First report of Ripersiella hibisci in Slovenia
The NPPO of Slovenia 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 that a consignment of plants for planting (203 plants in total) of Chamaerops humilis, Trachycarpus fortunei and Phoenix canariensis had been imported into Slovenia (municipality of Ljubljana) from the infested nursery in Sicily. R. hibisci was detected in one plant of C. humilis. As some of the plants had already been distributed further to end consumers, they are being traced back. All plants from the consignment will be destroyed.
The pest status of Ripersiella hibisci in Slovenia is officially declared as Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Slovenia (2021-07).