First report of the scale Acutaspis paulista in Spain and the EPPO region
The NPPO of Spain recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of the armoured scale Acutaspis paulista (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on its territory. It is also a first report for the EPPO region.
A. paulista was detected in the municipality of Ullà (county of Baix Empordà, province of Girona, Cataluña) in May 2025 in an olive grove (Olea europaea) during monitoring for the scale pest Parlatoria oleae (Hemiptera : Diaspididae). It was also observed in parks and gardens on olive, Euonymus japonicus and Ligustrum sp.
A. paulista is known to occur in Argentina and Brazil and is a quarantine pest under eradication in Chile since 2023. It is a polyphagous species. Its hosts include important agricultural crops such as olive, avocado (Persea americana) and Citrus spp. The main damage in Argentina and Brazil is reported on olive, as it can affect olive fruit in addition to leaves.
A rapid PRA conducted in Spain assessed that the species is highly likely to establish in areas with a Mediterranean climate. As of September 2026, A. paulista was recorded in 15 neighbouring municipalities in the county of Baix Empordà. The NPPO is conducting monitoring to assess the presence of the pest.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2026-09).