EPPO Global Database

The situation of Diabrotica virgifera (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) in Europe was presented in detail in EPPO RS 98/198, after the meeting of the ad hoc Panel on D. virgifera held jointly with the IWGO International Workshop (Rogaëka Slatina, SI, 1998-11-27/28). The spread of D. virgifera is illustrated in the map below. It can be recalled that, D. virgifera continues to spread in Central Europe, but at a slower pace than what was observed in previous years. The numbers of insects trapped in infested countries indicated that populations densities were increasing, however no economic damage on maize has yet been seen (except in the parts of Serbia where the pest was originally found). New features in the spread of D. virgifera are its first records in Bulgaria and Montenegro, and indeed the capture of 7 adults in Italy, near Venice airport (see EPPO RS 98/161) which represents a 'major jump' of the insect towards western European countries. The map below will soon be presented on the EPPO Web page (www.eppo.org) on Diabrotica virgifera which is currently being prepared.