Update on the situation of Platynota stultana in Italy
In Italy, the omnivorous leafroller Platynota stultana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae– EPPO A2 List) was first recorded in Puglia region in 2022 (EPPO RS 2023/058).
From 2023 to 2024, P. stultana has been occasionally reported across northern and southern Italy, although it is not clear if these findings are occasional occurrences or show the establishment of the pest in the areas where they have been found (Trematerra, 2025):
- Lazio: in September and October 2023, in Latina province.
- Toscana: in August 2023, in Capannoli municipality (Pisa province).
- Liguria: in June and July 2023, in the Ceriale municipality (Savona province),
- Puglia: in September 2023, in Carovigno municipality (Brindisi province) and in Lecce municipality (Lecce province), in October 2024 in Melendugno municipality (Lecce province).
- Sicilia: in September 2023, November 2023 and November 2024, in Milazzo municipality (Messina province).
In Campania region, P. stultana was first reported in 2024 in four municipalities in the province of Napoli (Portici, Castellammare di Stabia, Cercola, Sant'Anastasia) (RS 2025/055). Goglia et al. (2026) report further findings, all in Napoli province. In November 2024, one male individual was reported in San Gennaro Vesuviano municipality collected in a sweep net. During further sampling in 2025, 25 females and 31 males were reported again in the municipality of Sant’Anastasia on wild Conyza sp., two males were caught in a light trap in Castellammare di Stabia and 48 females and 40 males were reported for the first time in the municipality of San Giorgio a Cremano on wild Conyza sp. plants. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological and molecular techniques. Goglia et al. (2026) considers that P. stultana is established in southern Italy as male and female adults have been found over multiple years and adults emerged in cages of wild Conyza sp. plants suggesting adults can reproduce in the field. No findings or damage of P. stultana have been reported on crop hosts.
The situation of Platynota stultana in Italy can be described as: Present, not widely distributed and not under official control.
Sources
Goglia L, Formisano G, Guastaferro VM, Albano L, Crispo DG, Griffo R, Di Prisco G, Giorgini M (2026) The invasive nearctic pest Platynota stultana Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is established in southern Italy. Insects 17(1), 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010122
Trematerra P (2025) The invasive Platynota stultana Walsingham increases its spread in Europe (Lepidoptera Tortricidae). Redia 108, 211–212.