Update on the situation of Bactrocera dorsalis in Italy
In Italy, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae – EPPO A1 List) was trapped in June 2022 in Campania region (municipality of Palma Campania) and further specimens were trapped in August and September in this municipality and once in San Gennaro Vesuviano (EPPO RS 2022/188). Surveys were intensified and official action was taken.
The NPPO of Italy recently provided an update: in the second half of September, 525 adults (5 females and 520 males) were caught in 36 traps set in Palma Campania and San Gennaro Vesuviano; in the first week of October, 310 adults were caught (305 males and 5 females) including in the neighbouring municipalities of Ottaviano (2 males) and Nola (4 males).
In addition, laboratory experiments showed that some adults of B. dorsalis emerged from fruits collected on the ground within a 10 m radius of the traps in early September (2 females from oranges, and 2 females and 3 males from a peach). A demarcated area has been established and includes part of the territories of the four municipalities and a buffer zone of 7.5 km. Measures applied include harvesting and destruction of fruits, prohibition of fruit movement out of the demarcated area, phytosanitary treatments, intensification of surveys with trapping and soil analysis.
The pest status of Bactrocera dorsalis in Italy is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Sources
NPPO of Italy (2022-10).