News from the Caribbean
The Plant Health Report for 2000 has been prepared by IICA Office in Trinidad and Tobago and compiles replies to a questionnaire on quarantine pests received from several countries in the Caribbean (Antigua ; Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao), St Kitts ; Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad ; Tobago). In addition, the EPPO Secretariat participated in the 11th session of the CPPP, where new pest records were presented by the countries present. The records which are new to the EPPO Secretariat or giving additional details are presented below.
New records
Aleurocanthus woglumi (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Antigua ; Barbuda (found in 1999 in 4 locations in the west and north-east of the country, not found in citrus orchards), French Guiana (found in 1995).
Anastrepha serpentina (Diptera: Tephritidae): French Guiana.
Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): French Guiana.
Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Martinique.
Citrus tristeza closterovirus (EPPO A2 quarantine pest): Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles).
Diaphorina citri (Homoptera: Aphalaridae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Cuba (found in 1999).
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae - EPPO Alert List): Antigua ; Barbuda (found in April-May 2001 only in Antigua and Long Island, mainly on Hibiscus and Annona), Belize (first found in September 1999), Dominica (found in June 2001, not yet present in commercial crops), French Guiana, Suriname (found in April 2001 in the western part of Paramaribo), Venezuela (found on ornamentals growing in parks and avenues).
Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): Antigua ; Barbuda (no significant losses are reported), Barbados (found in 2001, present in most citrus groves), British Virgin Islands, French Guiana (found in 1997), Saint Lucia, Suriname.
Sternochetus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): British Virgin Islands.
Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae - EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Suriname
Toxotrypana curvicauda (Diptera: Tephritidae - papaya fruit fly): Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles)
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): British Virgin Islands, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles).
Detailed records
Aleurocanthus woglumi (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles). In Dominica, it was introduced in 1997. Biological control was implemented and as a result: in 2000, only low numbers of the pest were found and in 2001 it could no longer be detected. In Trinidad ; Tobago, it was first reported on the island of Trinidad in 1998 near Port of Spain. Within two years it spread rapidly throughout the country including Tobago (found in March 2000). A biological control programme (Amitus hesperidum and Encarsia perplexa) has been set up.
Maconellicoccus hirsutus (EPPO Alert List): It was first found in Trinidad in June 1995 near Port of Spain, and it rapidly spread throughout the island. Biological control programmes (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Anagyrus kamali) have been set up, and as a result the incidence of the pest remained low during the last two years.
Phyllocnistis citrella: It was first found in Trinidad in March 1997. Surveys done in 2000 and 2001 showed that the pest has spread throughout Trinidad and that it also occurs in Tobago. A control programme will be implemented in 2002.
Radopholus similis (EPPO A2 quarantine pest): Dominica (confirming earlier reports).
Sources
Anonymous (2000) CARAPHIN - Plant Health Report 2000, 59 pp, IICA, Trinidad and Tobago.
Country reports presented at the 11th session of the Caribbean Plant Protection Organization, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 2001-11-19/23.