Update of the situation of Scirtothrips aurantii in Spain
The South African citrus thrips Scirtothrips aurantii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae – EPPO A1 List) was first reported in the EPPO region in Spain in Andalucía (province of Huelva) in September 2020 (EPPO RS 2021/008). Surveys were conducted in 2021 (May-October) to determine the presence of the thrips in this region. As a result, S. aurantii has been detected in 2 new hosts: avocado (Persea americana) and persimmon (Diospyros kaki), and new infested plots of blueberry, citrus, strawberry, and raspberry have been detected. On avocado, citrus and persimmon, no significant damage has been observed. In berries, the impact was limited by treatments.
Demarcated areas have been established and include the infested plots and a buffer zone of 100 m around them. These areas are located in 20 municipalities in the province of Huelva: Almonte, Alosno, Ayamonte, Cartaya, Escacena del Campo, Gibraleón, Isla Cristina, Lepe, Lucena del Puerto, Manzanilla, Moguer, Palos de la Frontera, Paterna del Campo, Punta Umbría, San Bartolomé de la Torre, Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Villablanca, Villalba del Alcor, Villarrasa, Zalamea la Real.
Phytosanitary measures aiming for eradication are applied and include insecticide treatments during crop production, inspections and treatment to guarantee absence of the pest on any plant material leaving the demarcated area.
The pest status of Scirtothrips aurantii in Spain is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Spain (2022-01).
Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía (2022) Resolución de 8 de febrero de 2022, de la Dirección General de la Producción Agrícola y Ganadera, por la que se establecen nuevas zonas demarcadas del organismo nocivo Scirtothrips aurantii y las medidas fitosanitarias obligatorias para su control en la Comunidad autónoma de Andalucía.