Pest survey card on Conotrachelus nenuphar. Issue 12 (16th December 2020) - ,
Abstract : This pest survey card was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. Its purpose is to guide the Member States in preparing data and information for Conotrachelus nenuphar surveys. These are required to design statistically sound and risk‐based pest surveys, in line with current international standards. Conotrachelus nenuphar, commonly known as the plum curculio, is distributed in the eastern and midwestern parts of North America, where it is a major pest of fruit orchards. Larval stages feed within the fruit, destroying fruit integrity. Themain hosts are stone fruits ( Prunus spp.) butthis pest can also cause significant damage to pome fruits ( Pyrus spp., Malus spp.) and highbush blueberries.Climatic conditions in most of the EUare expected to besuitable for the establishment of the plum curculioin areaswhere host plants are grown. The beetles disperseabout 300m per yearandthe main potential pathwayfor the entry of the pest intoEU territory is via infested host fruit commoditiesoriginatingfrom countries where the pest occurs. Surveillance should targetin particularhost plants around locations where these commodities are repacked, handled, stored, traded or disposed of. Visual examination of symptoms on the young fruit of host trees before swelling is the recommended method for detection. Adiagnostic protocol for the morphological identification of C. nenuphar adults is available and molecular identification of the adult and immature stagesis possible.