New data on quarantine pests and pests of the EPPO Alert List
By searching through the literature, the EPPO Secretariat has extracted the following new data concerning quarantine pests and pests included on the EPPO Alert List, and indicated in bold the situation of the pest concerned using the terms of ISPM no. 8.
- New records
In Swaziland, Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A1 List) was first caught in methyl eugenol traps at Matsamo in the Northern part of the country, near the border with South Africa. Further detections were then made in Northeastern areas, at Mananga and Lomahasha. Official control measures have been taken (IPPC, 2013).
In Japan, Elsinoe australis (EU Annexes) was detected for the first time in 2013 on several citrus trees in a city in Aichi Prefecture, Honshu (IPPC, 2014). Present: only in some areas.
In October 2011, adult specimens of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) were found to be causing nuisance (H. halys is a stink bug) to residents in central Athens. This is the first time that H. halys is reported from Greece (Milonas and Partsinevelos, 2014). Present: no details.
In Barbados, huanglongbing associated with Candidatus ‘Liberibacter asiaticus’ (EPPO A1 List) was identified for the first time in 2014. The disease occurs throughout the island (IPPC, 2014). Present: in all parts of the area where host crop(s) are grown
In Costa Rica, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae - EPPO A2 List) was first reported in 2014. The pest was found in Río Oro de Santa Ana in the province of San José (IPPC, 2014). Present: subject to official control.
The invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was recently recorded for the first time in Tunisia. Specimens were collected from a single ornamental plant (Cestrum nocturnum) in a private garden (Akouda) during August and September 2013 (Halima-Kamel et al., 2014). Present: no details.
In New Caledonia, Puccinia psidii (formerly EPPO Alert List) was first detected in March 2013 in Farino (South province) on Syzygium jambos (Myrtaceae). The rust was then found along the north and east coast of the country (IPPC, 2013). Present: only in some areas.
In Costa Rica, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A2 List) was first reported in 2014. The first specimens were caught during a surveillance programme. So far, damage is limited (IPPC; 2014). Present: subject to official control.
In Kenya, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae – EPPO A2 List) was first caught in pheromone traps at the beginning of 2014. High populations were observed in Isiolo country (but were low and very low in Kirinyaga and Meru counties, respectively). Its distribution in Kenya remains to be studied, surveillance programmes are being implemented (IPPC, 2014).
In Argentina, in 2010 unusual symptoms (stunting and distorted leaves) were observed on strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa cv. ‘Camarosa’) in Lules, Tucumán province. Laboratory studies confirmed the occurrence of Strawberry crinkle virus in symptomatic strawberry plants (Perotto et al., 2014). Present, few occurrences.
In a recent review about Meloidogyne species in Africa, the occurrence of Meloidogyne chitwoodi in Mozambique and of M. enterolobii (both EPPO A2 List) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is reported (Onkendi et al., 2014). Present, no details.
- Detailed records
In Spain, Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (EPPO A2 List) is considered to be an emerging disease on stone fruit crops, and in particular on almond which was previously not known to be a host plant. The bacterium was first identified in 2002 in Badajoz (Extramadura) in Japanese plum (Prunus salicina). Since then, several outbreaks have been detected in the following regions: Andalucía (Huelva), Aragón (Huesca, Zaragoza), Baleares (Mallorca), Cataluña (Lérida, Tarragona), Comunidad Valenciana (Alicante, Valencia), and Navarra, on peach (P. persica), nectarine (P. persica var. nucipersica), cherry (P. avium) and almond (P. dulcis). In all cases, eradication measures have been applied (Palacio-Bielsa et al., 2014).
- New host plants
In June 2011, dieback symptoms were observed on a Chamaecyparis pisifera tree (Sawara cypress) in the United Kingdom. This tree was about 100 years old and growing in a castle garden in the Western part of Scotland. It was exhibiting symptoms of dieback on individual branches within the crown. No cankers were observed on the trunk or root collar, indicating an aerial infection. Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of Phytophthora lateralis (EPPO A2 List). This is the first time that P. lateralis is reported from C. pisifera (Schlenzig et al., 2014).
Sources
Halima-Kamel MB, Germain JF, Mdellel L, Abdelaoui K (2014) Phenacoccus madeirensis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae): a new species of mealybug in Tunisia. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 44(2), 176-178.
IPPC website. Official Pest Reports. https://www.ippc.int/index.php
– Barbados (2014-02-03) Occurrence of Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing) in Barbados.
– Costa Rica (2014-05-12) Maconellicoccus hirsutus.
– Costa Rica (2014-05-13) Tuta absoluta.
– Japan (2014-05-28) Detection of Elsinoe australis in Japan.
- Kenya (2014-06-09) New pest in Kenya: Preliminary surveillance report on Tuta absoluta - preliminary report by Kenya.
- New Caledonia (2013-05-31) Puccinia psidii in New Caledonia.
– Swaziland (2013-07-07) Notification on the detection of Bactrocera invadens in Swaziland.
Milonas PG, Partsinevelos GK (2014) First report of brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Greece. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 44(2), 183-186.
Onkendi EM, Kariuki GM, Marais M, Moleleki LN (2014) The threat of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Africa: a review. Plant Pathology 63(4), 727-737.
Palacio-Bielsa A, Cambra MA, Cubero J, Garita-Cambronero J, Roselló M, López MM (2014) Mancha bacteriana de los frutales de hueso y del almendro (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni), una grave enfermedad emergente en España. Phytoma-España no. 259, 36-42.
Perotto MC, Luciani C, MG Celli, Torrico A, Conci VC (2014) First report of Strawberry crinkle virus in Argentina. New Disease Reports 30, 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2014.030.005
Schlenzig A, Campbell R, Eden R (2014) First report of Phytophthora lateralis on Chamaecyparis pisifera. New Disease Reports 29, 15. http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2014.029.015