First report of Pochazia shantungensis in Belgium
The NPPO of Belgium recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Pochazia shantungensis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae – EPPO Alert List) on its territory.
P. shantungensis has been intercepted in a garden centre in Antwerpen arrondissement, Antwerp province in 2024. During a follow-up inspection in the same garden centre in August 2025, 2 males and 1 female were found on a sticky trap. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological tests. During visual inspection of the garden centre, egg masses of P. shantungensis were detected on plants of Citrus sp., Parrotia persica*, Ligustrum japonica, Camellia japonica and Quercus ilex*. Most plants had one to four egg masses, except P. persica, which was heavily infested with 15 egg masses.
The source of the outbreak is unclear. It may be linked to the import of infested plants or to the survival of overwintering eggs from the incursion of P. shantungensis in 2024. Official phytosanitary measures have been implemented including the placing of traps, pruning and burning contaminated branches and a prohibition of movement of plants from the garden centre.
The status of Pochazia shantungensis in Belgium is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned (currently only present in one municipality), under eradication.
* The EPPO Secretariat had no previous record of these species as hosts.
Sources
NPPO of Belgium (2025-09).