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
Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A2 List) was detected in Puerto Rico in 2015 and subsequently eradicated (EPPO RS 2015/071, RS 2015/173). Following new detections in July 2026, the Department of Agriculture declared a phytosanitary emergency and established a quarantine area covering parts of San Juan, Loíza, Cataño and Toa Baja municipalities. Surveillance, containment and eradication measures are being applied (Departamento de Agricultura de Puerto Rico, 2026). Transient, actionable, under eradication.
During surveys in 2018 and 2019, prunus necrotic ringspot virus (Ilarvirus PNRSV, PNRSV - EU RNQP 2019/2072 Annex IV) was reported for the first time in Azerbaijan on symptomatic plum (Prunus domestica), apricot (P. armeniaca), almond (P. dulcis), peach (P. persica), sweet cherry (P. avium) and cherry plum (P. cerasifera) trees. The pathogen was identified by molecular testing (Mustafayev et al., 2026). Present.
The two-spotted leafhopper Sophonia orientalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is first reported from Italy. The insect was observed in 2023 and in 2026 in Sicilia, in the botanical garden of Palermo on Urtica membranacea and Duranta erecta (Rösch & Wilson, 2026). Present, not widely distributed.
- Detailed records
In the USA, the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (EPPO A2 List) is reported for the first time in North Dakota . It was detected in August 2026 in Ramsom county and Sargent County on Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) (NDSU, 2026-08-14).
In China, Pantoea ananatis is first reported from Anhui province causing leaf blight in rice (Oryza sativa). It was detected across 16 regions of Anhui by PCR from symptomatic rice plants between 2020 and 2022 (Zang et al., 2026).
In the USA, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’ was previously reported in Washington state but the report was considered unreliable. During field surveys in 2022 and 2024, ‘Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii’ was reported on symptomatic Cannabis sativa plants in Othello and Prosser City, Washington. (Wagstaff et al., 2026).
In the USA, Serratia ureilytica, the causal agent of cucurbit yellow vine disease (formerly EPPO Alert List), is reported for the first time in the state of Indiana. In July 2025, the pathogen was detected in symptomatic pumpkin and squash (Cucurbita pepo) and winter squash (C. moschata) plants in Tippecanoe and Knox counties. The pest was identified by morphological testing. The EPPO Secretariat did not previously have a record of C. moschata as a host of S. ureilytica. Koch’s postulates were confirmed (Rodríguez-Herrera et al., 2026).
- Denied records
Cherry leaf roll virus (Nepovirus avii, CLRV - EU RNQP) was recorded as present in Chile based on a publication of 2001 which was not confirmed by Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG). The NPPO of Chile recently stated that CLRV has never been found in Chile during official surveillance activities undertaken by SAG.
The pest status of cherry leaf roll virus in Chile is officially declared as: Absent, never occurred, confirmed absent by survey.
- New host plants
During surveys between October 2022 and March 2024 in the Pelotas region of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A1 List) was reported on Campomanesia aurea and Psidium salutare for the first time (Abib et al., 2026).
- Eradication
In February 2022, in a commercial nursery in Ehime Prefecture (Shikoku region, Japan) Acidovorax citrulli (syn. Paracidovorax citrulli, EPPO A1 List) was reported on symptomatic bitter gourd (Momordica charantia var. pavel) seedlings for the first time. The EPPO Secretariat did not previously have a record of bitter gourd as a host of A. citrulli. Seeds from the infected seedlings also tested positive for A. citrulli, demonstrating that seed transmission of A. citrulli in bitter gourd is possible (Inoue & Nomura, 2026). All seeds suspected of being infected, and seedlings from the affected plot were destroyed. The outbreak has been eradicated (Inoue & Nomura, 2026).
- Epidemiology
Seed transmission of cowpea mild mottle virus (Carlavirus vignae, CPMMV – Quarantine pest ((EU) 2019/2072 Annex II A)) was demonstrated for the first time in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (Pinheiro-Lima et al., 2026).
Sources
Abib GR, Demari CP, Medeiros LJ, Araújo AS, Savaris M, Zucchi RA, Nava DE (2026) Expanding the menu: new host plants of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in southern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology 86, e304065. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.304065
Departamento de Agricultura de Puerto Rico (2026-07-31) Agricultura declara emergencia fitosanitaria ante aumento en las detecciones de la mosca del Mediterráneo. https://www.facebook.com/agriculturapr/posts/-el-departamento-de-agricultura-anuncia-la-firma-de-la-orden-administrativa-2026/1452204443620836/
Inoue Y, Nomura K (2026) First report of seed transmission of Acidovorax citrulli in bitter melon. Research Bulletin of the Plant Protection Service, Japan 62, 35–38.
NDSU (2026-08-14) Pine wilt disease confirmed in North Dakota. North Dakopra State University (online). https://www.ndsu.edu/ndfs/news/2026-08-13-pine-wilt-disease-confirmed-north-dakota
NPPO of Chile (2026-08).
Pinheiro-Lima B, Vidal AH, Felix GP, Alves-Freitas DM, Lacorte C, Faria JC, Abreu EF, Pinheiro PV, Melo FL, Ribeiro SG (2026) Seed transmission of cowpea mild mottle virus in common beans in Brazil. Viruses 18(7), 752. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18070752
Rodríguez-Herrera K, Smart CD, Guan W, Escalante C (2026) Serratia ureilytica causing cucurbit yellow vine disease in cucurbits in Indiana. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-26-0722-PDN
Rösch V & Wilson M (2026) First records of the exotic leafhopper Sophonia orientalis (Matsumura, 1912)(Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) for Italy. Il Naturalista Siciliano 50(1), 149-153. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19605617
Mustafayev E, Mustafayeva H, Fuchs M (2026) First report of prunus necrotic ringspot virus in stone fruit trees in Azerbaijan. Plant Disease (early view). https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-25-1695-PDN
Zang HY, Xu HY, Zheng ZY, Yang X, Pan R, Feng XX, Shi S, Zhang QS, Wang H, Wan QQ, Qi RD (2026) Pantoea ananatis as the emerging causal agent of novel bacterial leaf blight in rice: characterization and management in Anhui, China. Plant Disease 110(5), 1773-1785.