Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

An EU funded project for the benefit of the whole EPPO region

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NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Spodoptera littoralis (SPODLI)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

Name as submitted in the project specification (if different to the preferred name):
 

Pest category:
 
Insecta


1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:

Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
 
Yes

Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
 
Yes

Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
 
  • Not relevant: Ornamental sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Not relevant

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Ornamental sector
2 – Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
 
Cyprus (1993); France (2011); Greece (1996); Greece/Kriti (1994); Italy (2010); Italy/Sicilia (1994); Malta (2008); Portugal (2008); Portugal/Azores (2005); Portugal/Madeira (2008); Spain (2012); Spain/Islas Canárias (2011); Spain/Islas Baleares (2011)

Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
Data of the presence of this pest on the EU territory are available in EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/). This pest is a candidate for the RNQP status according to the IIA2AWG

HOST PLANT N°1: Dianthus (1DING) for the Ornamental sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
IIA2AWG

Plants for planting:
 
Plants intended for planting, other than seeds


3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Evaluation continues

4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Not candidate

 
Justification:
 
It is not possible to eradicate S. littoralis from areas where it is established and appropriate control strategies are required to limit the damage. S. littoralis is generally difficult to control owing to its extreme polyphagy, capacity to develop resistance, lack of natural enemies, the presence of greenhouses, mild winters, availability of food plants and characteristics of the species (high fertility, lack of diapause and resistance to common insecticides). It is established outdoors only in the southernmost areas of the EU and elsewhere is transient, arriving by trade in planting material (EFSA PLH, 2015). Although adults can fly up to 1.5km, the short lifespan and the evidence of some long distance dispersal in the EU suggests they will rarely reach Northern Europe in large enough numbers naturally to cause problems in protected environments, and are only likely to cause outbreaks in outdoor crops (EFSA PLH, 2015).
In conclusion, experts considered that plants for planting are a pathway, but not a significant pathway compared to natural infestation in southern EU. For crops cultivated in Northern EU, experts considered that after the season the greenhouse can be disinfested.


CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Disqualified: Plants for planting is not the main pathway in southern Europe. For crops cultivated in Northern EU, experts considered that after the season the greenhouses can be disinfested.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
Yes

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Delisting.

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
Yes

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
Delisting.


REFERENCES: