Volume 18, Issue 12 e06359
Scientific Opinion
Open Access

Pest categorisation of Leptinotarsa decemlineata

EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH)

Corresponding Author

EFSA Panel on Plant Health (PLH)

Correspondence:[email protected]Search for more papers by this author
Claude BragardKatharina Dehnen-Schmutz

Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz

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Francesco Di SerioPaolo GonthierMarie-Agnès JacquesJosep Anton Jaques Miret

Josep Anton Jaques Miret

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Annemarie Fejer Justesen

Annemarie Fejer Justesen

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Christer Sven MagnussonPanagiotis MilonasJuan A Navas-CortesStephen ParnellRoel PottingPhilippe Lucien Reignault

Philippe Lucien Reignault

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Hans-Hermann ThulkeWopke Van der WerfAntonio Vicent CiveraJonathan YuenLucia ZappalàVirag KerteszAndrea MaioranoFranz StreisslAlan MacLeod
First published: 18 December 2020
Citations: 2
Requestor: European Commission
Question number: EFSA-Q-2020-00120
Panel members: Claude Bragard, Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, Francesco Di Serio, Paolo Gonthier, Marie-Agnès Jacques, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe L Reignault, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent, Jonathan Yuen and Lucia Zappalà.
Reproduction of the images listed below is prohibited and permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder: Figure 1 © MJ Hatfield, Steven Mlodinov, Lynn Bergen Bugguide.net, Figure 2 © EPPO
Adopted: 26 November 2020

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for the EU. L. decemlineata is primarily known as a major defoliator of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum); feeding damage can result in significant yield loss. Field grown tomatoes and eggplants can be attacked and wild solanaceous species are also hosts. Having first established in Europe from North America in the early 20th century, L. decemlineata is now distributed in 21 EU Member States and is regulated in the EU by Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072, (Annex III) with protected zones in place for Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland, parts of Spain (Ibiza and Menorca) and Portugal (Azores and Madeira), seven districts of Finland and five counties in Sweden. Adults occasionally enter some protected zones due to wind currents that carry flying adults; pathways are also provided by plant produce moved in trade. The availability of hosts and suitable climate make establishment of the pest possible in protected zones in the EU, especially in the southern EU. Spread within the protected zones could occur via adult flight and via leafy vegetables moved in trade. Impacts on potato yields would be expected within the protected zones; outdoor grown tomatoes and eggplants could be impacted in the protected zones of southern Member States too. Previous incursions into the current protected zones have been eradicated. L. decemlineata satisfies all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess, to conclude that it is a potential protected zone quarantine pest. L. decemlineata does not satisfy all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess with respect to regulated non-quarantine pest status, specifically plants for planting are not the main means of spread.

1 Introduction

1.1 Background and Terms of Reference as provided by the requestor

1.1.1 Background

Council Directive 2000/29/EC1 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community established the previous European Union plant health regime. The Directive laid down the phytosanitary provisions and the control checks to be carried out at the place of origin on plants and plant products destined for the Union or to be moved within the Union. In the Directive's 2000/29/EC annexes, the list of harmful organisms (pests) whose introduction into or spread within the Union was prohibited, was detailed together with specific requirements for import or internal movement.

Following the evaluation of the plant health regime, the new basic plant health law, Regulation (EU) 2016/20312 on protective measures against pests of plants, was adopted on 26 October 2016 and applied from 14 December 2019 onwards, repealing Directive 2000/29/EC. In line with the principles of the above mentioned legislation and the follow-up work of the secondary legislation for the listing of EU regulated pests, EFSA is requested to provide pest categorisations of the harmful organisms included in the annexes of Directive 2000/29/EC, in the cases where recent pest risk assessment/ pest categorisation is not available.

1.1.2 Terms of Reference

EFSA is requested, pursuant to Article 22(5.b) and Article 29(1) of Regulation (EC) No 178/20023, to provide scientific opinion in the field of plant health.

EFSA is requested to prepare and deliver a pest categorisation (step 1 analysis) for each of the regulated pests included in the appendices of the annex to this mandate. The methodology and template of pest categorisation have already been developed in past mandates for the organisms listed in Annex II Part A Section II of Directive 2000/29/EC. The same methodology and outcome is expected for this work as well.

The list of the harmful organisms included in the annex to this mandate comprises 133 harmful organisms or groups. A pest categorisation is expected for these 133 pests or groups and the delivery of the work would be stepwise at regular intervals through the year as detailed below. First priority covers the harmful organisms included in Appendix 1, comprising pests from Annex II Part A Section I and Annex II Part B of Directive 2000/29/EC. The delivery of all pest categorisations for the pests included in Appendix 1 is June 2018. The second priority is the pests included in Appendix 2, comprising the group of Cicadellidae (non-EU) known to be vector of Pierce's disease (caused by Xylella fastidiosa), the group of Tephritidae (non-EU), the group of potato viruses and virus-like organisms, the group of viruses and virus-like organisms of Cydonia Mill., Fragaria L., Malus Mill., Prunus L., Pyrus L., Ribes L., Rubus L. and Vitis L., and the group of Margarodes (non-EU species). The delivery of all pest categorisations for the pests included in Appendix 2 is end 2019. The pests included in Appendix 3 cover pests of Annex I part A section I and all pest categorisations should be delivered by end 2020.

For the above mentioned groups, each covering a large number of pests, the pest categorisation will be performed for the group and not the individual harmful organisms listed under “such as” notation in the Annexes of the Directive 2000/29/EC. The criteria to be taken particularly under consideration for these cases, is the analysis of host pest combination, investigation of pathways, the damages occurring and the relevant impact.

Finally, as indicated in the text above, all references to ‘non-European’ should be avoided and replaced by ‘non-EU’ and refer to all territories with exception of the Union territories as defined in Article 1 point 3 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

1.1.2.1 Terms of Reference: Appendix 1

List of harmful organisms for which pest categorisation is requested. The list below follows the annexes of Directive 2000/29/EC.

Annex IIAI
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Aleurocanthus spp. Numonia pyrivorella (Matsumura)
Anthonomus bisignifer (Schenkling) Oligonychus perditus Pritchard and Baker
Anthonomus signatus (Say) Pissodes spp. (non-EU)
Aschistonyx eppoi Inouye Scirtothrips aurantii Faure
Carposina niponensis Walsingham Scirtothrips citri (Moultex)
Enarmonia packardi (Zeller) Scolytidae spp. (non-EU)
Enarmonia prunivora Walsh Scrobipalpopsis solanivora Povolny
Grapholita inopinata Heinrich Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say
Hishomonus phycitis Toxoptera citricida Kirk.
Leucaspis japonica Ckll. Unaspis citri Comstock
Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel)
(b) Bacteria
Citrus variegated chlorosis Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae (Ishiyama) Dye and pv. oryzicola (Fang. et al.) Dye
Erwinia stewartii (Smith) Dye
(c) Fungi
Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler (non-EU pathogenic isolates) Elsinoe spp. Bitanc. and Jenk. Mendes
Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. Müller Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Kilian and Maire) Gordon
Apiosporina morbosa (Schwein.) v. Arx Guignardia piricola (Nosa) Yamamoto
eratocystis virescens (Davidson) Moreau Puccinia pittieriana Hennings
Cercoseptoria pini-densiflorae (Hori and Nambu) Deighton Stegophora ulmea (Schweinitz: Fries) Sydow & Sydow
Cercospora angolensis Carv. and Mendes Venturia nashicola Tanaka and Yamamoto
(d) Virus and virus-like organisms
Beet curly top virus (non-EU isolates) Citrus tristeza virus (non-EU isolates)
Black raspberry latent virus Leprosis
Blight and blight-like Little cherry pathogen (non- EU isolates)
Cadang-Cadang viroid Naturally spreading psorosis
Palm lethal yellowing mycoplasm Tatter leaf virus
Satsuma dwarf virus Witches’ broom (MLO)
Annex IIB
(a) Insect mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Anthonomus grandis (Boh.) Ips cembrae Heer
Cephalcia lariciphila (Klug) Ips duplicatus Sahlberg
Dendroctonus micans Kugelan Ips sexdentatus Börner
Gilphinia hercyniae (Hartig) Ips typographus Heer
Gonipterus scutellatus Gyll. Sternochetus mangiferae Fabricius
Ips amitinus Eichhof
(b) Bacteria
Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Hedges) Collins and Jones
(c) Fungi
Glomerella gossypii Edgerton Hypoxylon mammatum (Wahl.) J. Miller
Gremmeniella abietina (Lag.) Morelet

1.1.2.2 Terms of Reference: Appendix 2

List of harmful organisms for which pest categorisation is requested per group. The list below follows the categorisation included in the annexes of Directive 2000/29/EC.

Annex IAI
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Group of Cicadellidae (non-EU) known to be vector of Pierce's disease (caused by Xylella fastidiosa), such as:
1) Carneocephala fulgida Nottingham 3) Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret)
2) Draeculacephala minerva Ball
Group of Tephritidae (non-EU) such as:
1) Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) 12) Pardalaspis cyanescens Bezzi
2) Anastrepha ludens (Loew) 13) Pardalaspis quinaria Bezzi
3) Anastrepha obliqua Macquart 14) Pterandrus rosa (Karsch)
4) Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) 15) Rhacochlaena japonica Ito
5) Dacus ciliatus Loew 16) Rhagoletis completa Cresson
6) Dacus curcurbitae Coquillet 17) Rhagoletis fausta (Osten-Sacken)
7) Dacus dorsalis Hendel 18) Rhagoletis indifferens Curran
8) Dacus tryoni (Froggatt) 19) Rhagoletis mendax Curran
9) Dacus tsuneonis Miyake 20) Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh
10) Dacus zonatus Saund. 21) Rhagoletis suavis (Loew)
11) Epochra canadensis (Loew)
(c) Viruses and virus-like organisms
Group of potato viruses and virus-like organisms such as:
1) Andean potato latent virus 4) Potato black ringspot virus
2) Andean potato mottle virus 5) Potato virus T
3) Arracacha virus B, oca strain 6) non-EU isolates of potato viruses A, M, S, V, X and Y (including Yo, Yn and Yc) and Potato leafroll virus
Group of viruses and virus-like organisms of Cydonia Mill., Fragaria L., Malus Mill., Prunus L., Pyrus L., Ribes L., Rubus L. and Vitis L., such as:
1) Blueberry leaf mottle virus 8) Peach yellows mycoplasm
2) Cherry rasp leaf virus (American) 9) Plum line pattern virus (American)
3) Peach mosaic virus (American) 10) Raspberry leaf curl virus (American)
4) Peach phony rickettsia 11) Strawberry witches’ broom mycoplasma
5) Peach rosette mosaic virus 12) Non-EU viruses and virus-like organisms of Cydonia Mill., Fragaria L., Malus Mill., Prunus L., Pyrus L., Ribes L., Rubus L. and Vitis L.
6) Peach rosette mycoplasm
7) Peach X-disease mycoplasm
Annex IIAI
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Group of Margarodes (non-EU species) such as:
1) Margarodes vitis (Phillipi) 3) Margarodes prieskaensis Jakubski
2) Margarodes vredendalensis de Klerk

1.1.2.3 Terms of Reference: Appendix 3

List of harmful organisms for which pest categorisation is requested. The list below follows the annexes of Directive 2000/29/EC.

Annex IAI
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Acleris spp. (non-EU) Longidorus diadecturus Eveleigh and Allen
Amauromyza maculosa (Malloch) Monochamus spp. (non-EU)
Anomala orientalis Waterhouse Myndus crudus Van Duzee
Arrhenodes minutus Drury Nacobbus aberrans (Thorne) Thorne and Allen
Choristoneura spp. (non-EU) Naupactus leucoloma Boheman
Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) Premnotrypes spp. (non-EU)
Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetverikov Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus (Zimmermann)
Diabrotica barberi Smith and Lawrence Pseudopityophthorus pruinosus (Eichhoff)
Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber Scaphoideus luteolus (Van Duzee)
Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata Mannerheim Spodoptera eridania (Cramer)
Diabrotica virgifera zeae Krysan & Smith Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith)
Diaphorina citri Kuway Spodoptera litura (Fabricus)
Heliothis zea (Boddie) Thrips palmi Karny
Hirschmanniella spp., other than Hirschmanniella gracilis (de Man) Luc and Goodey Xiphinema americanum Cobb sensu lato (non-EU populations)
Liriomyza sativae Blanchard Xiphinema californicum Lamberti and Bleve-Zacheo
(b) Fungi
Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt Mycosphaerella larici-leptolepis Ito et al.
Chrysomyxa arctostaphyli Dietel Mycosphaerella populorum G. E. Thompson
Cronartium spp. (non-EU) Phoma andina Turkensteen
Endocronartium spp. (non-EU) Phyllosticta solitaria Ell. and Ev.
Guignardia laricina (Saw.) Yamamoto and Ito Septoria lycopersici Speg. var. malagutii Ciccarone and Boerema
Gymnosporangium spp. (non-EU) Thecaphora solani Barrus
Inonotus weirii (Murril) Kotlaba and Pouzar Trechispora brinkmannii (Bresad.) Rogers
Melampsora farlowii (Arthur) Davis
(c) Viruses and virus-like organisms
Tobacco ringspot virus Pepper mild tigré virus
Tomato ringspot virus Squash leaf curl virus
Bean golden mosaic virus Euphorbia mosaic virus
Cowpea mild mottle virus Florida tomato virus
Lettuce infectious yellows virus
(d) Parasitic plants
Arceuthobium spp. (non-EU)
Annex IAII
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Meloidogyne fallax Karssen Rhizoecus hibisci Kawai and Takagi
Popillia japonica Newman
(b) Bacteria
Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieckermann and Kotthoff) Davis et al. Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.
(c) Fungi
Melampsora medusae Thümen Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilbersky) Percival
Annex I B
(a) Insects, mites and nematodes, at all stages of their development
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach)
(b) Viruses and virus-like organisms
Beet necrotic yellow vein virus

1.2 Interpretation of the Terms of Reference

Leptinotarsa decemlineata is one of a number of pests listed in the Appendices to the Terms of Reference (ToR) to be subject to pest categorisation to determine whether it fulfils the criteria of a quarantine pest or those of a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) for the area of the EU excluding Ceuta, Melilla and the outermost regions of Member States (MS) referred to in Article 355(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), other than Madeira and the Azores.

In Appendix 1 of the ToR, the authority accompanying the bionomial name appears as Say and does not appear within brackets. However, Thomas Say who first formally described the organism (Say, 1824) gave it the name Doryphora 10-lineata. The taxonomy was later revised before the species was placed into the genus Leptinotarsa. Since the organism was reclassified the correct way to present the name of the authority is to give the authority name within brackets, indicating that the species was originally described in another genus, i.e. Leptinotarsa decimlineata (Say), just as the name and authority appears in EPPO global database (EPPO, online).

Following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/20314 on 14 December 2019 and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 for the listing of EU regulated pests, the Plant Health Panel interpreted the original request (ToR in Section 1.1.2) as a request to provide pest categorisations for the pests in the Annexes of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/20725.

Recognising that L. decemlineata is regulated as a quarantine pest in the EU protected zones only, the scope of this categorisation is the territory of the protected zones (Ireland, Spain (Ibiza and Menorca), Cyprus, Malta, Portugal (Azores and Madeira), Finland (districts of Åland, Häme, Kymi, Pirkanmaa, Satakunta, Turku, Uusimaa) and Sweden (counties of Blekinge, Gotland, Halland, Kalmar and Skåne)). The UK is also included in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 as one of the EU protected zones for L. decemlineata. However, following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and in line with the Withdrawal Agreement6 allowing free movement between the EU and Northern Ireland after 1/1/2021 (but not free movement for Great Britain) Great Britain is not considered in this opinion as part of the EU protected zones.

2 Data and methodologies

2.1 Data

2.1.1 Literature search

A literature search on L. decemlineata was conducted at the beginning of the categorisation in the ISI Web of Science bibliographic database, using the scientific and common name of the pest as search term (Leptinotarsa decemlineata OR Colorado potato beetle). Due to the very high number of hits, the search was limited to the last 5 years. Following the removal of duplicates, 254 hits were found. Relevant papers were reviewed, and further references and information were obtained from experts, as well as from citations within the references and grey literature.

2.1.2 Database search

Pest information, on host(s) and distribution, was retrieved from the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) Global Database (EPPO, online) and relevant publications.

Data about the import of commodity types that could potentially provide a pathway for the pest to enter the EU and about the area of hosts grown in the EU were obtained from EUROSTAT (Statistical Office of the European Communities).

The Europhyt and TRACES databases were consulted for pest-specific notifications on interceptions and outbreaks. Europhyt is a web-based network run by the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTÉ) of the European Commission, and is a subproject of PHYSAN (Phyto-Sanitary Controls) specifically concerned with plant health information. TRACES is the European Commission's multilingual online platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the EU, and the intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products. Up until May 2020, the Europhyt database managed notifications of interceptions of plants or plant products that do not comply with EU legislation, as well as notifications of plant pests detected in the territory of the MS and the phytosanitary measures taken to eradicate or avoid their spread. The recording of interceptions switched from Europhyt to TRACES in May 2020. TRACES is a European Commission online platform used for the importation of plants into the European Union (It is also used for animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin).

Some literature regarding the pest from the early 19th century was retrieved from the Biodiversity Heritage Library database (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/).

The occurrence of wild/weedy hosts in the protected zones was checked using the Euro+Med plant database (Euro+Med, 2006). The database integrates and critically evaluates information from Flora Europaea, Med-Checklist, the Flora of Macaronesia, and from regional and national floras and checklists from the area as well as additional taxonomic and floristic literature (http://ww2.bgbm.org/EuroPlusMed/query.asp).

2.2 Methodologies

The Panel performed the pest categorisation for L. decemlineata following guiding principles and steps presented in the EFSA guidance on quantitative pest risk assessment (EFSA PLH Panel, 2018) and in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No 11 (FAO, 2013) and No 21 (FAO, 2004).

This work was initiated following an evaluation of the EU plant health regime. Therefore, to facilitate the decision-making process, in the conclusions of the pest categorisation, the Panel addresses explicitly each criterion for a Union quarantine pest and for a Union RNQP in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants, and includes additional information required in accordance with the specific terms of reference received by the European Commission. In addition, for each conclusion, the Panel provides a short description of its associated uncertainty.

Table 1 presents the Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 pest categorisation criteria on which the Panel bases its conclusions. All relevant criteria have to be met for the pest to potentially qualify either as a quarantine pest or as a RNQP. If one of the criteria is not met, the pest will not qualify. A pest that does not qualify as a quarantine pest may still qualify as a RNQP that needs to be addressed in the opinion. For the pests regulated in the protected zones only, the scope of the categorisation is the territory of the protected zones; thus, the criteria refer to the protected zones instead of the EU territory.

It should be noted that the Panel's conclusions are formulated respecting its remit and particularly with regard to the principle of separation between risk assessment and risk management (EFSA founding regulation (EU) No 178/2002); therefore, instead of determining whether the pest is likely to have an unacceptable impact, the Panel will present a summary of the observed pest impacts. Economic impacts are expressed in terms of yield and quality losses and not in monetary terms, whereas addressing social impacts is outside the remit of the Panel.

Table 1. Pest categorisation criteria under evaluation, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants (the number of the relevant sections of the pest categorisation is shown in brackets in the first column)
Criterion of pest categorisation Criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union quarantine pest Criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding protected zone quarantine pest (articles 32–35) Criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union regulated non-quarantine pest
Identity of the pest (Section 3.1) Is the identity of the pest established, or has it been shown to produce consistent symptoms and to be transmissible? Is the identity of the pest established, or has it been shown to produce consistent symptoms and to be transmissible? Is the identity of the pest established, or has it been shown to produce consistent symptoms and to be transmissible?
Absence/ presence of the pest in the EU territory (Section 3.2)

Is the pest present in the EU territory?

If present, is the pest widely distributed within the EU? Describe the pest distribution briefly!

Is the pest present in the EU territory? If not, it cannot be a protected zone quarantine organism Is the pest present in the EU territory? If not, it cannot be a RNQP. (A regulated non-quarantine pest must be present in the risk assessment area)
Regulatory status (Section 3.3) If the pest is present in the EU but not widely distributed in the risk assessment area, it should be under official control or expected to be under official control in the near future

The protected zone system aligns with the pest free area system under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

The pest satisfies the IPPC definition of a quarantine pest that is not present in the risk assessment area (i.e. protected zone)

Is the pest regulated as a quarantine pest? If currently regulated as a quarantine pest, are there grounds to consider its status could be revoked?
Pest potential for entry, establishment and spread in the EU territory (Section 3.4) Is the pest able to enter into, become established in, and spread within, the EU territory? If yes, briefly list the pathways!

Is the pest able to enter into, become established in, and spread within, the protected zone areas?

Is entry by natural spread from EU areas where the pest is present possible?

Is spread mainly via specific plants for planting, rather than via natural spread or via movement of plant products or other objects?

Clearly state if plants for planting is the main pathway!

Potential for consequences in the EU territory (Section 3.5) Would the pests’ introduction have an economic or environmental impact on the EU territory? Would the pests’ introduction have an economic or environmental impact on the protected zone areas? Does the presence of the pest on plants for planting have an economic impact as regards the intended use of those plants for planting?
Available measures (Section 3.6) Are there measures available to prevent the entry into, establishment within or spread of the pest within the EU such that the risk becomes mitigated?

Are there measures available to prevent the entry into, establishment within or spread of the pest within the protected zone areas such that the risk becomes mitigated?

Is it possible to eradicate the pest in a restricted area within 24 months (or a period longer than 24 months where the biology of the organism so justifies) after the presence of the pest was confirmed in the protected zone?

Are there measures available to prevent pest presence on plants for planting such that the risk becomes mitigated?
Conclusion of pest categorisation (Section 4) A statement as to whether (1) all criteria assessed by EFSA above for consideration as a potential quarantine pest were met and (2) if not, which one(s) were not met A statement as to whether (1) all criteria assessed by EFSA above for consideration as potential protected zone quarantine pest were met, and (2) if not, which one(s) were not met A statement as to whether (1) all criteria assessed by EFSA above for consideration as a potential RNQP were met, and (2) if not, which one(s) were not met

The Panel will not indicate in its conclusions of the pest categorisation whether to continue the risk assessment process, but following the agreed two-step approach, will continue only if requested by the risk managers. However, during the categorisation process, experts may identify key elements and knowledge gaps that could contribute significant uncertainty to a future assessment of risk. It would be useful to identify and highlight such gaps so that potential future requests can specifically target the major elements of uncertainty, perhaps suggesting specific scenarios to examine.

3 Pest categorisation

3.1 Identity and biology of the pest

3.1.1 Identity and taxonomy

Is the identity of the pest established, or has it been shown to produce consistent symptoms and to be transmissible?

Yes, the identity of the pest is established.

Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is an insect in the family Chrysomelidae, tribe Doryphorini. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1824 (Say, 1824) as a member of the genus Doryphora. Based on morphological similarities to other members of the tribe, Suffrian (1858) noted that the organism should be reclassified but did not make any formal change himself. It was Stål (1862) who formally revised the taxonomy and placed the species in the genus Chrysomela, making Doryphora 10-lineata Say a junior synonym of Chrysomela decemlineata (Say). Kraatz (1874) then transferred C. decemlineata into the genus Leptinotarsa to create Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) where it has remained ever since.

The EPPO code (Griessinger and Roy, 2015; EPPO, 2019) for this species is LPTNDE (EPPO, online).

3.1.2 Biology of the pest

Adults emerge from overwintering diapause during the spring or early summer when soil temperature rises to 11°C or above; this generally coincides with the availability of leaves of host plants (Lefevere and de Kort, 1989; de Kort, 1990; Pulatov et al., 2016). Adults emerging from diapause require food and water to develop flight muscles and once sufficiently fed can survive starvation periods of over 30 days (Boiteau et al., 2003; MacQuarrie and Boiteau, 2003). L. decemlineata is an oligophagous species feeding on wild and cultivated plants within the family Solanaceae (Alyokhin et al., 2013b). The preferred host is potato (Solanum tuberosum); tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) are also important hosts (Weber, 2003; Vargas-Ortiz et al., 2018). There are also a number of wild solanaceous host species. Table 5 lists the plants on which L. decemlineata can complete development. While primarily a plant feeder, adults and larvae are known to be cannibalistic and will consume conspecific eggs, larvae, pupae and adults when overcrowded or where host plants are absent (Gui and Boiteau, 2010; Booth et al., 2017). After feeding, females will mate multiple times with multiple males. Mated females will lay up to 60 eggs in a mass on the underside of a leaf. Females avoid ovipositing on leaves containing conspecific eggs and will fly to lay egg masses across a number of sites within and between habitats, e.g. in fields and on wild Solanaceae in field edges. Over several weeks a female can lay several hundred to a few thousand eggs in total (Weber, 2003; Alyokhin et al., 2013a).

Eggs hatch after 4–14 days, depending on temperature, and larvae begin to feed on host leaves. There are four larval instars. At 29°C larvae can complete development in 8 days; at 14°C it takes 28 days (Hare, 1990). Fourth instar larvae drop to the ground and burrow in the soil to pupate. Pupation takes 8–18 days. Upon emergence adults will feed and may mate or will seek an overwintering site to enter diapause. During the summer in arid areas, adults can aestivate (summer dormancy, like winter diapause) to avoid desiccation.

Adults enter diapause to overwinter with day length, temperature and food availability being factors contributing to when diapause begins (Alyokhin et al., 2013a). Thus, towards the end of summer adults make migratory flights seeking overwintering sites (Boiteau et al., 2003). Adults burrow into the soil to overwinter; some adults will overwinter in the soil in open fields, others will overwinter in the soil in hedgerows (Weber and Ferro, 1993). Adults burrow to between 10 and 25 cm and overwintering survival increases with depth. At higher latitudes, adults may go deeper to reach soil depths of 20–60 cm where soil temperatures remain above 0°C (Lefevere & De Kort 1989). Piiroinen et al. (2011) studied L. decemlineata overwintering behaviour and found that larger (heavier) adults that burried into soil earlier than smaller (lighter) adults had a higher overwintering survival rate. Behavioural changes, such as entering diapause sooner could facilitate northern range expansion in Europe (Cingel et al., 2016), for example into parts of the EU protected zone.

Diapause ceases at temperatures above 10°C (de Kort, 1990), and adults can emerge over a period of up to three months. A small proportion of adults may remain in diapause for more than one winter. In a 10-year study in New York State, almost 98% of adult L. decemlineata emerged after one winter but some did not emerge for between 2 and 7 years; one adult emerged from diapause after 9 years (Tauber and Tauber, 2002).

Based on earlier literature, Pulatov et al. (2016) reported two threshold temperatures for development (10°C and 12°C) with a minimum of 411 degree days above either threshold for egg to egg development. Differences in threshold could be due to experimental and analytical methods used and/or differences in local adaptations of the populations examined (Boman et al., 2008). Sixty to 90 degree days above the thresholds are required for adults to emerge from diapause; 51–70 degree days for feeding, mating and egg laying, and 300 degree days for development from egg to adult. Where sufficient summer temperatures allow, L. decemlineata can develop four generations per year (Radcliffe 1982). Around the Mediterranean, three generations per year are possible and in northern Europe there can be one or two generations per year (Pulatov et al., 2016). In Canada, adult numbers peak in August and are the result of the overwintering generation, a second smaller peak later in the year can be the result of reproduction by the summer generation or the result of delayed oviposition from overwintering adults (Senanayake and Holliday, 1989).

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the biology of L. decemlineata is its plasticity, which has resulted in the species developing resistance to 56 different active substances in nearly all insecticide classes (Mota-Sanchez and Wise, 2020). Many studies have investigated the mechanisms for enzymatic detoxification of insecticides by L. decemlineata (e.g. studies listed in Clements et al., 2020) although behavioural changes, such as delayed emergence, may also contribute to the ability to develop insecticide resistance (Cingel et al., 2016; Clements et al., 2020).

3.1.3 Intraspecific diversity

Tower (1906) proposed four sub-species of L. decemlineata, based on differences in spot patterns and coloration of the head, pronotum and elytra. The sub-species are not now recognised and most scientists consider L. decemlineata to be a single species (Alyokhin et al., 2013a). However, phenotypic variations between populations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and variations in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA suggest the existence of three distinct races within the single species (Alyokhin et al., 2013a). It is unknown whether there is any significant difference in the phytosanitary threat posed by the different races to the protected zone.

3.1.4 Detection and identification of the pest

Are detection and identification methods available for the pest?

Yes. Both adults and larvae eat the foliage, and can be seen and recognised by eye. Sweep nets can be used to collect samples from hedgerow vegetation. Symptoms include stripping of foliage. Adults and larvae produce a characteristic, black and sticky excrement which is deposited on the stem and leaves of hosts.

Because of their size, distinctive markings and colour, adults and larvae are not difficult to observe during visual inspection. Leaves and stems should be examined for larvae and adults. Mechanical disturbance, such as shaking plants can cause adults to drop off a host as they feign death (Bach, 1982; Misener and Boiteau, 1993). The underside of leaves should be examined for egg masses.

In potato fields, visual sampling is as efficient for estimating population density as whole-plant bag-sampling and more efficient than sweep netting (Senanayake and Holliday, 1989). Soil sampling can be used to detect adults in diapause.

Adult beetles are attracted to yellow and can be captured with yellow sticky traps or water traps (Kroschel et al., 2020).

At least two keys are available to identify L. decemlineata. There is a key to genera for adults in the tribe Doryphorini in North America and to 31 of the 41 species in the genus Leptinotarsa, including L. decemlineata (Jacques, 1988). There is also a key to the Palaearctic Chrysomelidae (Warchalowski, 2010).

A diagnostic protocol designed for use in Australia is available (Australian Government, 2018).

Details are in the caption following the image
Leptinotarsa decemlineata, from left to right: egg batch (MJ Hatfield, Bugguide.net), newly hatched larvae (MJ Hatfield, Bugguide.net), 4th instar larva (Steven Mlodinov, Bugguide.net), adult female (Lynn Bergen, Bugguide.net)
The description of life stages below is based on Defra (2017) and EPPO (online). See also Figure 1.
  • Eggs
Eggs are yellow or light-orange, ovoid and approximately 1.2 mm long
  • Larvae
Larvae have large arched abdomens; the 1st instar is 1.5 mm long, cherry-red with a shiny black heads and feet; later instars become progressively paler from cherry-red to orange-red, then pale-orange, with a line of several small black dots on each side of the body marking the spiracles. Fourth instar larvae are approximately 8 mm long.
  • Pupae
Pupae are yellowish, up to 1 cm. No pupal case is formed.
  • Adult

A stout, oval, strongly convex beetle, approximately 8.5–11.5 mm in length; yellowish-brown except for five narrow black stripes on each of the two creamy-yellow elytra (wing covers); about 12 small black spots on the top of the head and thorax; the tips of the orange legs are dark-brown or black.

3.2 Pest distribution

3.2.1 Pest distribution outside the EU

L. decemlineata is widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere (Figure 2). Several texts suggest that L. decemlineata originated in Mexico (e.g. Casagrande, 1985; Weber, 2003; Alyokhin et al., 2013a,b; Kroschel et al., 2020), where the diversity of Leptinotarsa species is highest (Tower, 1906). However, molecular studies on L. decemlineata populations from Mexico, the central plains of USA and eastern USA support the hypothesis that L. decemlineata is actually a native of the plains regions of the USA (Izzo et al., 2018). Regardless of its origins, the species is established across much of the USA, Canada and Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, and parts of Europe and Asia. It continues to spread in China (Wang et al., 2020). For details of distribution outside, the EU see Appendix A.

Details are in the caption following the image
World distribution of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (EPPO Global database, accessed 21/9/2020)

3.2.2 Pest distribution in the EU

Is the pest present in the EU territory? If present, is the pest widely distributed within the EU?

Yes. The pest is established and widely distributed within the EU, although absent from the protected zone.

Table 2. Current distribution of Leptinotarsa decemlineata in EU Member States and Northern Ireland based on information from the EPPO Global Database accessed 22/9/2020
Country EPPO Global Database (accessed: 22/9/2020)
Austria Present, widespread
Belgium Present, widespread
Bulgaria Present, widespread
Croatia Present, widespread
Cyprus Absent, confirmed by survey
Czech Republic Present, widespread
Denmark Absent, pest eradicated
Estonia Present, widespread
Finland Absent, pest eradicated
France

Present, widespread

Corsica-present-no details

Germany Present, widespread
Greece Present, restricted distribution
Hungary Present, widespread
Ireland Absent, intercepted only
Italy

Present, widespread

Sicily, Present-no details

Sardinia - Absent, invalid record

Latvia Present, no details
Lithuania Present, widespread
Luxembourg Present, restricted distribution
Malta Absent, no pest record
Netherlands Present, no details
Poland Present, widespread
Portugal

Present, widespread

Azores - Absent, confirmed by survey

Madeira - Absent, confirmed by survey

Romania Present, widespread
Slovak Republic Present, no details
Slovenia Present, widespread
Spain

Present, widespread

Balearic Islands – Present, restricted distribution

Sweden Absent, pest eradicated
Northern Ireland a Absent
  • a As noted in Section 1.2 (interpretation of ToR), the UK has withdrawn from the EU and in line with the Withdrawal Agreement (European Commission, 2019) Northern Ireland is considered part of the EU protected zones in this opinion.

3.3 Regulatory status

3.3.1 Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072

Leptinotarsa decemlineata is listed in Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072. Details are presented in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3. Leptinotarsa decemlineata in Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072
Annex III List of protected zones and the respective protected zone quarantine pests and their respective codes
(c) Insects and mites
Protected zone quarantine pests EPPO code Protected zones
12 Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say LPTNDE a) Ireland; (b) Spain (Ibiza and Menorca); (c) Cyprus; (d) Malta; (e) Portugal (Azores and Madeira); (f) Finland (districts of Åland, Häme, Kymi, Pirkanmaa, Satakunta, Turku, Uusimaa); (g) Sweden (counties of Blekinge, Gotland, Halland, Kalmar and Skåne); (h) United Kingdoma
  • a Refer to Section 1.2 (Interpretation of Terms of Reference) to see how the UK is treated in this opinion with respect to being part of the EU protected zones.

3.3.2 Legislation addressing the hosts of Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Table 4 identifies regulated hosts and commodities in relation to entry from third countries.

Table 4. Regulated hosts and commodities that could potentially provide a pathway into the EU protected zones for Leptinotarsa decemlineata in Annexes of Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 Annex VI
Annex VI List of plants, plant products and other objects whose introduction into the Union from certain third countries is prohibited
Description CN Code Third country, group of third countries or specific area of third country
15. Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., seed potatoes 0701 10 00 Third countries other than Switzerland
16. Plants for planting of stolon- or tuber-forming species of Solanum L. or their hybrids, other than those tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. as specified in entry 15 ex 0601 10 90 ex 0601 20 90 ex 0602 90 50 ex 0602 90 70 ex 0602 90 91 ex 0602 90 99 Third countries other than Switzerland
17. Tubers of species of Solanum L., and their hybrids, other than those specified in entries 15 and 16 ex 0601 10 90 ex 0601 20 90 0701 90 10 0701 90 50 0701 90 90

Third countries other than:

(a) […] Switzerland […] Turkey;

or

(b) those which fulfil the following provisions:

(i) they are one of the following […]

and

(ii) – they are either recognised as being free from Clavibacter sepedonicus […], or

– their legislation, is recognised as equivalent to the Union rules concerning protection against Clavibacter sepedonicus

18. Plants for planting of Solanaceae other than seeds and the plants covered by entries 15, 16 or 17 ex 0602 90 30 ex 0602 90 45 ex 0602 90 46 ex 0602 90 48 ex 0602 90 50 ex 0602 90 70 ex 0602 90 91 ex 0602 90 99 Third countries other than: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Egypt, Faeroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia (only the following parts: Central Federal District (Tsentralny federalny okrug), Northwestern Federal District (Severo-Zapadny federalny okrug), Southern Federal District (Yuzhny federalny okrug), North Caucasian Federal District (Severo-Kavkazsky federalny okrug) and Volga Federal District (Privolzhsky federalny okrug)), San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine
19. Soil as such consisting in part of solid organic substances ex 2530 90 00 ex 3824 99 93 Third countries other than Switzerland

L. decemlineata occurs in many of the countries exempt from the prohibitions listed in Table 5.

Annexes IX (List of plants, plant products and other objects, whose introduction into certain protected zones is prohibited), X (List of plants, plant products and other objects, to be introduced into, or moved within protected zones and corresponding special requirements for protected zones), XII (List of plants, plant products and other objects for which a phytosanitary certificate is required for their introduction into a protected zone from certain third countries of origin or dispatch) and XIV (List of plants, plant products and other objects for which a plant passport with the designation ʽPZ’ is required for introduction into, and movement within certain protected zones) of Regulation 2019–2072 concern controls regarding certain protected zones. While such annexes may contain special requirements for specific named PZ pests, L. decemlineata is not specifically named in these annexes.

3.4 Entry, establishment and spread in the EU (protected zone)

3.4.1 Host range

L. decemlineta is an oligophagous species feeding on wild and cultivated plants within the family Solanaceae (Alyokhin et al., 2013b). The preferred host is potato (Solanum tuberosum) although tomato (S. lycopersicum) and eggplant (S. melongena) are also hosts (Weber, 2003). Table 5 lists the plants on which L. decemlineata can complete development.

Table 5. Leptinotarsa decemlineata hosts and their status as recorded in EPPO global database, CABI (2020) both accessed 22/9/2020) and Hsiao (1978)
Plant name Present in PZ Host status EPPO Host status CABI Hsiao (1978)
Solanum tuberosum (potato) Yes Major Main Main
Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) Yes Minor Other Minor
Solanum melongena (eggplant) Yes Minor Minor
Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) Yes Other
Solanum carolinense Important host
Solanum elaeagnifoilum Yes Important host
Solanum rostratum Yes Predominant host
Solanum diversifolium Minor
Solanum dulcamara Yes Minor
Solanum saccharoides Minor
Solanum villosum Yes Minor
Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane) Yes Other Minor
  • –: no information.

Occurrence of hosts in the protected zones is based on Euro+Med (2006). Plants listed in the CABI and EPPO databases that are not solanaceous should be regarded as minor alternative food sources rather than true hosts on which complete development can take place.

3.4.2 Entry

Is the pest able to enter into the EU (protected zone) territory? If yes, identify and list the pathways.

Yes,L. decemlineata has entered the protected zones in the past. It can enter by natural spread, such as adult migratory flight and pathways are provided by plant produce moved in trade.

  • L. decemlineata adults can enter the protected zones by flying. When airborne adults can be lifted by air currents and then be spread passively in prevailing winds, being carried hundreds of kilometres, including into the protected zones, e.g. into Sweden from Poland and Germany (Wiktelius, 1981); and into Finland, for example in 1948, 1983, 1998 and 2002 (Grapputo et al., 2005). EPPO (online) provides links to EPPO Reporting Service articles from 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2011 where outbreaks of L. decemlineata in Finland are reported; each outbreak is assumed to result from adult L. decemlineata having been carried to Finland with air currents from areas where the pest is known to occur, or as a contaminating pest of goods moved in trade. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA of L. decemlineata found in Finland show associations to populations of L. decemlineata from Russia and/or Poland (Grapputo et al., 2005).
  • L. decemlineata adults can enter the protected zones on leafy plant material moving within the internal market of the EU. For example, the UK, previously part of the EU protected zones, intercepted L. decemlineata relatively frequently with interceptions reported during any of the 12 months of the year, although peak findings occurred in the spring, during March, April and May (Bartlett, 1990). Interceptions occurred on a number of commodities, including lettuce (Lactuca), parsley (Petroselinum) and spinach (Spinacia). Accidentally introduced adult L. decemlineata have been found in Finland in supermarket and restaurant lettuce imported from other European countries (Grapputo et al., 2005).
  • L. decemlinetata has been found twice in Ibiza. The most recent findings took place in the early 2000s and it was eradicated.
  • The Europhyt database, searched on 22/9/2020, reports 158 records of L. decemlineata interceptions on a range of plant genera (Allium,Brassica,Cichorium,Daucus,Eruca,Fragaria,Lactuca,Petroselinum,Pisum,Raphanus,Solanum,Spinacia,Triticale,Valerianella). However, 137 of the records are records from the UK (117 from England, 7 from Scotland, 3 from Northern Ireland, 2 from Wales, 8 unspecified). Twenty-four Europhyt records relate to interceptions in the EU protected zones (inc. 3 for Northern Ireland). Table 6 shows PZ countries reporting interceptions by host (Details in Appendix B).
Table 6. Europhyt interception records of Leptinotasa decemlineata by host, as reported by countries in the EU protected zones (excluding GB)
Host\Reporting country: Ireland Sweden Northern Ireland Cyprus Sum
Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) 10 1 1 12
Allium fistulosum (spring onion) 1 1
Petroselinum (parsley) 1 3 4
Allium porrum (leek) 2 2
Eruca sp. (salad rocket) 1 1
Lactuca sp. (lettuce) 1 1
Spinacia oleracea (spinach) 1 1
Triticale 1 1
Various objects 1 1
Sum 15 5 3 1 24

Figure 3 shows that most interceptions in the protected zones originate from other EU MS rather than third countries.

Details are in the caption following the image

Origins of interceptions in the EU protected zones 1995–2019. EG = Egypt, IT = Italy, FR = France, DE = Germany, CY = Cyprus(a), NL = Netherlands, BG = Bulgaria (Source: Europhyt)

  • (a): Of note is that Sweden reported an interception of L. decemlineata from Cyprus where L. decemlineata is not known to occur.

From May 2020, interception records have been recorded on TRACES rather than Europhyt. When searched on 22/9/2020 there were no records of L. decemlineata interceptions in TRACES.

Searching the Europhyt database for outbreaks revealed two outbreak notifications from Sweden, one from 2017 and one from 2019. In both cases a single individual of L. decemlineata was found by a member of the public in Skåne County, the southern-most tip of Sweden and within the protected zone. Whether either finding was a genuine outbreak, i.e. a recently detected pest population, including an incursion, or a sudden significant increase of an established pest population in an area (FAO, 2018) is questionable given only a single adult was found in each case. Table 7 lists potential pathways from third countries (Table 7, part A) and from within the EU into the protected zones (Table 7, part B).

Table 7. Potential pathways for Leptinotarsa decemlineata into the protected zones
Part A: Pathways from third countries
Pathways Life stage Relevant mitigations [e.g. prohibitions (Annex VI) or special requirements (Annex VII) within Implementing Regulation 2019/2072]
Plants for planting with foliage and growing medium Eggs, larvae, adults on foliage

Annex VI (18.). Introduction into the EU of plants for planting of Solanaceae other than seeds (…) from third countries other than Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Egypt, Faeroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia (…), San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine is prohibited

Annex VII (1.). The growing medium attached to or associated with plants, intended to sustain the vitality of the host plants (Solanum spp.) are mostly covered by the CN codes listed in Annex VII of Regulation 2019/2072 and require a general freedom from symptoms of quarantine pests

Seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Larvae, adults

Pupae (in soil with tubers)

Annex VI (15.) Introduction into the EU of seed potatoes from third countries other than Switzerland is prohibited
Ware potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Larvae, adults

Pupae (in soil with tubers)

Annex VI (17.) Introduction of tubers of species of Solanum L. and their hybrids other than S. tuberosum seed potatoes is prohibited from countries other than

(a) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey, or

(b) those which fulfil the following provisions: (i) they are one of following: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Faeroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia (only the following parts: Central Federal District (…), San Marino, Serbia, and Ukraine, and

(ii) — they are either recognised as being free from Clavibacter sepedonicus (Spieckermann and Kottho) Nouioui et al., in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107 of Regulation (EU) No 2016/2031, or

— their legislation, is recognised as equivalent to the Union rules concerning protection against Clavibacter sepedonicus (Spieckermann and Kottho) Nouioui et al. in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107 of Regulation (EU) No 2016/2031 have been complied with

Annex VII (14.) Official statement that the consignment or lot does not contain more than 1% by net weight of soil and growing medium

Soil & growing media Pupae Annex VI (19. and 20.) bans the introduction of soil and growing media as such into the Union from third countries other than Switzerland
Soil on machinery Pupae Annex VII (2.) Official statement that machinery or vehicles are cleaned and free from soil and plant debris
Part B: Pathways within the EU
Flight Adults None
Fresh produce Adults None

3.4.3 Establishment

Is the pest able to become established in the EU (protected zone) territory?

Yes. Some of the climate types that occur in North America and in EU MS where L. decemlineata is already established are also found in the EU protected zones where host plants are present in the wild and as cultivated crops both in open fields and in greenhouses or under other protected conditions.

Conditions within the protected zones are suitable for establishment of the pest. Pest outbreaks have occurred and have been eradicated from the protected zones.

3.4.3.1 EU distribution of main host plants

L. decemlineata is an oligophagous species feeding and developing on wild and cultivated plants within the family Solanaceae (Alyokhin et al., 2013a). Wild hosts occur in the protected zones (Table 5).

The preferred host is potato (Solanum tuberosum) which is grown over approximately 52,000 ha within the protected zones area (Table 8). The area of potato production within parts of the EU protected zones is shown in more detail in Table 8 for whole countries (Ireland, Cyprus and Malta) and for NUTS 2 regions within Sweden, Spain, Portugal and Finland forming part of the protected zones. For context, the potato production area of the EU 27 is also provided. Approximately 3.4% of the EU 27 potato production area is within the protected zones.

Tomato (S. lycopersicum) and eggplant (S. melongena) are hosts grown in the protected zones and are grown outdoors in southern EU, including in parts of the protected zones, but more likely to be grown in greenhouses in protected zones in the northern EU.

Table 8. Potato production area (cultivation/harvested/production) within the protected zones (Eurostat code R1000 Potatoes (including seed potatoes) (1,000 ha)
Area within protected zone 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 5 year mean
Ireland 9.46 8.52 9.04 9.18 8.23 8.89
Cyprus 4.91 4.74 5.04 4.22 4.54 4.69
Malta 0.69 0.69 0.77 0.69 0.69 0.71
Sweden
Sydsverige 12.32 12.11 12.79 13.10 12.98 12.66
Västsverige 4.23 3.98 4.34 4.23 4.06 4.17
Småland med öarna 2.13 2.14 2.25 2.33 2.27 2.22
Spain
Illes Balearsa 1.57 1.72 1.74 1.86 1.67 1.71
Portugal
Azores 0.60 0.59 0.60 0.45 0.44 0.54
Madeira 1.21 1.24 1.00 1.00 0.92 1.07
Finlandb
Western Finland 13.40 11.50 11.30 12.30 12.60 12.22
Southern Finland 2.90 3.00 3.10 2.80 3.00 2.96
Ålandb 0.70 0.80 0.70 0.70 0.80 0.74
Uusimaa 0.30 0.30 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.24
Sum 54.42 51.33 52.87 53.06 52.40 52.82
EU 27 1,521.80 1,527.13 1,550.38 1,601.18 1,562.85 1,552.67
PZ production as % of EU 27 3.58 3.36 3.41 3.31 3.35 3.40
  • a The actual area of the Balearic Islands potato production within the protected zones is much less than shown in Table 8 here. Table 8 shows potato production for all the Balearic Islands although only Ibiza and Menorca are specifically identified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 as part of the EU protected zones. The area of potato production on Eivissa (=Ibiza) was 90 ha, yielding 1,791 tonnes, while 20 ha (yielding 396 tonnes) was grown on Menorca in 2017. Outside of the protected zones Mallorca grew 1,742 ha of potatoes and Formentera 5ha. Thus 110 ha of 1,857 ha (approximately 6%) of potatoes were grown within the protected zones within the Balearic Islands http://www.caib.es/sites/semilla/ca/taules_i_grafics_2017 Taula 2.9.pdf).
  • b Seven districts of Finland are included in the protected zone (Åland, Häme, Kymi, Pirkanmaa, Satakunta, Turku and Uusimaa). Five of these districts are smaller than the NUTS 2 areas described in potato production statistics provided in EUROSTAT. PZ districts of Pirkanmaa, Satakunta and Turku sit within the larger area of Western Finland; Häme and Kymi sit within Southern Finland.

3.4.3.2 Climatic conditions affecting establishment

The climates in the EU protected zones are similar to those in some of the EU MS where L. decemlineata is already established (Figure 4). In Russia, L. decemlineata is established as far north as Petroskoi (61.78o N, 34.36o E), (Boman, 2008), marked P. in Figure 4.

Details are in the caption following the image

Köppen–Geiger climate type zones occurring in the Western Palaearctic region

  • Countries in which L. decemlineata is already established are marked with black borders. Red lines indicate the area of the EU protected zones.

Heikkilä and Peltola (2006) provide a map showing the areas of southern and eastern Finland occupied by a large outbreak of L. decemlineata in 2002. Ooperi and Jolma (2009) provide a map showing L. decemlineata established in Russia around Lake Ladoga in Russian Karelia, close to the border of Finland. Heikkilä and Peltola (2006) note that the establishment of L. decemlineata in Finland has been difficult to predict. In laboratory studies measuring L. decemlineata cold tolerance, Lyytinen et al. (2009) exposed larvae to sub-zero temperatures and simulated night frosts that could be experienced during the summer at Finnish latitudes. Rearing conditions simulated daytime temperatures of 10–15°C, representing cool summer days in Finland. Night frosts did not cause immediate larval mortality but the low rearing temperature caused approximately 90% larval mortality. Of the adults that did develop, 80% died during the overwintering period. Such results suggest that conditions in Finland appear to be at the margins of the range of L. decemlineata, although establishment in Finland is possible.

When describing the distribution of L. decemlineata in China, Li et al. (2014) reported that the winter mean monthly minimum isotherm of –8°C approximates the cold tolerance affecting establishment.

Wang et al. (2017) used correlative species distribution modelling (Maximum Entropy; MaxEnt) to identify where climatic conditions were potentially suitable for L. decemlineata to establish on a global scale. The most suitable areas were classified by Wang et al. as ‘high risk’ and included parts of the EU protected zones such as southern Sweden. Establishment in Ireland was rated as ‘medium risk’.

Pulatov et al. (2016) used threshold temperatures of 10°C and 12°C to show the number of generations L. decemlineata could complete across Europe in a year based on annual temperatures and climate averages 1981 to 2010. From examining the output maps, three generations per year were possible in all parts of the protected zones in southern Europe. Based on a threshold of 10°C, one generation per year is possible in the northern parts of the protected zones in parts of Ireland, Sweden and Finland.

Behaviour change by northern populations of L. decemlineata close to the border of the protected zones may facilitate establishment within the protected zones. For example, Izzo et al. (2014) noted that when populations of L. decemlineata from Mexico were taken to Vermont (northern USA) the local population from Vermont exhibited overwintering behaviour (burrowing into the soil) earlier in the year than L. decemlineata from Mexico. Overwintering survival by northern populations was subsequently higher. Izzo et al. (2014) suggested that northern populations had adapted their behaviour from ancestral Mexican populations and began diapause earlier to avoid harsh winter conditions and such a change in behaviour has facilitated the northern range expansion of L. decemlineata.

Predicted climate warming, together with the adaptability of L. decemlineata, will make northern Europe, including areas within the protected zones more suitable for L. decemlineata establishment, with faster and earlier population development in future (Baker et al., 1998, 2000; Cingel et al., 2016; Pulatov et al., 2016).

The protected zones span a large area and include a variety of climate types. The extent of potential establishment is not the same in all parts of the protected zones.

Taking the above literature into account, climatic conditions suitable for the establishment of L. decemlineata do occur in the protected zones. Southern parts of the protected zones (e.g. Malta, Cyprus, Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearic Islands) are more favourable for establishment than northern regions (e.g. in Finland) although establishment there is still possible.

3.4.4 Spread

Is the pest able to spread within the EU (protected zone) territory following establishment?

Yes, adults could spread naturally by flying and also as contaminating pests on plants, especially leafy vegetables moved in trade.

RNQPs: Is spread mainly via specific plants for planting, rather than via natural spread or via movement of plant products or other objects?

No, spread would not be mainly via plants for planting; spread would be natural by walking or flying or as a contaminating pests, e.g. on produce.

L. decemlineata adults can disperse by walking or flying. Sunny weather with a mean daily air temperature of 17–20°C results in mass spread (EPPO, online). In a review of L. decemlineata movement, Boiteau et al. (2003) reported adults can walk at up to 2.1 cm s−1. Flight can be initiated when temperatures rise above 15°C. Flight speed is estimated to be 2.2–3.0 m s−1 (Boiteau et al., 2003). Local, trivial flight occurs at low altitude, a few metres above ground level and mostly involves flights of less than 10 m (MacQuarrie and Boiteau, 2003). However, within large cultivated fields, short-distance walking is more common than short flights (Bach, 1982). Migratory flight over several hundreds of meters occurs at slightly higher altitudes of 15 m or more (Boiteau et al., 2003). However, airborne adults can be lifted by air currents and spread passively in prevailing winds, being carried hundreds of kilometres, including over water and into the protected zones, e.g. into Sweden from Poland and Germany (Wiktelius, 1981).

The spread of L. decemlineata in North America during the 19th century is documented in entomological text books (e.g. Giodenengo et al., 2013) and many academic papers (e.g. see Boiteau and Heikkila (2013) for references to several reviews) although precise details of the earliest spread can be disputed (Casagrande, 1985). Nevertheless, in only 15 years, between 1859 and 1874, L. decemlineata spread from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic coast of USA and Canada (Alyokhin, 2009; Jacques, 2015), over an area of approximately 4 million square kilometres.

L. decemlineata was first found in Europe in the 1870s (e.g. findings in Germany, Poland and the UK) but it did not establish (MacLeod et al., 2010). L. decemlineata first established in mainland Europe in Bordeaux in the vicinity of US military camps and was reported in 1922 (Alyokhin et al., 2013a). From there L. decemlineata expanded across Europe relatively rapidly. Following analysis of mitochondrial DNA from L. decemlineata collected in six EU countries and from Russia, Grapputo et al. (2005) suggested that establishment in Europe resulted from a single event, or from multiple introductions of the same haplotype.

3.5 Impacts

Would the pests’ introduction have an economic or environmental impact on the EU (protected zone) territory?

Yes, If L. decemlineata established in the protected zones it would be expected to impact potato production. Outdoor grown tomatoes and eggplants could also be impacted.

RNQPs: Does the presence of the pest on plants for planting have an economic impact, as regards the intended use of those plants for planting? 7

Yes, the presence of L. decemlineata on plants for planting, such as young tomato seedlings, in the protected zones would have an impact on their intended use.

Adults and larvae of L. decemlineata feed on the foliage of host plants. Hare (1990) regarded L. decemlineata as ‘the most devastating defoliator of potatoes’ in the world. During development an individual larva can consume 40 cm2 leaf material; adults can consume around 10 cm2 per day (Ferro et al., 1985). Yield losses in potatoes in Poland range from 5% when the pest is managed to 40% when unmanaged, although there can be considerable annual variation (Oerke et al., 1994). Alyokhin et al. (2013b) reported 40–80% yield losses in potato crops; losses in potato are most severe when peak numbers of fourth instar larvae coincide with tuber formation. If leaves are stripped prior to tuber formation there can be 100% yield loss (Hare, 1980, 1990; Kroschel et al., 2020). However, there are no reliable relationships between the defoliation caused by L. decemlineata and yield losses, due to wide variations between potato variety crop yields and the differences in timing of defoliation in relation to tuber formation (Nault and Kennedy, 1996, 1998).

If leaf material is not available stems and exposed tubers will be eaten. Although most often regarded as a serious pest of potatoes L. decemlineata is also known to affect tomatoes and eggplants (EPPO, 2004; Weber, 2003, Vargas-Ortiz et al., 2018) and feeds on Solanum species growing wild (Table 5).

If L. decemlineata established in the protected zones, it would be expected to impact potato production. In southern EU parts of the protected zones outdoor grown tomatoes and eggplants could also be impacted.

3.6 Availability and limits of mitigation measures

Are there measures available to prevent the entry into, establishment within or spread of the pest within the EU (protected zone) such that the risk becomes mitigated?

Yes, Entry into the protected zones from third countries via imports of solanaceous plants for planting and soil is prevented given existing prohibitions (see Section 3.4.2). Existing measures and vigilance of NPPOs in the protected zones prevent establishment of L. decemlineata from other EU MS.

RNQPs: Are there measures available to prevent pest presence on plants for planting such that the risk becomes mitigated?

Yes, sourcing of plants from pest free areas would reduce the risk of the pest being present on plants for planting.

Since existing mitigation measures have resulted in eradications where previous incursions of L. decemlineata occurred within the protected zones (Table 2), the measures currently used are effective. However, as climate warms future eradication efforts may be more challenging (Baker et al., 2000; Piiroinen et al., 2011; Cingel et al., 2016).

3.6.1 Identification of additional measures

3.6.1.1 Additional control measures

Potential additional control measures are listed in Table 9.

Table 9. Selected control measures (a full list is available in EFSA PLH Panel, 2018) for pest entry/establishment/spread/impact in relation to currently unregulated hosts and pathways. Control measures are measures that have a direct effect on pest abundance
Information sheet title (with hyperlink to information sheet if available) Control measure summary Risk component (entry/establishment/spread/impact)
Growing plants in isolation Growing potatoes in fields isolated from known populations will lessen potential impacts; growing tomato and eggplant hosts in greenhouses will prevent impacts Impact
Chemical treatments on consignments or during processing

Commodities liable to carry L. decemlineata could be fumigated

Use of chemical compounds that may be applied to plants or to plant products after harvest, during process or packaging operations and storage

The treatments addressed in this information sheet are:

a) fumigation; b) spraying/dipping pesticides; c) surface disinfectants; d) process additives; e) protective compounds

Entry
Crop rotation, associations and density, weed/volunteer control Crop rotation is advised to reduce population build up and lower potential impacts (Alyokhin, 2009) Impact
Timing of planting and harvesting If possible potato crops should be planted and harvested so as to avoid the serious potential impacts caused by fourth instar larvae and summer adult populations feeding on foliage during important tuber formation and development (Alyokhin, 2009): cultivars, climatic conditions, timing of the sowing or planting, and level of maturity/age of the plant seasonal timing of planting and harvesting are factors to take into account Impact
Chemical treatments on crops including reproductive material

Despite a long history of developing resistance to insecticides, the management of L. decemlineata is still strongly dependent on the use of chemical pesticides (Alyokhin, 2009; Alyokhin et al., 2013b; Kadoić Balaško et al., 2020)

Fumigation of potatoes, timber and grain can be effective against L. decemlineata (EPPO, 2018)

Establishment, impact

3.6.1.2 Additional supporting measures

All appropriate supporting measures are already in place and the panel could not identify additional supporting measures.

3.6.1.3 Biological or technical factors limiting the effectiveness of measures to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of the pest

  • Adult mobility reduces effectiveness of growing hosts in isolation and rotation
  • Relatively fast development time at optimal temperatures
  • Behavioural adaptability to change in the environment e.g. allows the pest to survive periods of starvation (i.e. lack of hosts), variable duration of diapause,
  • Kroschel et al. (2020) reported that the Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database (https://www.pesticideresistance.org) lists 300 cases of L. decemlineata resistance to 56 active ingredients.

3.7 Uncertainty

The protected zones span a diverse area and include a variety of climate types. The extent of potential establishment is not the same in all parts of the protected zones; population dynamics and subsequent impacts are also likely to vary within the protected zones.

4 Conclusions

L. decemlineata satisfies all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess, to conclude that it is a potential protected zone quarantine pest. L. decemlineata does not satisfy all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess with respect to regulated non-quarantine pest status, specifically plants for planting are not the main means of spread (Table 10).

Table 10. The Panel's conclusions on the pest categorisation criteria defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants (the number of the relevant sections of the pest categorisation is shown in brackets in the first column)
Criterion of pest categorisation Panel's conclusions against criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding protected zone quarantine pest (articles 32–35) Panel's conclusions against criterion in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 regarding Union regulated non-quarantine pest Key uncertainties
Identity of the pests (Section 3.1) The identity of the pest is established The identity of the pest is established
Absence/presence of the pest in the EU/territory (Section 3.2) The pest is established and widely distributed within the EU, although absent from the protected zones The pest is established and widely distributed within the EU, although absent from the protected zones None; annual surveys within the protected zones are used to demonstrate absence
Regulatory status (Section 3.3) L. decemlineata is listed in Annex III of Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 as a protected zone quarantine pest L. decemlineata is listed in Annex III of Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 as a protected zone quarantine pest. There are no grounds to indicate that its status could be revoked in the near future
Pest potential for entry, establishment and spread in the EU territory (Section 3.4) Adults can, and do, enter the protected zones e.g. in wind currents that carry adults undertaking migratory flights; pathways are also provided by plant produce moved in trade. The availability of hosts and suitable climate, especially in the southern part of the protected zones, and the northern temperate part of the protected zones make establishment possible. Spread within the protected zones could occur naturally and also as individuals move as contaminants, especially on leafy vegetables moved in trade Spread would not be mainly via plants for planting; spread would be as a contaminating pest on produce or naturally by adult flight The protected zones span a large area and includes a variety of climate types. The extent of Potential establishment is not the same in all parts of the PZ
Potential for consequences in the EU territory (Section 3.5) Impacts on potato yields would be expected within the protected zones; in southern parts of the protected zones outdoor grown tomatoes and eggplants could also be impacted The presence of L. decemlineata on plants for planting, such as young tomato seedlings, in the protected zones would have an impact on their intended use
Available measures (Section 3.6) Recognising that incursions into the protected zones have been eradicated in the past, measures are available to prevent establishment and spread of the pest within the protected zone Sourcing plants from pest free areas would reduce the risk of the pest being present on plants for planting
Conclusion on pest categorisation (Section 4) L. decemlineata satisfies all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess, to conclude that it is a potential protected zone quarantine pest L. decemlineata does not satisfy all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess with respect to regulated non-quarantine pest status. Specifically plants for planting are not the main means of spread, therefore L. decemlineata cannot be regarded as a potential regulated non-quarantine pest
Aspects of assessment to focus on/scenarios to address in future if appropriate

Notes

  • 1 Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community. OJ L 169/1, 10.7.2000, p. 1–112.
  • 2 Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants. OJ L 317, 23.11.2016, p. 4–104.
  • 3 Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. OJ L 31/1, 1.2.2002, p. 1–24.
  • 4 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019.
  • 5 Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC.
  • 6 Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community 2019/C 384 I/01.
  • 7 See Section 2.1 on what falls outside EFSA's remit.
  • Abbreviations

  • DG SANTÉ
  • Directorate General for Health and Food Safety
  • EPPO
  • European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization
  • FAO
  • Food and Agriculture Organization
  • IPPC
  • International Plant Protection Convention
  • ISPM
  • International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
  • MS
  • Member State
  • PLH
  • EFSA Panel on Plant Health
  • PZ
  • Protected Zone
  • TFEU
  • Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
  • ToR
  • Terms of Reference
  • Glossary

  • Containment (of a pest)
  • Suppression, containment or eradication of a pest population (FAO, 1995, 2018)
  • Control (of a pest)
  • Suppression, containment or eradication of a pest population (FAO, 1995, 2018)
  • Entry (of a pest)
  • Movement of a pest into an area where it is not yet present, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled (FAO, 2018)
  • Eradication (of a pest)
  • Application of phytosanitary measures to eliminate a pest from an area (FAO, 2018)
  • Establishment (of a pest)
  • Perpetuation, for the foreseeable future, of a pest within an area after entry (FAO, 2018)
  • Greenhouse
  • A walk-in, static, closed place of crop production with a usually translucent outer shell, which allows controlled exchange of material and energy with the surroundings and prevents release of plant protection products (PPPs) into the environment.
  • Impact (of a pest)
  • The impact of the pest on the crop output and quality and on the environment in the occupied spatial units
  • Introduction (of a pest)
  • The entry of a pest resulting in its establishment (FAO, 2018)
  • Measures
  • Control (of a pest) is defined in ISPM 5 (FAO 2018) as “Suppression, containment or eradication of a pest population” (FAO, 1995). Control measures are measures that have a direct effect on pest abundance. Supporting measures are organisational measures or procedures supporting the choice of appropriate Risk Reduction Options that do not directly affect pest abundance.
  • Pathway
  • Any means that allows the entry or spread of a pest (FAO, 2018)
  • Phytosanitary measures
  • Any legislation, regulation or official procedure having the purpose to prevent the introduction or spread of quarantine pests, or to limit the economic impact of regulated non-quarantine pests (FAO, 2018)
  • Protected zones (PZ)
  • A Protected zone is an area recognised at EU level to be free from a harmful organism, which is established in one or more other parts of the Union
  • Quarantine pest
  • A pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled (FAO, 2018)
  • Regulated non-quarantine pest
  • A non-quarantine pest whose presence in plants for planting affects the intended use of those plants with an economically unacceptable impact and which is therefore regulated within the territory of the importing contracting party (FAO, 2018)
  • Risk reduction option (RRO)
  • A measure acting on pest introduction and/or pest spread and/or the magnitude of the biological impact of the pest should the pest be present. A RRO may become a phytosanitary measure, action or procedure according to the decision of the risk manager
  • Spread (of a pest)
  • Expansion of the geographical distribution of a pest within an area (FAO, 2018)
  • Appendix A – Distribution of Leptinotarsa decemlineata outside the EU

    Source: EPPO Online

    Continent Country Sub-national distribution Status
    North America Canada Present, restricted distribution
    British Columbia Present, restricted distribution

    Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island

    Québec, Saskatchewan

    Present, no details
    Mexico Present, widespread
    USA Present, widespread

    Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia

    Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland

    Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico

    New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    Present, no details
    Central America Costa Rica Absent, pest no longer present
    Cuba Present, no details
    Guatemala Present, no details
    Asia China Present, restricted distribution
    Heilongjiang, Jilin, Present, restricted distribution
    Xinjiang, Present, no details
    Zhejiang Absent, invalid record
    Iran Present, no details
    Iraq Present, restricted distribution
    Japan Absent, intercepted only
    Kazakhstan Present, restricted distribution
    Kyrgyzstan Present, no details
    Tajikistan Present, restricted distribution
    Turkmenistan Present, no details
    Uzbekistan Present, restricted distribution
    Europe Albania Present, no details
    Andorra Present, no details
    Armenia Present, no details
    Azerbaijan Present, no details
    Belarus Present, widespread
    Bosnia and Herzegovina Present, no details
    Georgia Present, no details
    Guernsey Absent, confirmed by survey
    Moldova Present, restricted distribution
    North Macedonia Present, no details
    Norway Absent, intercepted only
    Russia Present, restricted distribution
    Central Russia, Eastern Siberia, Far East, Northern Russia, Southern Russia, Western Siberia Present, no details
    Serbia Present, widespread
    Switzerland Present, no details
    Turkey Present, restricted distribution
    Ukraine Present, widespread
    United Kingdom Absent, pest eradicated
    Channel Islands, England Absent, pest eradicated
    Northern Ireland, Scotland Absent, intercepted only

    Appendix B – Notifications of non-compliance involving Leptinotarsa decemlineata in the EU Protected Zone

    Notifications from England, Wales and Scotland excluded. (Source Europhyt)

    Year PZ country Intercepted on From
    1995 Sweden Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) EG
    1998 Ireland Allium porrum (leek) FR
    1998 Ireland Allium porrum (leek) FR
    1998 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    1998 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    1998 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    1998 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    1999 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    2000 Ireland Lactuca sp. (lettuce) FR
    2000 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    2002 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    2003 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) FR
    2003 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    2003 Sweden Allium fistulosum (spring onion) DE
    2004 Sweden Eruca sp. (salad rocket) DE
    2005 Ireland Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) IT
    2005 Northern Ireland Petroselinum crispum (parsley) IT
    2005 Northern Ireland Petroselinum crispum (parsley) IT
    2005 Northern Ireland Petroselinum crispum (parsley) NL
    2006 Ireland Petroselinum sp. (parsley) NL
    2006 Sweden Various objects CYa
    2009 Ireland Spinacia oleracea (spinach) BE
    2010 Cyprus Solanum tuberosum (potatoes) BG
    2015 Sweden Triticale DE
    • a Of note is that Sweden intercepted L. decemlineata on various (unspecified goods) from Cyprus where L. decemlineata is not known to occur.