First report of Scirtothrips citri in Israel
The NPPO of Israel recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Scirtothrips citri (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A1 List) on its territory. This finding is also a first record for the EPPO region. During routine pest monitoring carried out in spring 2022, suspicious samples of thrips collected from citrus groves in the Upper Galilee area (Northern Israel) were brought to the PPIS laboratories, and collected specimens were identified as Scirtothrips citri. The identification of the pest was confirmed by morphological and molecular analysis. S. citri was observed on trees of Citrus reticulata, C. paradisi and C. sinensis, with moderate damage. The entry pathway is unknown, though illicit import of prohibited propagation material is suspected.
A country-wide survey is currently being conducted in order to determine the distribution of the pest in Israel, as well as its host range. Potential hosts are surveyed to detect thrips populations, and detected thrips are sampled and identified at the PPIS laboratories. In parallel, action is taken to register pesticides for use against this pest in commercial host crops to mitigate outbreaks.
The pest status of Scirtothrips citri in Israel is officially declared as: Present: not widely distributed and under official control.
Sources
NPPO of Israel (2022-08).