First report of Ripersiella hibisci in Belgium
The NPPO of Belgium recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of the root mealybug Ripersiella hibisci (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae – EPPO A1 List) on its territory. The trace forward surveys related to the outbreak in Italy (EPPO RS 2021/081) identified several Belgian professional operators that had received Callistemon plants from the company in Italy where R. hibisci had been found. These plants had been delivered directly from Italy or via another EU Member State. Many of these plants had already been sold to final consumers. The plants that could be traced to professional operators were inspected and tested, and put aside until the results were available. R. hibisci was found on 5 plants in 5 different locations in Belgium in 4 provinces (Hainaut, Luxembourg, Antwerpen, Oost-Vlaanderen). All the plants left from the lots containing the 5 infected plants had the same plant passport number and were destroyed. Monitoring will continue.
The pest status of Ripersiella hibisci in Belgium is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Belgium (2021-06).