New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List
By browsing through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included on the EPPO Alert List. The situation of the pest concerned is indicated in bold, using the terms of ISPM no. 8.
- New records
Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae – EPPO A2 list) occurs in Tajikistan, where it was first observed in 1994 (Sukhoruchenko and Velikan, 2005). Present, no detail.
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae - EPPO Action List A1) was found in 2006-06 in George Town, Grand Cayman. Eradication measures are being applied (NAPPO Pest Alert System, 2006). Present, under eradication.
Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae – EPPO Alert List) occurs in Senegal. Severe damage is reported on vegetable crops (Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanum aethiopicum, Solanum melongena) especially during the dry season (Duverney et al., 2005). Present, widespread.
- Detailed records
In Florida (US), as of June 2006, huanglongbing disease caused by Liberibacter asiaticum (EPPO A1 list) has been found in 12 counties (Broward, Collier, De Soto, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St Lucie). The most infected citrus are located in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier and Hendry counties. Infected trees have been found in 427 private properties (543 infected trees) and in 19 commercial orchards (89 infected trees) (USDA-APHIS, 2006).
Sugarcane smut caused by Ustilago scitaminea was first detected in Australia in 1997/1998 in the Ord river area, Western Australia (see EPPO RS 98/146). The disease was largely controlled by replacing susceptible cultivars by resistant ones. In June 2006, samples showing symptoms of sugarcane smut were collected near Childers, Queensland, and the presence of U. scitaminea was subsequently confirmed. Surveys are being made to delimit the extent of the outbreak and measures are taken to prevent any further spread (ProMed posting of 2006-06-22).
- New host plants
In Lombardia (Italy), Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (EPPO A2 list) is reported for the first time on Prunus laurocerasus. The pathogen was found in one nursery in October 2005 on P. laurocerasus plants showing shot-hole symptoms (Regional PPO of Lombardia, IT, 2006).
Sources
Duverney C, Kade N, Gueye-Ndiaye A (2005) Essais préliminaires pour limiter les dégâts de Tetranychidae sur les cultures maraichères dans le Siné-Saloum (Sénégal). Poster presented at the ‘2ème Colloque International sur les acariens des cultures, Montpellier, FR , 2005-10-24/25’.
Sukhoruchenko GI, Velikan VS (2005) Seasonal dynamics of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) in Tajikistan and its distribution among plants. Entomological Review 85(4), 407-413 (abst.).
NAPPO Pest Alert System. Alerts (2006-06-28) First report of pink hibiscus mealybug in George Town, Grand Cayman. http://www.pestalert.org/viewNewsAlert.cfm?naid=25
ProMED posting of 2006-06-22. Sugarcane smut – Australia (Queensland). http://www.promedmail.org
Regional Plant Protection Organisation of Lombardia. Giunta Regionale, Direzione Generale Agricoltura, 2006-02.
USDA-APHIS Citrus greening information site (2006-06). http://www.citrusgreening.net