EPPO Global Database

During the last decades several invasive Auchenorrhyncha species have been introduced into the EPPO region, such as Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera: Flatidae) and Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae - vector of grapevine flavescence dorée). Another species originating from Asia, Orientus ishidae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) has now been reported from several European countries and is currently spreading in the EPPO region. This species has also been introduced in North America (Canada and USA) during the last century. It was first recorded in 1919 in New Jersey (US) on Aralia spinosa. At that time, it had been suspected that it had been introduced with nursery stock imported from Japan. Recent taxonomic studies have revealed that the taxon previously referred to as O. ishidae comprises two distinct species: specimens examined from Japan, USA and European countries belonged to O. ishidae, but those from China (Liaoning) and the Eastern Maritime region of Russia (Amur) corresponded to a new species, Orientus amurensis. O. ishidae is a highly polyphagous species which has been observed in association with many woody plants and deciduous trees (e.g. Acer, Aralia, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Fagus, Hedera, Gleditsia Malus, Populus, Prunus, Salix, Tilia), as well as some herbaceous plants (e.g. Urtica). O. ishidae is a sap-feeder, although some damage (i.e. uniform browning of apple and hazel foliage) has occasionally been reported in the USA, it is not considered to be a major pest of cultivated plants. The main concern raised by the introduction of O. ishidae in the EPPO region is the possible transmission of phytoplasma diseases. Experiments conducted in the 1970s in the USA have showed that O. ishidae could transmit Peach X disease (associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’) to celery plants. Recent studies conducted in Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland detected the presence of Grapevine flavescence dorée in specimens of O. ishidae collected from diseased vineyards. However, more research is needed to verify the capacity of O. ishidae to transmit the pathogen, and evaluate its potential role in the phytoplasma disease epidemiology.

From the literature, the spread of O. ishidae in the EPPO region could be retraced as indicated below. In most cases, specimens were found in urban or suburban environments (often caught in light or yellow sticky traps), and sometimes found along rivers and woodland margins.

Finally, several forums and blogs on the Internet indicate that O. ishidae is probably present in more European countries, such as:

Belgium (pictures taken in 2008)

Slovakia (picture taken in 2012)

Spain (pictures taken in 2012 and 2014)