Update of the situation of Popillia japonica in Italy
In Italy, an outbreak of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Rutelidae – EPPO A2 List) is under official control in Lombardia and Piemonte (EPPO RS 2020/116). As this pest may easily be transported as a hitchhiker, the Italian NPPO has set up a trapping network in the regions surrounding the outbreak. On 2020-07-02, for the first time, two adults of P. japonica have been found in Parma province (Emilia-Romagna Region), 1 live female was caught in the interport at Fontevivo (an intermodal transport hub) and a dead male in near a car park close to the A1 motorway at Fontanellato. Additional traps were installed in the areas of these findings and further visual inspections will be carried out on the main hosts to assess the presence of the pest. Such a finding is considered as an incursion without any establishment to date.
The pest status of Popillia japonica in Italy is officially declared as: Present, under eradication, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2020-07).