First report of Rhagoletis completa in Hungary
The NPPO of Hungary recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Rhagoletis completa (Diptera: Tephritidae – EU Annexes) on its territory. In October 2011, scientists identified larvae of R. completa in walnut (Juglans regia) husks in 2 private gardens located near the town of Kőszeg (county Vas, Western Hungary). This finding was reported to the NPPO in December 2011. At the end of June 2012, NPPO inspectors placed baited yellow sticky traps in these 2 private gardens and in July 2012, 6 adults of R. completa were caught on 4 traps. Specimens were identified both morphologically and by PCR. When the pest was detected in July, walnuts were not affected but during inspections carried out at the end of August, 2-3% of the fruit had turned brown to black and fallen prematurely from the trees. Phytosanitary measures were taken to prevent any further spread. The soil was protected with a cover to avoid pupation in the soil. The garden owners were ordered to continuously collect and destroy all fallen fruit, and to apply insecticide treatments every 10-14 days until the end of the flight period of the pest. In addition, an intensive survey was launched (100 yellow sticky traps were deployed in county Vas and neighbouring areas). As a result, R. completa was detected in 8 and 6 municipalities of the counties of Vas and Zala, respectively. All infested trees were found in private gardens and along the roads between municipalities. No affected trees were found in walnut orchards. Information was provided to the municipalities concerned on how to prevent the spread of the pest (soil cover, collection of fallen fruit, insecticide treatments). It is suspected that R. completa may have spread naturally from Austria and Slovenia or may have been carried by vehicles.
The pest status of Rhagoletis completa in Hungary is officially declared as: Present only in some areas (Western Hungary at the Austrian and Slovenian borders).
Sources
NPPO of Hungary (2013-02).