First report of Scyphophorus acupunctatus in Cyprus
The NPPO of Cyprus recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first record of Scyphophorus acupunctatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) on its territory. S. acupunctatus originates from the Americas, but it has been introduced to many other parts of the world (mainly arid and tropical regions), probably with the introduction of Agave sisalana for the production of sisal. It can attack many species of Agave, Beaucarnea, Dasylirion and Dracaena. In Cyprus, S. acupunctatus was captured in 2013 and 2014 across the island in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus pheromone traps when these were placed on the ground. The identity of the pest was confirmed by the Entomology Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus. For the moment, S. acupunctatus has only been caught in traps but has not been observed on plants, although Agave americana can be found as a wild plant at altitudes ranging from 0 to 300 m. The most likely pathway of introduction into Cyprus is probably the import of infested host plants. No phytosanitary measures were taken against S. acupunctatus.
The pest status of Scyphophorus acupunctatus in Cyprus is officially declared as: Widespread.
Sources
NPPO of Cyprus (2014-02).