Incursion of Bactrocera dorsalis in Slovakia
The NPPO of Slovakia recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A1 List) on its territory. In August 2025, it was trapped in a fruit fly trap on a wild apple tree (Malus sylvestris) near a fruit and vegetable market in Nové Mesto, Bratislava region. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological tests. Phytosanitary measures were implemented with the aim of eradication, including placing 20 further traps in the vicinity (500 m radius) of the outbreak, sampling of nearby pear tree hosts (Pyrus sp.) for testing and raising awareness of local owners to stimulate pest reporting. No further B. dorsalis were caught.
EFSA (2025) assessed that B. dorsalis is unlikely to establish in the northern part of the EU, including Slovakia.
The pest status of Bactrocera dorsalis in Slovakia is officially declared as: Absent, occurrence found in trap near fruit and vegetable market, under further surveillance, climate in Slovakia is not suitable for establishment.
Sources
NPPO of Slovakia (2025-09).
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Tramontini S, Gilioli G, de la Peña E, Rzepecka D, Scala M, Sánchez B, Nougadère A, Vos S, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Turillazzi F. Bactrocera dorsalis - Pest Report to support the ranking of EU candidate priority pests. EFSA supporting publication 2025:EN-9326. 54 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2025.EN-9326