First report of Euwallacea fornicatus in Uruguay
In South America, Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae – EPPO A2 List) was first recorded in Argentina in 2021 (EPPO RS 2023/182) and in Brazil in 2019 (RS 2024/081). Symptoms of the pest were first observed in Uruguay in March 2023 on an Acer japonicum in the Japanese Garden of Montevideo as well as in October 2024 on a urban Ficus tree in Rivera city (Rivera Department, northern Uruguay, near the border with Brazil). The identity of the pest was confirmed by molecular tests. It is considered that the two outbreaks correspond to two different introductions: natural spread or accidental introduction from Brazil in Rivera, and via maritime trade in Montevideo.
Host plants were surveyed, and 14 new host plants were identified, including 9 new reproductive host plants: Bauhinia forficata, Ceiba speciosa, Diospyros inconstans, Ficus aspera, Fraxinus excelsior, Gardenia thunbergia, Geoffroea decorticans, Myrsine laetevirens and Neltuma caldenia. C. speciosa and F. excelsior were previously considered as non-reproductive hosts.
The list of host plants of E. fornicatus has been updated in the EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/EUWAWH/hosts.
The situation of Euwallacea fornicatus in Uruguay can be described as follows: Present, not widely distributed and not under official control.
Sources
Ceriani-Nakamurakare E, Gomez DF, Trebino A, Listre A, Ingaramo L, Pilón AA, Bollazzi M (2025) Increasing breeding host range and fast spread across Uruguay reveals the invasion potential of Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in South America. NeoBiota 98, 247-260. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.98.147227.