New finding of Pochazia shantungensis in France
In France, Pochazia shantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae - EPPO Alert List) was first recorded in 2018 in a garden in Cagnes-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region) and again in the same location in 2019 and 2021 (EPPO RS 2021/129, RS 2022/001). The NPPO of France recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that a male specimen of P. shantungensis was captured in Montpellier (Hérault department, Occitanie region) on 19 October 2022 by a national association for nature protection and environmental education specialised in entomology. The capture took place under UV light during a night hunt for nocturnal lepidoptera on a private property. An official inspection was conducted on 8 November at the place of capture and in a garden centre in its vicinity. No new specimens of the insect were found, and no damage on plants observed. A further survey will be carried out in 2023. In addition, an investigation will be carried out to check whether there is a possible link between this capture and the earlier detections in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
Since Mars 2022, P. shantungensis has been listed as a temporary quarantine pest in France, together with Xylotrechus chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae – EPPO Alert List), and Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae - EPPO Alert List).
The pest status of Pochazia shantungensis in France is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France (2022-12).
Arrêté du 11 mars 2022 portant établissement des listes d'organismes nuisibles au titre du 5° de l'article L. 251-3 du code rural et de la pêche maritime. JORF n°0063 du 16 mars 2022. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2022/3/11/AGRG2135065A/jo/texte