First report of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in the United Kingdom
The NPPO of the United Kingdom recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. The pest was found in sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Farningham woods, Kent. In this woodland, covering 79 ha and classed as ‘ancien semi natural’, C. sativa is the predominant species but oaks (Quercus spp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) are also present. The occurrence of D. kuriphilus has been confirmed on a number of trees, across an area with diameter of about 400 m (as of 2015-06-16). The infestation was initially reported by an amateur entomologist to the NPPO. This led to an official inspection in 2015-06-07 during which galls were sampled, and the identity of the pest was confirmed morphologically on 2015-06-11. For the moment, the source of this outbreak is not known but investigations are ongoing to verify whether the pest might have entered the UK with imports of infested plants for planting. Official control measures have been put in place to prevent any further spread and eradicate D. kuriphilus. Intensive surveys within a radius of 10 km around the infested woodland will be carried out. A wider surveillance programme across the UK will also take place.
The pest status of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in the United Kingdom is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the United Kingdom (2015-06).