Update on the situation of Toumeyella parvicornis in France
In France, the pine tortoise scale Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae – EPPO A2 List) was first detected in a private garden on stone pines (Pinus pinea) in the peninsula of Saint Tropez (Var department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region) and the pest then spread to other municipalities of the department (EPPO RS 2021/240, RS 2023/062). Official measures are applied.
As a result of official surveys, 149 outbreaks have been detected in Var department. Infested areas have been delimited and are located in the following municipalities: Bormes-les-Mimosas, Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Cogolin, Collobrieres, Fréjus, Gassin, Gonfaron, Grimaud, Hyères, La Croix-Valmer, La Garde-Freinet, La Môle, La Motte, Le Lavandou, Le Muy, Le Plan-de-la-Tour, Les Arcs, Les Mayons, Puget-sur-Argens, Ramatuelle, Rayol-Canadel-Sur-Mer, Roquebrune-sur-Argens, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, Vidauban. A buffer zone has also been established, 5-km around the infested areas.
Official measures include the obligation to report any finding and prune or destroy infested plants, as well as the prevention of movement of infested plant material out of the demarcated area. Infested material should be finely ground.
The pest status of Toumeyella parvicornis in France is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
DRAF Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (2026)
- Arrêté préfectoral du 25/03/2026 définissant le périmètre de la zone délimitée relative à Toumeyella parvicornis, la cochenille tortue du pin https://draaf.paca.agriculture.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/25032026_arrete_prefectoral_toumeyella.pdf
- Mesures de lutte contre la cochenille tortue du pin (Toumeyella parvicornis) https://draaf.paca.agriculture.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/07042026_mesures_de_lutte_contre_la_cochenille_tortue_du_pin_toumeyella_parvicornis_.pdf