Interception in Israel of Chrysodeixis eriosoma on orchids from the Netherlands
The NPPO of Israel has recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the following interception. In August 2001, a single live lepidopteran larva was intercepted during official phytosanitary inspection at Ben Gurion International Airport on cut flowers of orchids (Cymbidium spp.) originating from the Netherlands. After being reared to maturity at the Entomological Identification Center of PPIS (NPPO of Israel), the adult male moth was positively identified by the senior taxonomist as the Asian species Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae - EPPO Alert List; RS 2000/061). This species can be distinguished by its typical "silver Y" wing markings from that of the closely related Palaearctic species Chrysodeixis chalcites found in Israel, the Netherlands and other EPPO member countries.
Sources
NPPO of Israel, 2001-12