First report of Garella musculana in Italy
The NPPO of Italy recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of Garella musculana (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae - EPPO A2 List) on its territory. G. musculana is an important walnut pest originating in Central Asia. It was found in 2008 in Ukraine, and more recently in Turkey (EPPO RS 2019/008), Bulgaria (EPPO RS 2019/009), Romania (RS 2021/171), and Southern Russia (RS 2021/207).
A specimen was found in an entomological trap placed in a private garden in an urban area in the municipality of Venezia - Mestre (Province of Venezia, region of Veneto) in October 2021. The identity of the insect was confirmed by the University of Padua.
The NPPO will carry out a specific survey during the spring-summer period 2022 to verify the distribution of the pest.
The pest status of Garella musculana in Italy is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2022-01).