First report of Diaphorina citri in Cyprus
The NPPO of Cyprus recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of Diaphorina citri (vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ - Hemiptera: Psyllidae, EPPO A1 List) on its territory.
The psyllid was found in the municipality of Asómatos in Limassol District by an operator in an orange (Citrus sinensis) orchard of 8.3 ha. The pest was identified as D. citri morphologically by the Cyprus National Reference Laboratory and by the EU Reference Laboratory using COI sequencing. Monitoring surveys are planned to delimit the extent of the outbreak. Official measures are being applied.
The pest status of Diaphorina citri in Cyprus is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Cyprus (2023-08).