First record of Glycaspis brimblecombei in Italy
The NPPO of Italy recently reported the presence of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Psyllidae – formerly EPPO Alert List) in several provinces of Campania. During a scientific survey, signs of the presence of G. brimblecombei (i.e. white waxy covers, called lerp, of conical shape constructed by juvenile stages) were found in March 2010 on the foliage of Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees. The Regional PPO of Campania, in collaboration with the University of Napoli, is conducting surveys to better determine the extent of the infestation and take appropriate phytosanitary measures. This is the first record of this eucalyptus psyllid in Italy. G. brimblecombei originates from Australia and has been introduced in the Americas in the 2000s (EPPO RS 2002/117). In Europe, it was first reported in 2007 in Spain and Portugal (EPPO RS 2010/058). High populations of G. brimblecombei can cause severe defoliation to eucalyptus trees and eventually tree death.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2010-07).