First report of Rhagoletis completa in Belgium
The NPPO of Belgium recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first confirmed finding of Rhagoletis completa (Diptera: Tephritidae - EU Annexes) on its territory. During summer 2018, 6 specimens were trapped by a research institute monitoring Rhagoletis species in Belgium. The traps were placed in walnut trees (Juglans regia) close to a cherry orchard. Collected specimens were kept in ethanol until morphological determination. After a first determination, the fruit flies were sent to the national reference laboratory which confirmed the identity of specimens as R. completa. No damage was recorded in the field. It is noted that a first unofficial observation had been posted in 2016 on a website (waarnemingen.be) maintained by naturalist associations, and that since this initial record, further observations of the pest on walnut trees had been posted. Considering the rather wide distribution of the pest within the European Union, no official phytosanitary measures will be taken.
The pest status of Rhagoletis completa in Belgium is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Belgium (2018-11).