Potato flea beetle confirmed in Seville

The presence of the potato flea beetle, Epitrix sp., has been detected in the municipalities of Villamanrique de la Condesa and Mairena del Alcor, according to data from the Official Agro-Food and Livestock Control Laboratory of Seville (Spain). Following this discovery, one of the areas previously designated for pest control has been reviewed and a new area under surveillance has been added.

 

 

These insects of the Epitrix genus, beetles native to North America, were first observed in Europe in Portugal in 2004 and arrived in Spain, specifically in Galicia, in 2009. Since then, the pest has advanced to different regions of Asturias, Cantabria and Andalusia.

 

 

This pest mainly affects potato crops, although it has also been found in other cultivated Solanaceae, such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. Infested tubers show superficial galleries and small protuberances caused by the larvae. Although these damages do not affect the internal quality of the tuber, they do reduce its visual appeal and commercial value. In addition, wounds can facilitate the invasion of pathogenic fungi and other secondary pests.

 

 

The spread of flea beetle occurs mainly through the trade of soil-adhered potatoes from infested areas. To address this threat, the European Commission has implemented emergency measures, based on a risk analysis carried out by the EPPO in 2010, to prevent the entry and spread of Epitrix cucumeris, E. papa sp., E. subcrinita and E. tuberis in the European Union. Specific areas have been demarcated, covering the affected plots and a buffer zone of 500 metres around them.

 

 

source: phytoma.com