Outbreak of Rhagoletis completa in Austria in 2009
In Austria, Rhagoletis completa (Diptera: Tephritidae – EU Annexes) was detected for the first time in 2008 on walnut (Juglans sp.) in Tyrol (EPPO RS 2008/155). In 2009, the pest was also detected in Vienna, Steiermark and Kärten (RS 2009/044), and later on in Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich, and Vorarlberg. Because of the publicity concerning these pest findings, numerous samples of walnuts were sent by private owners to a laboratory of the Institute of Plant Health and in several cases R. completa was identified. In addition, R. completa was detected on sticky traps placed in private gardens in Niederösterreich. The owners of the gardens were ordered to burn all remaining nuts, and were recommended to cover the ground around their walnut trees with a fine meshed net.
The pest status of Rhagoletis completa in Austria is officially declared as: Local outbreaks, under observation.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2010-02).