First report of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Switzerland
The NPPO of Switzerland recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae - EPPO A2 List) on its territory. The insect was first detected on 2009-05-08 on a single high stem Castanea tree in the centre of Mendrisio, a small town located at the very South of Ticino. According to the survey which was subsequently carried out from 2009-05-12 to 2009-05-20, typical symptoms could be found on Castanea in almost the whole Sottoceneri area, corresponding to the southern part of Ticino. In some cases, experts considered that, according to the type of damage found, trees might have been infested since 2007. The Sopraceneri area, corresponding to the Northern part of Ticino and geographically separated from the Sottoceneri by the Monte-Ceneri mountain chain, has still been found free from the pest. As a result, the Sottoceneri area has been demarcated and the movement of plants of Castanea will be prohibited. This precautionary measure should prevent the pest from spreading to the northern part of Ticino and, a fortiori, to the northern part of the Alps, and it will affect retailers (garden centres) as well as nurseries. However, the NPPO of Switzerland considers that the eradication of the pest in the demarcated area may not be feasible.
The situation of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Switzerland can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2009 in Ticino, only in the Sottoceneri area, under official control.
Sources
NPPO of Switzerland, 2009-05.