6th Meeting of the Panel on Diagnostics in Entomology

Paris, 2020-03-03/05

 

The 6th meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Entomology took place in the Headquarters of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization in Paris. The EPPO Secretariat was pleased to welcome new experts from Croatia, France, Latvia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. The composition of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Entomology can be found on the EPPO website. The Panel continued its task of developing Diagnostic Protocols for arthropods. The Panel had the unique opportunity to visit the Curculionidae and Aphididae collections of the French Natural History Museum. The Panel was welcomed by Ms Matile-Ferrero, Ms Perrin, and Ms Soulier. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New and revised EPPO Diagnostic Protocols reviewed during the meeting 

The Panel reviewed 3 new drafts protocols and 2 revised protocols.

 

PM 7/NEW Anoplophora glabripennis and Anoplophora chinensis
The need to include a molecular test on frass material was discussed. The new version of the Diagnostic Protocol, taking into account all comments made by the Panel, will be sent for country consultation in spring 2020. 

 

PM 7/NEW Lycorma delicatula
The section on identification will be revised to focus on essential morphological characteristics. It will be sent to the Panel for approval and then for country consultation.  

 

PM 7/053 Liriomyza spp.
A revision of this EPPO Diagnostic Protocol to align it with the  IPPC Diagnostic Protocol  was presented. It is planned that the revised protocol will be sent for country consultation in late spring 2020.

 

PM 7/116 Tetranychus evansi
A revision of this EPPO Diagnostic Protocol was presented. Some clarification is needed on the use of DNA barcoding for the identification of the pest. It is planned that the revised Diagnostic Protocol will be sent for country consultation in late spring 2020. 

 

 

Plans for future new diagnostic protocols to be presented at the next meeting

PM 7/NEW Strauzia longipennis
The expert in charge of this Diagnostic Protocol is working on the first draft, that will be discussed at the next Panel meeting. 

 

PM 7/NEW Oligonychus perditus
In the framework of the preparation of a new Diagnostic Protocol on Oligonychus perditus, a morphological key was presented. The Panel considered that more discussion is needed on the key. 

 

PM 7/NEW Dendrolimus sibiricus
A lead author was identified, and a draft of this new Diagnostic Protocol will be prepared for the next Panel meeting.

 

PM 7/NEW Agrilus planipennis 
A drafting team will be identified by mid-April 2020 and a teleconference organised to prepare the work on this Diagnostic Protocol which is a high priority.

 

PM 7/NEW Agrilus anxius 
The Panel considered that it was not a priority to develop a Diagnostic Protocol on Agrilus anxius.

 

 

Plans for revision of diagnostic protocols to be presented at the next meeting 

PM 7/142 B. latifrons, PM 7/135 Zeugodacus cucurbitae, PM 7/134 Dacus ciliatus, PM 7/114 Bactrocera zonata, PM 7/107 Rhagoletis completa, PM 7/105 Ceratitis cosyra, PM 7/104 Ceratitis capitata, and PM 7/115 Drosophila suzuki
The Panel discussed how to harmonize the information presented in the different Diagnostic Protocols. Experts to be involved in the revision will be identified and work will start by the end of 2020.

 

PM 7/007 Aleurocanthus spiniferus & PM 7/008 A. woglumii
An update on the work on these Diagnostic Protocols was provided. A drafting team was identified, and a draft revision will be circulated to the Panel by the end of 2020.

 

PM 7/011 Frankliniella occidentalis
A revision of the Diagnostic Protocol is needed to consider lookalikes, to include new morphological keys and to align it to the Diagnostic Protocol PM 7/3(3) Thrips palmi. A drafting team was identified. 

 

PM 7/019 Helicoverpa armigera
The Panel considered that it was not urgent to revise the Diagnostic Protocol. 

 

PM 7/013 Trogoderma granarium
The Panel discussed the need to revise the Diagnostic Protocol on Trogoderma granarium. The EPPO Secretariat will contact experts involved in the development of the IPPC Diagnostic Protocol on the same pest to understand if a revision would be needed.

 

Priorities for revision of Diagnostic Protocols 

The Panel reviewed the list of EPPO Diagnostic Protocols in Entomology and stewards were identified or confirmed.

 

 

Other topics

The Panel started with different presentations:

  • Activities of the European Reference Laboratory (EURL) Insects and Mites and accreditation and validation on the quarantine organisms of the new EU Official Controls Regulations (EU-OCR) were presented. 
  • Fruit flies, the EU-funded project ‘Fruit flies in-silico Prevention and Management (FF-IPM)’  and the Belgian project Tephrifast were presented. Findings of Ceratitis and Bactrocera spp. in Austria during surveys organized in 2015-2018 were presented.
  • Videos of the Russian project ‘Online Practice of Plant Quarantine’ were broadcasted and explained. 

 

The Panel was informed of reports of the Euphresco projects recently published. The research topics proposed for transnational collaboration in 2020 were also discussed. Ongoing work on EPPO databases (EPPO Database on Diagnostic Expertise, EPPO Global Database, and EPPO Q-bank) was presented. The Panel also discussed the revised datasheet on Trichoferus campestris.

 

Next Panel meeting

The next meeting of the Panel on Diagnostics in Entomology will be held in the Autumn 2021.