayyari (Drake) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) – a new pest of ornamentals in Israel. Phytoparasitica 41(1), 149-150.
NPPO of Italy (2013-01).
Streito JC, Matocq A, Guilbert E (2010) Découverte d’un foyer de Corythauma ayyari (Drake 1933) et point sur la presence de plusieurs espèces de Stephanitis envahissants en France (Hemiptera: Tingidae). L’Entomologiste 66, 7-12 (abst.).