Incursion of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Hungary
In late June 2010, galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae - EPPO A2 List) were found on 4 chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) in a nursery outlet in county Baranya, Southern part of Hungary. The trees had been delivered from Italy to this nursery outlet in late March 2010 as a gift. The plants were kept separately from the nursery material and were not offered for sale. No exit holes were found on the galls. The identification of the pest was made on adults raised from galls under laboratory conditions. All four C. sativa trees were burnt by the competent authority before the adults could emerge from the galls. No other chestnut trees were found in the territory of the nursery outlet, the closest Castanea plants were located 10 km away. No symptoms have been found on any of these trees. Further intensive surveys will be conducted, even in private gardens, in order to confirm the absence of the pest. It can be recalled that D. kuriphilus had been reported in summer 2009 (EPPO RS 2009/155). A single chestnut tree, purchased from Italy, had been found infested in a private garden in county Pest, 200 km away from the current case. The pest was eradicated and no link could be made between the incursion in 2009 and the current finding. The NPPO of Hungary considers that D. kuriphilus has been eradicated from its territory.
The pest status of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Hungary has officially been declared as: Absent, considered eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of Hungary (2010-08).