First report of Takahashia japonica in the United Kingdom
In the EPPO region, Takahashia japonica (Hemiptera: Coccidae - string cottony scale) was reported for the first time in Italy (see EPPO RS 2019/075) in 2017. In December 2018, it was first recorded in the United Kingdom (Berkshire) infesting a Magnolia that had been imported and planted in a private garden in 2015.
T. japonica was added to the UK plant health risk register shortly after it was first reported from Europe. At that time, a decision was made that statutory action should be taken against interceptions on recently imported plants, but not against findings on established plants. This approach was taken to reduce the risk of the pest being introduced to the UK and being spread rapidly through trade, but also reflected the relatively low threat the pest is thought to pose. In this specific case, the Magnolia tree was considered to be an established plant, so no statutory action was taken.
Sources
INTERNET
Defra (2019-03-05) Plant Pest Factsheet. Cotton stringy scale insect Takahashia japonica, 3 pp.
Defra. UK Risk Register Details for Takahashia japonica https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/phiw/riskRegister/viewPestRisks.cfm?cslref=27909
RHS (2019-01-17) RHS confirms first new garden pest of 2019. https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/releases/RHS-confirms-first-new-garden-pest-of-2019
Tuffen M, Salisbury A, Malumphy C (2019) Cotton stringy scale insect, Takahashia japonica (Hemiptera: Coccidae), new to Britain. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 32, 5 pp.