Aculops fuchsiae found again in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Aculops fuchsiae (Acari: Eriophyidae – EPPO A2 List) was first found in August 2015 on 3 fuchsia plants in a private garden in Amsterdam (EPPO RS 2016/053). This outbreak was subsequently eradicated. In July 2017, A. fuchsiae was found again in the Netherlands on fuchsia plants in a private garden in Hoeven (municipality of Halderberge, Noord-Brabant province). The origin of this outbreak remains unknown so far. In this garden (800 m²) where many fuchsia plants were grown, significant damage was observed on 90% of the plants. In July 2017, following the recommendations made by the Dutch NPPO and under its supervision, the garden owner destroyed all his fuchsia plants. A delimiting survey to further investigate the spread, severity and possible source of this outbreak will be conducted. The survey will cover all neighbouring gardens and gardens of members of the fuchsia society in the municipality of Halderberge, as well as the commercial company where the owner of the infested plants had purchased his fuchsias in 2016.
The pest status of Aculops fuchsiae in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2017-07).