Citrus pests in the Near East
According to a listing in the report on the workshop on "Citrus Pest Problems and their Control in the Near East Region" published by the Regional Office of the Near East of FAO the following citrus pests of quarantine concern to EPPO are present in the region. The following listings concern only distribution records which are considered "new" to the EPPO Secretariat:
Ceratitis capitata (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - pest of minor importance in Yemen
Aleurothrixus floccosus (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - citrus pest of minor importance in Lebanon and Morocco and of moderate importance in Tunisia. A record for Syria is, however, based on questionable taxonomy.
Dialeurodes citri (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - the pest is considered very important in Syria and moderately important in Lebanon, Pakistan, and Turkey. The pest is also present in Morocco.
Aonidiella citrina (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - The pest is of moderate importance in Iran and present in Turkey.
Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - a record given for Jordan is based on questionable taxonomy.
Scirtothrips aurantii (potential EPPO quarantine pest) - The pest is present in Yemen.
Citrus satsuma dwarf virus (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - the pest is of moderate importance in Iran and Turkey.
Citrus tristeza closterovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - new records were given for Morocco and Saudi Arabia, in both countries a pest of minor importance.
Citrus vein enation disease (potential EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - the pest was recorded from Iran with a minor importance.
Citrus greening bacterium (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - citrus greening is present in Syria.
Xiphinema americanum (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) - the nematode has been recorded as present in Iran and of minor importance to citrus. Since X. americanum (sensu stricto) is not recorded outside North America and is not regarded as a pest of citrus this record is most probably based on another species within the X. americanum group.
Sources
FAO, Regional Office for the Near East, Cairo, (1993-06)