Presence of Rhagoletis completa suspected in the Netherlands
The NPPO of the Netherlands recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the probable presence of Rhagoletis completa (EU Annexes) on its territory. In September 2015, larvae infesting husks of walnuts (Juglans regia) were found in a private garden in the municipality of Helden (Limburg province) and the garden owner posted this information on the website of a professional entomology network (http://natuurbericht.nl/?id=14420). In November 2015, the Dutch NPPO received two samples of Tephritidae puparia (placed in alcohol) which had been collected from the private garden in Helden, and from another one in the municipality of Helmond (Noord-Brabant province). Molecular tests were carried out and indicated that the Dutch specimens belonged to a species group comprising R. completa, R. zoqui and R. ramosae (all can be found in walnut husks) but not to R. suavis (another walnut husk pest, recently found in Germany – see EPPO RS 2014/011). Considering that R. completa is the only walnut-infesting species known to occur in Europe and that DNA data appear to exclude R. suavis, the Dutch specimens most likely represent R. completa. As a final identification can only be done on adults flies (which will emerge in 2016), the presence of R. completa remains only a suspicion for the moment. If the identity of the pest is confirmed, this would be the first record of R. completa in the Netherlands.
The pest status of Rhagoletis completa in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Present: at low prevalence.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2015-11).
INTERNET
Ministry of Economic Affairs. Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Pest reports.