Update on the situation of Halyomorpha halys in Italy
In Italy, Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was first found in 2012 in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna region (EPPO RS 2013/108). After this initial detection, H. halys gradually spread in Northern Italy without creating particular problem. In 2014, populations started to increase in some orchards in Modena province and to damage pears (Pyrus communis) close to harvest. Nevertheless, this type of damage remained localized and was still considered to be of minor importance. During summer 2015, large populations of H. halys spread across the Po Valley in the fruit-growing areas of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Bologna. Despite all control measures applied, pest feeding caused severe damage to fruit crops. The most affected areas were those located at the east of Modena close to the Panaro River. Pear orchards were the most affected, probably because pear is the most widely cultivated fruit in this area, but H. halys also attacked apricot (Prunus armeniaca), plum (P. domestica), peach (P. persica), apple (Malus domestica), persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). On attacked fruits, feeding punctures of H. halys usually lead to suberifications, formation of necrotic areas and, in the worst cases, deliquescent fruit pulp. At present, H. halys has been detected in Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Piemonte and Veneto regions, as well as occasionally at some locations in Central Italy. It is concluded that because H. halys may seriously affect many crops, sustainable management strategies should be developed in Italy and other European countries.
Sources
Bariselli M, Bugiani R, Maistrello L (2016) Distribution and damage caused by Halyomorpha halys in Italy. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 46(2), 332–334.