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
In New Zealand, a single male specimen of Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A1 List) was caught in January 2026 in a trap in the Mount Roskill area, Auckland city (Biosecurity New Zealand, 2026). Phytosanitary measures have been implemented including increased trapping and inspection, establishment of a demarcated area and controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the demarcated area. Present, not widely distributed and under official control.
In France, a new disease on strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) caused by a Neopestalotiopsis species (probably Neopestalotiopsis rosae) was first observed in 2024 in the South Western part of the country. In 2025, damage on up to 50% of plants per plot was observed in different regions, with most cases in Vaucluse, Lot-et-Garonne and Bouches-du-Rhône departments, which are the biggest strawberry producing regions in the country. Outbreaks seemed to be linked to the use of infested plants for planting (Gardonier et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
The whitefly Parabemisia myricae (EU RNQP) is first reported from Hungary. It was observed outdoors in September 2025 on leaves of Parthenocissus quinquefolia in Budapest (Érsek & Ripka, 2025). It is not clear from the article whether the pest is established or not.
Watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 (Coguvirus citrulli, WCLaV-1 – EPPO Alert List) is first reported in Iran. In July 2024, yellow mosaic, leaf deformation and mild to severe crinkling was observed on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plants in commercial fields in northern and southern Iran. The identity of the pest was confirmed by molecular testing (Esmaeilzadeh et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (EPPO A1 List) is reported for the first time from Madagascar. Canker-like symptoms were observed on Citrus sp. in May 2024 in a single site of Boeny region, a major citrus producing area. Surveys conducted in 2025 in 60 citrus orchards and nurseries in the Boeny region indicated that X. citri pv. citri is widely distributed in the Boeny region. Further surveys are needed to determine the spread of the pathogen across Madagascar (Boyer et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria (EPPO A2 List) is reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia. In 2023 and 2024, X. euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria was identified as the causative agent of bacterial spot on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum sp.) in field and greenhouse conditions in Riyadh region. The identity of the pest was confirmed by molecular testing (Ibrahim et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
- Detailed records
In Canada, cherry leaf roll virus (Nepovirus avii, CLRV, EU RNQP) was detected in September 2025 in a sample collected from a single sweet cherry (Prunus avium) tree at a commercial orchard in the Niagara region in Ontario. The infected tree was destroyed. CLRV is a regulated pest for Canada that had previously only been reported from the province of British Columbia in cherry (IPPC, 2025).
The pest status of cherry leaf roll virus in Canada is officially declared as: Present, not widely distributed and under official control.
In the USA, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae - formerly EPPO Alert List) was first reported from West Virginia in June 2025. Quarantine measures have been established in December 2025 (USDA, 2025). As of January 2026 the pest has been confirmed in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Present, not widely distributed and under official control.
In Brazil, Eutetranychus banksi (Acari: Tetranychidae, EPPO Alert List) occurs in the state of Sergipe and affects citrus production (Dias et al., 2025).
In the USA, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii (EPPO A2 List) is first reported from Alabama. In February 2025, it was detected causing severe root galls on crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) in a commercial nursery in central Alabama (Lawaju et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed and not under official control.
In Brazil, Neopestalotiopsis rosae is first recorded causing foliar damage (leaf spot) in rose (Rosa sp.) production in Rio Grande do Sul (Almeida et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed and not under official control.
In Italy, the palm borer moth Paysandisia archon (Lepidoptera: Castniidae – EPPO A2 List) was first reported in Campania in 2002 (EPPO RS 2004/162) and has since spread to 18 out of 20 Italian regions. In August 2025, P. archon damage were observed on the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis) in Cosenza province in Calabria. This is the first report of P. archon in Calabria. P. archon is now considered to be present in all Italian regions except Aosta Valley (Mazza & Mori, 2025). Present, widely distributed.
In Uzbekistan, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) was first observed on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in 2020 (EPPO RS 2021/222, RS 2024/049). In 2024, ToBRFV was detected in symptomatic sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) grown in both greenhouse and open field conditions in the Tashkent and Kibray districts of the Tashkent region, and in open fields in the Taylok district of the Samarkand region (Akhmadaliev et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed.
In the USA, watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 (Coguvirus citrulli, WCLaV-1 – EPPO Alert List) and watermelon mosaic virus (Potyvirus citrulli, WMV) are first reported in Indiana. In August 2024, mosaic, yellowing, leaf deformation and wrinkling were observed on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plants growing in fields in southern Indiana (Keener et al., 2025). The identity of the pathogens was confirmed by molecular testing. Two samples tested positive for WCLAV-1, two samples tested positive for WMV, and one sample tested positive for both viruses.
In China, watermelon silver mottle virus (Orthotospovirus citrullomaculosi, WSMo - EPPO A1 List) is first reported from Jiangxi province. It was identified by RT-PCR and HTS in symptomatic watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) collected in 2023 and 2024. The same article reports the presence of WSMo in Hainan, Shandong and Zhejiang as well as an isolate from Hebei. This significantly increases the range of WSMo in China (Peng et al., 2025). Present, not widely distributed and not under official control.
An article on the biology of Xylotrechus pyrrhoderus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae, EPPO A1 List) in the Shandong province of China mentions the presence of the pest in Hebei province (Zhang et al., 2025).
- Eradication
As of June 2025 the full territory of Bolivia is declared free of the cotton boll weevil Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, EPPO A1 List) (Comunidad andina, 2025). Absent: the entire country is pest free.
In the USA, several outbreaks of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus fructirugosum, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) occurred since 2019 (EPPO RS 2019/027, RS 2020/124). In January 2026 USDA-APHIS informed the EPPO Secretariat that all known detections of ToBRFV in the USA have been mitigated, and that it is not considered established in the United States. ToBRFV is a quarantine pest for the entire USA. Absent, pest eradicated.
Sources
Akhmadaliev B, Abduvaliev B, Adilov B, Sherimbetov A, Abdikarimov B, Ruzmetov D (2025) First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus infecting sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) in open fields in Uzbekistan. Plant Disease 109(9), 2001. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2720-PDN
Almeida BP, Junges E, Savian LG (2025) Neopestalotiopsis rosae causing leaf spot on Rosa sp. in Brazil. Caderno Pedagógico 22(11), e20006. https://doi.org/10.54033/cadpedv22n11-219
Boyer K, Hoareau C, Lebon-Maillot V, Rieux A, Robène I, Pruvost O, Rakotomalala V, Andriamiarisoa DL, Randriamampianina OH, Ramiliarijaona SN (2025) First report of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri pathotype A causing Asiatic citrus canker in Madagascar. Plant Disease 109(12), 2586. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-25-1181-PDN
Biosecurity New Zealand (2026) Queensland fruit fly detection in Mt Roskill, Auckland. Accessed at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/active-biosecurity-responses-to-pests-and-diseases/queensland-fruit-fly-detection-in-mt-roskill-auckland
Comunidad andina (2025) Resolución N°2503 Reconocimiento al Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia como Área Libre de Anthonomus grandis, Boheman, 1843 (picudo mexicano del algodón). Gaceta Oficial des Acuerdo de Cartagena 5662. https://www.comunidadandina.org/DocOficialesFiles/Gacetas/GACETA%205662.pdf
Dias K, Teodoro AV, Sena Filho JG de (2025) Potential of cottonseed oil in the control of the citrus blackfly Aleurocanthus woglumi (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) and the Texas citrus mite Eutetranychus banksi (Acari: Tetranychidae) in the citrus region of Sergipe and Bahia. Scientia Plena 21(12). https://doi.org/10.14808/sci.plena.2025.120201
Érsek L, Ripka G (2025) First occurrence of an alien whitefly species, Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana, 1927) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Hungary. Növényvédelem 86(12), 549-555.
Esmaeilzadeh F, Pouraziz P, Koolivand D (2025) First report of watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 infecting watermelon in Iran. Journal of Plant Pathology https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-025-02091-x
Garnodier J, Gasq S, Carmenstran M, Fontaine V (2025) Dépérissements du fraisier dû à un nouveau pathogène. Phytoma 786, 21-24.
Ibrahim YE, Mansoor T, Al Masrahi AA, Widyawan A, Al Hashel AF, Al Saleh MA (2025) Occurrence and characterization of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria, the causal agent of bacterial spot of tomato and pepper in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Plant Pathology 17, 1-9.
IPPC website. Official Pest Reports- Canada (2025-12-09) Report of cherry leaf roll virus (Nepovirus avii) in Ontario, Canada / Rapport du virus de l'enroulement des feuilles du cerisier (Nepovirus avii) en Ontario, Canada. https://www.ippc.int/fr/countries/canada/pestreports/2025/12/report-of-cherry-leaf-roll-virus-nepovirus-avii-in-ontario-canada-rapport-du-virus-de-lenroulement-des-feuilles-du-cerisier-nepovirus-avii-en-ontario-canada/
Keener R, Serrano J, Alvarez-Quinto R, Guan W, Creswell T, Bonkowski J, Escalante C (2025) Watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 and watermelon mosaic virus mixed infecting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in Indiana. Plant Disease (early view) https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-25-0497-PDN
Lawaju BR, Pickens J, Conner K, Ye W, Lawrence K (2025) First report of Meloidoyne enterolobii infecting Lagerstroemia indica in Alabama, United States. Journal of Nematology 57(1), 20250057. https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0057
Mazza G, Mori DR (2025) First record of Paysandisia archon Burmeister, 1880 (Insecta Lepidoptera Castniidae) in Calabria (southern Italy). Redia 108, 291-292. http://dx.doi.org/10.19263/REDIA-108.25.35
Peng B, Zhang X, Cao N, Yan C, Li F, Zhu F (2025) Identification of reassortment of Orthotospovirus citrullomaculosi in Jiangxi Province, China. Viruses 17(11), 1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17111448
USDA (2025-12-08) APHIS Establishes a Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantine in West Virginia. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/box-tree-moth
USDA-APHIS (2026-01).
Zhang G, Jia Y, Wu H, Zhang Y, Ghanim M, Ma Y, Sun R (2025) Developmental biology and seasonal damage of the grape borer Xylotrechus pyrrhoderus in grapevines. Insects 16, 979. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090979