First report of Jacobiasca lybica in France
Jacobiasca lybica (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), the cotton jassid, is reported in continental France for the first time. The presence of the pest was officially confirmed on Vitis vinifera in a vineyard in the Côte Vermeille (Pyrénées-Orientales department, Occitanie region) in September 2024 and in two municipalities in the Var department: Bormes-les-Mimosas and La Londe-les-Maures (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region) in October 2024.
J. lybica is a polyphagous leafhopper, originating in North Africa. It later spread to southern European countries (Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain). It had been previously recorded in the island of Corse (FR), first on the eastern coast in 2020 and it spread to the entire island, causing damage on grapevine in 2023-2024.
J. lybica closely resembles Empoasca vitis, another leafhopper pest that is less damaging but common in vineyards in Southern France: they can only de differentiated in a laboratory. J. lybica lay eggs on grapevines (V. vinifera) in early summer and overwinter on neighbouring trees including Alnus spp., Ficus spp., and Quercus spp. Larvae and adults puncture leaf veins to feed on sap. This causes severe leaf symptoms including leaf deformation, discoloration and leaf drying. Current insecticide applications could not control J. lybica. Damage to leaves and early defoliation can be detrimental to the quality of harvest. Official surveys are being conducted to determine the extent of damage.
The situation of Jacobiasca lybica in France can be described as: Present, not widely distributed.
A distribution map is available in EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/EMPOLY/distribution
Sources
Bulletin de Santé N°23 spécial FD (2024) Ecophyto. Agricultures & Territoires Chambre D'Agriculture Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. https://draaf.paca.agriculture.gouv.fr/23-bulletin-de-sante-no23-special-fd-26-septembre-2024-a4264.html
Anonymous (2024) Détection d’une nouvelle cicadelle, Jacobiasca lybica, sur le vignoble de la Côte Vermeille. Chambre D’Agriculture Pyrénées-Orientales. https://po.chambre-agriculture.fr/actualites/detail-de-lactualite/actualites/detection-dune-nouvelle-cicadelle-jacobiasca-lybica-sur-le-vignoble-de-la-cote-vermeille/