First report of Aleurocanthus camelliae in Italy
Aleurocanthus camelliae (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was reported for the first time in Italy, in the Pistoia province (Toscana) in September 2020. Adults and nymphs of this whitefly were observed on the leaves of Camellia sasanqua plants grown outdoors in plastic containers in eight plant nurseries.
Literature about A. camelliae is scarce. A. camelliae is probably native to China and was introduced to Japan and Indonesia. Host plants belong to the genus Camellia (C. japonica, C. sasanqua, C. sinensis) and also include Eurya japonica, Illicium anisatum and Zanthoxylum piperitum. A. camelliae has occasionally been found on imported Camellia bonsai, pot plants and shrubs in the Netherlands during import inspections. In East Asia, damage is reported on tea plants (C. sinensis). No significant damage has been recorded in Italy, but the authors underlined that population levels were low.
Prior to this record within the genus Aleurocanthus, only the species A. spiniferus (EPPO A2 List) was known to occur in the EPPO region.
Sources
EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH) (2018) Pest categorisation of Aleurocanthus spp. EFSA journal 16(10), e05436.
Rizzo D, Suma P, Rossi E, Farina P, Da Lio D, Bartolini L, Salemi C, Farina A, Rapisarda C (2021) First record of Aleurocanthus camelliae Kanmiya & Kasai, 2011 (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) from Italy, on ornamental Camellia spp. plants. EPPO Bulletin 51(2), 333-339.