First report of Rhagoletis completa in the Czech Republic
The NPPO of the Czech Republic recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Rhagoletis completa (Diptera: Tephritidae - EU Annexes) on its territory. During summer 2017, a single specimen subsequently identified as R. completa (Diptera: Tephritidae) was caught on a yellow sticky trap. This trap had been placed in a cherry orchard, in the South Moravian region by an entomologist from the Czech Crop Research Institute. This specimen was examined in detail by the entomologist only at the beginning of March 2018 when he observed adults of a Rhagoletis species emerging from walnut fruits kept in the laboratory. These walnuts, infested by dipteran larvae, had been collected in September 2017 from several other localities and kept in the laboratory during winter (waiting for adult emergence). The results of this initial identification were immediately notified to the Czech NPPO and confirmed by another specialist. Considering the rather wide distribution of the pest within the European Union, no official phytosanitary measures will be taken.
The pest status of Rhagoletis completa in the Czech Republic is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of the Czech Republic (2018-11).