Presence of Stephanitis takeyai in Italy
In October 2000, an inspection was carried out in a nursery which sells plant products from all over the world, in Parabiago, Province of Milano (Lombardia, Italy). During this inspection, it was observed that several plants of Pieris japonica showed severe leaf discoloration. The presence of Stephanitis takeyai (Heteroptera: Tingidae – EPPO Alert List) was confirmed. The authors noted that S. takeyai is reported in Japan on Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae), Diospyros kaki (Ebenaceae), Illicium religiosum (Illiciaceae), Lyonia ovalifolia (Ericaceae), in addition to Pieris. They concluded that the presence of S. takeyai in Lombardia could represent a threat to ornamental plants, but also to persimmon which is grown in many private gardens and in a few orchards.
Sources
Colombo, M.; Limonta, L. (2001) Record of Stephanitis takeyai Drake ; Maa (Heteroptera Tingidae) on Pieris japonica (Thunb.) D. Don introduced in Italy. Bolletino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura, Serie II, 33(2), 139-142.