First report and eradication of Ripersiella hibisci in Slovakia
The NPPO of Slovakia 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 of Rhapis excelsa (12 plants in total) had been imported into Slovakia (municipality of Bratislava - mestská časť Ružinov) from an infested nursery. All plants were incinerated, and the pest is now considered eradicated.
The pest status of Ripersiella hibisci in Slovakia is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
Sources
NPPO of Slovakia (2021-07).