Update on the situation of Scirtothrips dorsalis in Spain
In Spain, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A2 List) was reported in Islas Canarias in 2016 (EPPO RS 2024/009), Comunidad Valenciana in 2017 (RS 2017/129), Andalucía in 2019 (RS 2019/183), and in Murcia in 2023 (RS 2024/009). Official surveys have been conducted since then and an update on the situation is provided below. Official phytosanitary measures are applied according to the national contingency plan. They include the destruction of infested plant material, trapping and chemical treatments.
·Communidad Valenciana
Since the initial detection in 2017 (EPPO RS 2017/129) S. dorsalis has been detected in 428 plots across 5 regions in Alicante province, 2 regions in Castellón province and 6 regions in Valencia province. Infested plants included Citrus x aurantium var. clementina, C. x limon, C. reticulata, C. x aurantium var. sinensis, C. x aurantium var. unshiu and Punica granatum.
·Murcia
During surveys in 2024, S. dorsalis was detected in new municipalities: evidence of damage was reported in a total of 42 plots with identification of the species in 18 plots. The infested plots were located in the municipalities of Alguazas, Alhama de Murcia, Archena, Cartagena Mazarrón, Molina de Segura, Mula, Murcia, San Javier, Santomera, Torre-Pacheco. In addition to citrus, infested plants included celery (Apium graveolens), grapes (Vitis sp.), Capsicum annuum, Punica granatum, and Rosa sp.
·Andalucía
The first record was in 2019 in the municipality of Motril (Granada province). S. dorsalis was detected again in November 2023 on two young Citrus x limon var. meyeri in a nursery in the municipality of Pulpí (Almería province) following an trace-back analysis after an interception of infested plant material from the nursery in another European Union Member State. Official phytosanitary measures have been applied, including the prohibition of plant movement out of the nursery.
The pest status of Scirtothrips dorsalis in Spain is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member state concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2023-12, 2024-12, 2025-02).
Plan de contingencia de Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (octubre 2024) https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/agricultura/temas/sanidad-vegetal/pncscirtothripsdorsalisoctubre2024_tcm30-705334.pdf