First report of Arboridia kakogawana, the Japanese grape leafhopper, in Romania
Arboridia kakogawana (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) was first described in Japan (Honshu) and then found in the Republic of Korea and the Russian Far East. In 1999, it was discovered in Southern Russia. In the 2000s, A. kakogawana was recorded as a pest of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) in vineyards of Russia and the Republic of Korea (EPPO RS 2016/097), as well as in Crimea and in North-western China.
In 2018 A. kakogawana was first identified from a vineyard (Vitis vinifera) in Northern Bucharest in Romania. Very high numbers were caught in yellow sticky traps during a monitoring for Scaphoideus titanus. Strong discoloration of the upper surface of the leaves (due to adult and nymph feeding) was also observed in this plot. Traps used in prior monitoring in 2016 and 2017 were re-examined and specimens of A. kakogawana were already present in 2016 and 2017, although in lower numbers. Adults and nymphs of A. kakogawana were also observed feeding on Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Considering the major impact of this pest on grapevine production in Southern Russia and Crimea, this pest could present a threat for grapevine production in Romania.
Sources
Chireceanu C, Nedelcea D, Seljak G (2019) First record of the Japanese grape leafhopper Arboridia kakogawana (Matsumura, 1932) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Romania. EPPO Bulletin 49(2), 391–397. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12585