EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 09 - 2017 Num. article: 2017/157

New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List


By searching through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included (or formerly included) on the EPPO Alert List, and indicated in bold the situation of the pest concerned using the terms of ISPM no. 8.

  • New records
In June 2017, Aproceros leucopoda (Hymenoptera: Argidae - zig-zag elm sawfly, formerly EPPO Alert List), was found for the first time in Switzerland, in the canton of Zurich (INTERNET, 2017). Present: only in some areas (canton of Zurich).

In Spain, Grapevine Syrah virus 1 (Marafivirus, GSyV-1) was detected for the first time in May 2017 in 3 samples of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) collected from the municipalities of Capçanes, Bellmunt and Bot (all in the province of Tarragona, Cataluña). The virus was detected and identified by using molecular methods: NGS and conventional PCR (NPPO of Spain, 2017-06). According to Ruiz-García et al. (2017), GSyV-1 has been recorded in the Americas (Brazil, Chile, USA), Africa (South Africa) and in the EPPO region (Czech Republic, France, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey). It is also noted that GSyV-1 has not been clearly associated with any plant disease.
The pest status of Grapevine Syrah virus 1 in Spain is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In August 2016, Macrohomotoma gladiata (Hemiptera: Homotomidae) was detected for the first time in Montenegro. The pest was found on ornamental Ficus microcarpa (potted plants) growing within a hotel complex in the urban area of Budva (Radonjić and Hrnčić, 2017). Present: few occurrences (few potted plants in a hotel near Budva).

In October 2016, Macrohomotoma gladiata (Hemiptera: Homotomidae) was detected for the first time in Malta. The pest was found on Ficus atrocarpae trees in the locality of Attard. The extent of the outbreak was severe in the affected area (NPPO of Malta, 2017-05). The pest status of Macrohomotoma gladiata in Malta is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In Albania, a specimen of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae - formerly EPPO Alert List) was observed for the first time in December 2016 in Vlorë (van der Heyden, 2017). Present: few occurrences (a single specimen found in Vlorë).


  • Detailed records
In Italy, Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae – EPPO A2 List) was first found in 2008 in Puglia region (EPPO RS 2008/092, 2010/147). In June 2017, A. spiniferus was found on 2 citrus plants (Citrus limon and C. reticulata) in the urban area of Salerno (Campania region). In July 2017, its presence was also confirmed in the municipality of Roma (Lazio region) in 5 sites. A. spiniferus was found in public and private gardens on Citrus, Hedera helix and Rosa (NPPO of Italy, 2017).
The pest status of Aleurocanthus spiniferus in Italy is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In Spain, an outbreak of Tomato spotted wilt virus (Tospovirus, TSWV – EPPO A2 List) was found for the first time in Castilla y Leon in May 2017. TSWV was detected in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in one nursery in the municipality of Valencia de Don Juan, province of León (NPPO of Spain, 2017-07).
The pest status of Tomato spotted wilt virus in Spain is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In Romania, an outbreak of Tomato spotted wilt virus (Tospovirus, TSWV – EPPO A2 List) was found in June 2017. TSWV was detected in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) field (660 m²) located in the municipality of Oraşu Geoagiu (Hunedoara county). Phytosanitary measures were taken to eradicate the disease (NPPO of Romania, 2017-06).
The pest status of Tomato spotted wilt virus in Romania is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.

In Romania, an outbreak of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (EPPO A2 List) was found in June 2017. The bacterium was detected in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in a glasshouse (800 m²) located in Bârcea Mare, Hunedoara county. It is suspected that the bacterium has been introduced into this glasshouse via infected tomato seeds whose origin could not be ascertained. Phytosanitary measures were taken to eradicate the disease.
The pest status of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis in Romania is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.

In Estonia, an outbreak of Globodera rostochiensis (EPPO A2 List) was found in June 2017 during an official survey. Live cysts were identified in 5 soil samples which had been collected from a seed potato (Solanum tuberosum) production site (2 ha) in the village of Paunküla (Harju county). The identity of the nematode was confirmed by morphological and molecular (PCR) methods. On the infested site, it will be prohibited to grow seed potatoes and only the production of ware potatoes of resistant varieties will be allowed and all equipment used will have to be disinfected. These measures will be applied until 2023 (NPPO of Estonia, 2017).
The pest status of Globodera rostochiensis in Estonia is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.

In Finland, an outbreak of Globodera rostochiensis (EPPO A2 List) was reported in February 2017. The nematode was identified in soil samples from a potato (Solanum tuberosum) field (1 ha) located in the municipality of Säkylä (Satakunta region). Phytosanitary measures are being implemented to eradicate the pest (NPPO of Finland, 2017).
The pest status of Globodera rostochiensis in Finland is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.

In Luxembourg, an outbreak of Globodera rostochiensis (EPPO A2 List) was reported in February 2017. The nematode was identified in soil samples from a potato (Solanum tuberosum) field (approximately 10 ha). Phytosanitary measures are being implemented to eradicate the pest (NPPO of Luxembourg, 2017).
The pest status of Globodera rostochiensis in Luxembourg is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In Germany, Thrips setosus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO Alert List) was first found in 2015 on Hydrangea plants grown for cut flower production near Hamburg. In 2016, further findings were made in Baden-Württemberg. In 2017, an outbreak was reported on Hydrangea pot plants in a greenhouse of a nursery in North Rhine Westphalia. All infested plants and those belonging to the same lot were immediately destroyed. The production site concerned was then surveyed but no further infestation was found.
The pest status of Thrips setosus in Germany is officially declared as: Present, few occurrences, not confirmed by survey, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.

In Romania, an outbreak of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria (EPPO A2 List) was found in June 2017. The bacterium was detected in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in a glasshouse (400 m²) located in Brănişca, Hunedoara county. Phytosanitary measures were taken to eradicate the disease.
The pest status of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria in Romania is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.


  • Absence
In March 2017, the NPPO of the Czech Republic had reported a suspected finding of Xylella fastidiosa (at that time EPPO A1 List but recently transferred to A2 List – see EPPO RS 2017/158) in a single plant of Polygala myrtifolia growing in a private house in the village of Husinec (EPPO RS 2017/084). This plant had been imported from Spain. Later, two plants of Phoenix canariensis imported from France were also suspected to be infected. However, confirmation tests were subsequently carried out by the laboratory in Bari (IT) and gave negative results.


Sources

INTERNET
- Waldschutz Aktuell - 2/2017. Zickzack-Ulmenblattwespe erstmals in der Schweiz festgestellt. Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL (2017-08-24). http://www.wsl.ch/fe/walddynamik/waldschutz/wsinfo/wsaktuell/wsaktuell50d.pdf
NPPO of Estonia (2017-07).
NPPO of Finland (2017-04).
NPPO of Germany (2017-07).
NPPO of Italy (2017-07).
NPPO of Luxembourg (2017-02).
NPPO of Malta (2017-05).
NPPO of Romania (2017-06).
NPPO of Spain (2017-06, 2017-07).
NPPO of the Czech Republic (2017-07).
Radonjić S, Hrnčić S (2017) First record of the alien psyllid Macrohomotoma gladiata (Hemiptera Psylloidea Homotomidae) in Montenegro. Redia 100, 77-80.
Ruiz-García AB, Sabaté J, Lloria O, Laviña A, Batlle A (2017) First report of Grapevine Syrah virus-1 in grapevine in Spain. Plant Disease https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-17-0700-PDN
Van der Heyden T (2017) The first record of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) for Albania. Revista gaditana de Entomología 8(1), 133-135 (via PestLens).