Diabrotica virgifera virgifera no longer occurs in Belgium
The NPPO of Belgium recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae – EPPO A2 List) no longer occurs on its territory. The NPPO recalled that a small number of specimens had been caught in the surroundings of the Brussels National Airport (Machelen) in July 2014 (EPPO RS 2014/143). As a consequence, emergency measures were taken from July to November 2014 (Ministerial Decrees of the 25th of July and 12th of November 2014). Although emergency measures were repealed in November 2014, surveys for D. virgifera virgifera continued to be carried out by the regions. In 2015 and 2016, no beetles were caught in traps installed in the surroundings of the 2014 finding site in Machelen. In addition, no further findings were reported by the monitoring network which focussed on areas at risk, such as main roads and parking areas, airport surroundings.
The pest status of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera in Belgium is officially declared as: Absent, pest no longer present.
Sources
NPPO of Belgium (2016-12).