Barcelona, Spain

17-20 June 2014

These are the insects, fungal pathogens and nematodes that have invaded Europe and caused

extensive damage to non-forestry areas; To be considered as an invasive pest, a species has to

satisfy certain criteria within its adoptive country: Arrival/settling/integration/spreading, and these

processes depend on the suitability of the environment encountered.

The introduction of these harmful organisms may be intentional or unintentional and can be the cause of human intervention or just natural dispersal.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC

Yield losses (e. g. agriculture, horticulture)

Production costs (pest management)

Landscape structure, public health

ECOLOGICAL

Native biodiversity

These are the (HO) to non-forestry areas for which emergency measures are currently in place.

These HO were previously unknown to occur in the EU and were not listed specifically in Directive 2000/29/EC.

As result of identification of such pests, emergency measures were set up.

These new pests require new phytosanitary measures to be applied. These can be the introduction of Pest free areas (PFA),

Defined in ISPM 5 as

« an area in which a specific pest does not occur

as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in

which, where appropriate, this condition is being

officially maintained »;

pest free places of production (PFPP),

Protected Zones (PZ) within the EU are defined as an area

— in which one or more harmful organisms which are

established in one or more parts of the Community, are not endemic or established despite favourable conditions for them to establish themselves there; — in which there is a danger that certain harmful organisms will establish, given propitious ecological conditions, for particular crops, despite the fact that these organisms are not endemic or established in the Community;

For movement of plants and plant products from third countries a Phytosanitary Certificate is required, whilst a Plant Passport is required for movement within the EU.

A report of the National Academy of Sciences had argued that biological control should become the primary pest control method in the United States (NAS, 1987). Simultaneously, conservationists began to worry that non-indigenous species introduced for pest control can extinguish native species and devastate native ecosystems…..

A case in point is Harmonia axyridis – known as the harlequin ladybird or the multicoloured Asian lady beetle. In Italy, it was commercialized and released in protected crops against aphids from 1995 to 1999. Since the year 2000 the commercialization of H. axyridis has been interrupted due to the concern aroused by its invasiveness and, in particular, its impact on the

indigenous coccinellids and other predators.

Anaplophora chinensis (Forster) and A. chinensis (Forster) (form malasiaca) Citrus Longhorned Beetle (CLB) They are considered worldwide as some of the most dangerous wood borers accidentally introduced into Europe and N. America. They are native to China, Korea and Japan with occasional records from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Upon emergence adults of both species go up into the crown, to feed upon bark of young shoots and twigs, petioles and veins of leaves. It takes up to 10-15 days of feeding to reach maturity.

CLB lays eggs along the lower trunk, root collar region and on exposed roots

The egg laying period

takes place in summer.

Incubation lasts 10-15

days. Larvae initially bore

a feeding gallery in the

cambium region then an

oval-shaped tunnel in the

sapwood and heartwood

Pupation usually occurs in late

spring/early summer in the pupal

chamber

Adults emerge through

circular exit holes, ~ 10-

15 mm in diameter

In time plant tissues

may close up exit holes.

Anaplophora was first detected in the Lombardy region in the north of Italy during 2001.

The area where the presence of Anaplophora chinensis (Forster) has been confirmed and which includes all the trees showing symptoms is declared as the Infested Zone and all susceptible trees(public/private) were inspected;

The buffer zone is an area with a radius of at least 2kms beyond the perimeter of the infested zone and all susceptible trees (private/public) within the first 500m from the infected area were inspected.

In the remaining area of the buffer zone all the susceptible trees in public areas were inspected.

ISPM 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas ‘Pest free area declared.’

ISPM 6: Guidelines for surveillance ‘confirmed by survey’.

ISPM 8: Determination of pest status in an area

Egg laying can occur every 10/15 days with around 400-1000 eggs in each oviposition giving rise to about 3-4 generations per year. These snails are able move upstream and to breathe both atmospheric oxygen and that dissolved in water. They have a high resistance to environmental factors as well as resistance to conventional chemical treatments.

First detected in 2009 in the Ebro Delta in NE Spain, it has infested part of the rice plots, the irrigation network and the riverbanks of the delta

UE rice industry: EU rice surface area is over 420,000 ha and it is the only possible crop at most of the EU’s rice growing areas;

Mediterranean natural wetlands in southern Europe;

The apple snail is an intermediate host for the rat lungworm, causing agent of meningitis in humans.

Inspection of aquarium centres

Collection and destruction of snails and eggs

Keeping rice fields dry for long periods

Modification of the water inlets and drainage outlets of the plots in order to hinder any further spread of the snail

Installation of barrier traps throughout the irrigation network

Chemical treatment in areas of high infestation

Elimination of snails from agricultural machinery

Elimination of snails from boat hulls

This is a gram negative bacteria which proliferates in the xylem vessels of stems, roots and leaves of plants

In grapevines it causes Pierce’s disease which show up as chlorotic leaves and yellow leaf margins

severe symptoms of leaf scorch on a Platanus occidentalis (sycamore) caused by X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa

First confirmed on Olea europea, Nerium oleander, Prunus amygdalus and Quercus sp in the Apuglia region in October 2013

Xylella has a vast host range

Philaenus spumarius – is the main vector in America and the EPPO region and it is very common in both areas

Graphocephala sp., leafhopper

Removing infected plants and weeds as they may be potential hosts

Vector control by the use of biological agents or insecticides

Sudden oak death, fungus like pathogen, killed millions of tanoaks in the US in the 1990s

Affects over 70 genera of deciduous and coniferous trees

UK felled over 3 million trees to try and control the infection

The adults feed on the foliage. The larvae on the roots.

Epitrix spp. hard to detect low populations - Epitrix spp. spread likely to occur before detection occurs - Pest mobile - Wide host range, amateur crops, survives on weeds in field Potential economic impact – high: cosmetic damages, rejection of lot, treatment = more costs) - Highest risk pathway : infested seed and ware potatoes Probability of establishment is high and pest difficult to eradicate Measures needed to prevent introduction: - Brushing and/or washing of tubers prior to export or production in - pest-free areas Import from Pest Free Areas

Recorded in Malta in 2007

Early detection difficult

No quarantine treatment available

Homeowners are difficult to involve

Risks of mass trapping in uninfested areas

Lack of environmentally safe and effective control measures

Monitoring;

Pruning: in winter, only dry fronds and application of insecticide;

Nematodes;

Preventive treatments to include insecticides or nematodes;

Sanitation;

Removal and destruction of infected palms;

Mass trapping;

Specific import requirements for palms;

Can cause catastrophic damages to food and industrial crops both in the urban and industrial environment.

There is a high risk of introduction because of the high possibility of establishment, spread, high host density, sensitivity and range, low genetic diversity and a lack of natural enemies

- the Irish potato famine (1845-1849) caused by phytophora infestans in which 1 million died and 1 million emigrated;

- Hemileia vastatrix Berk. and Br.(Uredinales), coffee rust, which between 1869-1879 ruined the entire coffee industry in Sri Lanka;

- the Great Bengal famine of 1943 where about 2 million died when the rice crop was devastated by the fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus.

Black spot of citrus is a serious disease of citrus cultivars in Australia, Guangdong province in China and South Africa.

In South Africa 90% of fruits from unprotected trees were claimed to be unfit for export and losses of more than 80% in unprotected fruit was recorded;

If introduced in Mediterranean citrus growing areas it could be expected to establish and cause significant losses.

The disease appeared in the Punjab (India) around 1930. It was epidemic there in 1953-1954 In 1974 and 1975, the disease was epidemic in Himachal Pradesh areas of Uttar Pradesh and the Gurudaspur area of the Punjab with 50% infection on the cultivar HD-2000. When infection is severe, yield, seed quality are adversely affected. Food grain is unacceptable when infection exceeds 3%. Once introduced, it would be almost impossible to eradicate the fungus since spores can remain viable in the soil for a considerable time. T. indica presents a hazard to both bread wheat and durum wheat in areas with favourable climatic conditions.

Gram negative bacterium infecting members of the Rosaceae family such as Pyrus spp., Malus spp., Cydonia spp. There are several other susceptible ornamentals.

(a) Wilt and death of flower clusters

(b) Wilt and death of shoots and twigs

(c) Leaf blight

(d) Fruit blight

(e) Limb and trunk blight

Temperature: optimal Temp for bacterial

multiplication: between 24 °C and 29 °C

Risk for infections: T ≥ 17-18°C

Risk for infections when blooming T≥15 °C

Rain and wind: favour the dispersal of E. a.

High humidity: favours the multiplication and

survival of E.a

Hail: favours the penetration of the pathogen

Destruction of all symptomatic and infested plants;

Treatment of other plants;

Hygenic measures;

Prohibition of movement of host plants, fruits, pollen, seeds, timber of infested host plants and hives (during flowering) from demarcated areas to PZ.

EU plant passport regime

Requirements for producer registration

OFFICIAL LABEL

• Stipulated by the NPPO (responsible official

organism

• Issued in accordance with the stipulated procedure

Confirms that plants fulfil all requirements for

movement in the EU or into the protected zone

for specific pest

- Warnings

- Deletion from the register

- Penalties

Thus producers are requested to co-operate with their respective NPPOs regarding various obligations such as:

Keeping an updated plan of the premises where their activities take place;

Keeping records of plants, plant products or other objects for at least 1 year;

Be experienced in plant production and plant health matters or designate another person who is technically experienced;

Carry out visual inspections as laid down in guidelines;

Because the stakeholders are not just the nurseries, farmers and landowners but the public at large.

So we need to alert local councils, entities responsible for public spaces, nursery owners, landscapers, garden designers and most importantly the new generation: students.

Printed material

Billboards

TV spots

Freephone

Press release

Websites

Public transport

Widespread information will lead to early detection

Early detection will minimize eradication/containment costs

Some campaigns are eligible for solidarity dossiers

Public awareness has been recognized as a phytosanitary measure from the European Commission

New EC emergency decisions require to the MSs to develop public awareness campaigns