New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List
By searching through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included (or formerly included) on the EPPO Alert List, and indicated in bold the situation of the pest concerned using the terms of ISPM 8.
- New records
Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae – EPPO A2 List) is first reported from Honduras. During a survey to monitor the evolution of local populations of Drosophila melanogaster, two male specimens of D. suzukii were collected from rotten fruits (species not specified) in November 2024 in an area dedicated to coffee agroforestry in Comayagua department. The identity of the specimens was confirmed by morphological tests. Valladares et al. (2025) suggest that the pest was introduced through imported fruits. Present, not widely distributed.
In Chile, the invasive aphids Greenidea ficicola and Greenidea psidii (both Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) were found for the first time in December 2021. G. ficicola was found on weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and G. psidii was found on guava (Psidium guajava) trees in the city of Arica, Arica y Parinacota region. The identity of the aphids was confirmed by morphological and molecular testing (Sepúlveda et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
In Greece, Singhiella simplex (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was recorded for the first time in Athens and the surrounding suburbs of Athens, Attica region. S. simplex was found on Ficus sp. trees showing yellowing and heavy symptoms typical of whitefly infestation. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological and molecular testing. Stathakis et al. (2025) suggest that S. simplex is likely to be already widespread in Greece as there are many suitable host plants present. Encarsia protransvena (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was also observed parasitizing S. simplex (Stathakis et al., 2025). Present.
In Mexico, Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) was found for the first time during inspections in a bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) field in November 2024 near Navolato, Sinaloa state. 29 female and five male specimens were recovered from a one-hectare field. Payán-Arzapalo et al. (2025) believe that T. parvispinus was most likely introduced through infested material from the USA. Present, not widely distributed.
Bacterial leaf blight of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (EPPO A1 List) is first reported from Kenya. In June 2023, typical symptoms were observed on rice plants in the coastal region of Kenya (Taita–Taveta county). The identity of the pest was confirmed by molecular tests (Nganga et al., 2025). So far only Xanthomonasoryzae pv. oryzicola (EPPO A1 List) was known to occur in Kenya (EPPO RS 2018/102). Further surveys are needed to clarify the spatial distribution and prevalence of X. oryzae pv. oryzae in other regions of Kenya. Present.
- Detailed records
In Oregon (US), Dickeya dianthicola (EPPO A2 List) was detected for the first time in May 2023 in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants showing plant stunting, stem and root rot. The identity of the pest was confirmed by molecular testing. Infected plants originated from a single potato seed lot submitted to a seed lot trial conducted at Oregon State University. Ma et al (2025) report that the isolates from infected plants were genetically distinct from isolates identified in infections in Eastern USA and Canada. Present.
In Morocco, Penthimiola bella (Hemiptera : Cicadellidae) was known to occur on avocado (Persea americana) (EPPO RS 2019/033). During surveys in 2023-2024, it was first reported in citrus orchards (Haddad et al., 2025). Present.
In Brazil, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (EPPO A2 List) is reported for the first time in the state of Alagoas. During a survey conducted between January 2018 and September 2019, R. pseudosolanacearum was reported on chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants in Leste Alagoano mesoregion. R. solanacearum (EPPO A2 List) was already known to occur in Alagoas. It was detected on symptomatic banana (Musa acuminata), aubergine (Solanum melongena), and tomato in Agreste and Leste Alagoano mesoregions. The identity of the pests was confirmed by multiplex and repetitive sequenced-based PCR testing and sequencing (de Oliveira et al., 2025). Present.
- Eradication
In Japan Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroid fusituberis, PSTVd – EPPO A2 List) was first detected in tomato in Fukushima prefecture in 2008 (EPPO RS 2012/061), and in dahlia in Yamanashi prefecture in 2009. A nationwide survey was then conducted and revealed the occurrence in 15 prefectures: in Hokkaido (Hokkaido prefecture), Honshu (Aichi, Akita, Chiba, Fukushima, Hyogo, Nagano, Niigata, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamanashi prefectures), Shikoku (Kagawa, Kochi prefectures), Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kagoshima prefectures). Official measures have been implemented to prevent the spread and to eradicate the pest, and PSTVd has not been detected since 2021. As a result, PSTVd has been considered eradicated in 2024 (NPPO of Japan, 2025)
The pest status of Potato spindle tuber viroid in Japan is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
- New host plants
In Thailand, during inspections on solanaceous crops grown in greenhouses, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A2 List) was found for the first time on Indian nightshade (Solanum lasiocarpum) (Vivekanandhan et al., 2025). The pest caused leaf deformation and in severe cases yellowing, drying and fruit drop.
Sources
de Oliveira YD, Carvalhais LC, Assunção IP, de Andrade Lima GS, dos Santos SL, de Souza EB, Vieira WO, Silva AM (2025) Ralstonia species infecting Solanaceae and banana occur at different relative abundances in distinct regions of Alagoas state, Brazil. Tropical Plant Pathology 50(1), 62 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-025-00749-6
Haddad N, Ait Baddou S, Benkirane R, Smaili MC (2025) The citrus leafhopper Penthimiola bella (Stål)(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), infesting avocado and citrus trees in Morocco. EPPO Bulletin 55(2), 285-292.
Ma X, Frost K, Zhang X, Hao J, Swingle B (2025) First report of Dickeya dianthicola causing potato blackleg in Oregon. Plant Disease 109(6), 1374 https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0154-PDN
Nganga E, Brottier L, Boulard G, Blasco C, Auguy F, Szurek B, Bigirimana J (2025) First report of bacterial leaf blight disease of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Kenya. Plant Disease 109(6), 1373. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2096-PDN
NPPO of Japan (2025-08).
Payán-Arzapalo MA, Infante F, Ortiz JA, Suárez-Hernández H, López-Cuén PI, Delgado-Pacheco V, Gastélum-Acosta WE, Yáñez-Juárez MG, Estrada-Acosta MD (2025) A new invasive pest in Mexico: the presence of Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in chili pepper fields. Florida Entomologist 108(1), 20250001 https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2025-0001
Sepúlveda G, Bobadilla D, Huanca-Mamani W, Arismendi M (2025) First report of Greenidea ficicola Takahashi and G. psidii van der Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Chile. BioInvasions Records 14(1), 47–53 https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2025.14.1.05
Stathakis T, Evangelou V, Lytra I, Antonatos S, Papachristos D (2025) First report of the Ficus whitefly Singhiella simplex (Singh)(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and its parasitoid wasp Encarsia protransvena Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in Greece. Phytoparasitica 53(4), 69.
Valladares Y, Lopez V, Enamorado K, Pineda O, Sorto L, Hernández M (2025) First record of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Honduras: implications for agricultural ecosystems. Ecosistemas 34(2),3003, https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.3003
Vivekanandhan P, Swathy K, Siripan T, Sarayut P, Patcharin K (2025) First report of Solanum indicum as a new host of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management 16(1), 8 https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaf011