First report of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Belgium
The NPPO of Belgium recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae – EPPO A2 List) on its territory. The first observations were reported by amateur entomologists and citizens via Internet forums in July 2015 and a sample was sent to the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research. The NPPO was informed and more samples were collected from 3 outbreak sites which had been reported in the municipalities of Bree (province of Limburg); Tessenderlo (province of Limburg) and Scherpenheuvel-Zichem (province of Vlaams Brabant); and Retie (province of Antwerpen). The identity of the pest was confirmed in August 2015. The 3 outbreak sites were located in natural areas (public sites and conservation areas). In each outbreak site, only a few infested chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) were found and these were moderately infested. In Bree, 4 trees were found infested. In Tessenderlo/Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, 10 trees were infested (covering an area of approximately 0.3 ha), and in Retie, 3 trees were infested (in an area of approximately 100 m²). During summer 2015, the presence of D. kuriphilus was also reported in a few other municipalities in the provinces of Limburg and Antwerpen. The origin of the pest is unknown but natural spread from neighbouring infested countries is possible.
The pest status of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Belgium is officially declared as: Present: in some parts of Belgium: confirmed in provinces of Limburg, Antwerpen and Vlaams-Brabant.
Sources
NPPO of Belgium (2015-12).