Update on the situation of Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EPPO A2 List) was first found in March 2021 in a greenhouse (EPPO RS 2021/078). The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the Secretariat that this outbreak has been eradicated in February 2022. It may be noted that E. fornicatus s.l. had been found in a second greenhouse (1.3 ha) in May 2021 and this outbreak had been eradicated in July 2021. In total 27 plants were found to be infested with Euwallacea fornicatus s.l. in the two greenhouses. Monitoring was conducted with traps, and other non-European Scolytinae (notably Hypothenemus spp.) were frequently caught by these traps.
Hypothenemus spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are regulated as quarantine pests in the EU Annexes as ‘non-European Scolytinae spp.’. It was not possible to identify the species present, but DNA barcoding showed that they were not H. hampei or H. obscurus, two Hypothenemus species known to cause economic damage.
The NPPO of the Netherlands also informed the EPPO Secretariat that Euwallacea fornicatus s.l. was found again in July 2021 on one plant for planting of Ficus lyrata in a greenhouse for commercial retail (7 ha). Eradication measures were applied. This last outbreak is not yet eradicated.
The pest status of Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient: actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2022-04).
NVWA (2021) Quick scan answer for Hypothenemus spp. Available at https://pra.eppo.int/pra/7705a2ad-29a3-41e1-ba5a-96d0872d95b5