First report on Euwallacea similis in the EPPO region
Euwallacea similis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae, EU A1 Quarantine pest as ‘non-European Scolytinae spp.’) is a highly polyphagous ambrosia bark beetle native to South East Asia and reported across Oceania and Africa. It was previously introduced, and established, in Texas, USA in 2002 (EPPO RS 2006/208).
In May 2024, an agronomist observed symptoms of ambrosia bark beetle infestation in a private facility in Montechiarugolo (Parma Province, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy). Symptomatic plants showed bark beetle holes and frass. The National Reference Institute for Plant Protection investigated in late May 2024 and found specimens of E. similis and other bark beetles on a Ficus macrophylla tree and on window sills and furnishings next to the tree. The identity of E. similis was confirmed by morphological and molecular testing. The infested F. macrophylla tree had been shipped from a plant nursery in Alicante, Spain. This is the first report of E. similis in Italy.
It may be noted that in March and in April 2021, E. similis had been found (a single individual in both cases) in a commercial greenhouse growing (sub)tropical plants in the Netherlands during surveys conducted as part of an eradication programme against Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato.
Sources
Toccafondi P, Vitale S, Rizzo D, Luongo L, Binazzi F, Garaguso I, Benvenuti C, Mercuri I, Resta E, Pennacchio F (2025) First report in Europe of Euwallacea similis (Ferrari) (Coleoptera Curculionidae Scolytinae Xyleborini). Redia 108(2025), 83-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.19263/REDIA-108.25.09
NVWA (2022) Quick scan for Euwallacea similis. QS2021ENT007. Available at https://pra.eppo.int/pra/16bdb992-11b7-4012-a71b-228988378883.