Update on the situation of Scirtothrips aurantii and Scirtothrips dorsalis in the Netherlands
In July 2025, the NPPO of the Netherlands informed the EPPO Secretariat that Scirtothrips aurantii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A1 List) and Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A2 List) had been eradicated from its territory.
S. dorsalis had previously been found in 2019 and 2022 in connection with imported plants and had been successfully eradicated (EPPO RS 2019/182, RS 2022/204, RS 2023/010). S. dorsalis was reported again on ornamental plants alongside the first finding of S. aurantii at the end of October 2024 in a commercial greenhouse in Altena municipality, Noord-Brabant province (RS 2025/004). Following the finding, official phytosanitary measures were implemented, including incineration of infested plants and cleaning of the infested greenhouse. Between March and July 2025, no S. dorsalis or S. aurantii have been caught in traps in the greenhouse and the outbreak is considered eradicated.
In August 2025, the NPPO of the Netherlands informed the EPPO Secretariat that S. dorsalis was found again on 31 July 2025 on bonsai plants of Podocarpus macrophyllus at a nursery (greenhouse). The infestation was detected during a post-import monitoring inspection. The infestation was found on a lot of P. macrophyllus plants (1721 plants) in one compartment of the greenhouse (0.2 ha). In this compartment bonsais of other plant species are present (Buxus harlandii, Camellia japonica, Ginkgo biloba, Ilex microphylla, Ilex crenata, Loropetalum chinense, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Pseudolarix amabilis, Rhododendron indicum, Syzygium buxifolium and Zelkova parvifolia) and will be inspected to check if they are infested. Official measures were taken and include prohibition of movement of all plants in the compartment as well as applications of plant protection products, hygienic measures to prevent spread of the pest out of the compartment, and traps to monitor the presence of the pest. Other compartments at the site of production have been inspected on 1 August 2025 and no indication of the presence of S. dorsalis was found. All plants present were imported from China. Forward tracing is ongoing.
The pest status of Scirtothrips aurantii in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Absent, pest eradicated.
The pest status of Scirtothrips dorsalis in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2025-07, 2025-08).