First report of Aonidiella orientalis in the Netherlands
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first report of the oriental scale Aonidiella orientalis (Hemiptera : Diaspididae) on its territory.
In September 2026, A. orientalis was identified on leaves on two coconut (Cocos nucifera) plants in a tropical greenhouse in a zoo. A specific survey for several zoos had been triggered following earlier records dating back to 2023 on the same C. nucifera plants and one Washingtonia sp. plant in another zoo. The presence on Washingtonia sp. in the other zoo could not be confirmed. No phytosanitary measures have been taken because of the limited damage observed on the plants and of uncertainties on the distribution of the pest in the European Union. Detection is difficult due to similarities with other related scale species which are present in the EU such as Aonidiella aurantii.
The pest status of Aonidiella orientalis in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Present, few occurrences in a tropical greenhouse.
Note of the EPPO Secretariat: A pest categorization on A. orientalis has been conducted by EFSA in 2022 and concluded that this species meets the criteria to be regarded as a potential EU quarantine pest. Currently phytosanitary requirements linked to this species apply at import for some plants originating in Israel according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2026-09).
EFSA PLH Panel (2022) Scientific Opinion on the pest categorisation of Aonidiella orientalis. EFSA Journal 20(11), 7642, 42 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7642open