Opogona sacchari occurs in Israel
The NPPO of Israel recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the current situation of Opogona sacchari (Lepidoptera: Tineidae – EPPO A2 list). The EPPO Secretariat had previously no data on the occurrence of this pest in Israel. The first reports suspecting the presence of O. sacchari in Israel were made in November 1999. Although some taxonomic questions still remain open due to morphological anomalies, a national survey carried out from June 2004 through September 2005 detected O. sacchari infesting ornamental palms in greenhouses at a number of nurseries around the country. Official control includes ongoing surveillance, treatment and export certification. In addition, O. sacchari is listed as a quarantine pest for Israel. To date, O. sacchari has not been found on banana (Musa spp.) in Israel, and its host range is restricted to Arecaceae, including Arecastrum romanzoffianum, Archontophoenix alexandrae, Caryota sp., Hyophorbe sp., Neodypsis decaryi, Roystonea sp. and Wodyetia sp., as well as one case on Spathiphyllum sp. (Araceae).
The pest status of Opogona sacchari in Israel is officially declared as follows: Quarantine pest, present in protected cultivation, subject to official control.
Sources
NPPO of Israel, 2005-12.