Pest categorisation of Pulvinaria psidii

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Pulvinaria psidii (Hemiptera: Coccidae), the green shield scale, for the EU. P. psidii was originally described from Hawaii on Psidium sp. and it is now established in many countries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Within the EU, the pest has been reported from mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. P. psidii is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. It is highly polyphagous, feeding on 230 plant species belonging to more than 70 botanical families with preference for avocado ( Persea americana ), citrus ( Citrus spp.), coffee ( Coffea sp.), guava ( Psidium guajava ), litchi ( Litchi chinensis ), mango ( Mangifera indica ), mulberry ( Morus sp.) and pomegranate ( Punica granatum ). It has also been recorded feeding on some solanaceous plants: tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and pepper ( Capsicum annuum ), as well as on ornamental plants. Climatic conditions and availability of host plants in southern EU countries would most probably allow this species to successfully establish and spread. Economic impact in cultivated hosts including citrus, mangoes, mulberries, as well as vegetable and ornamental crops is anticipated if establishment occurs. Indeed, P . psidii has already been reported causing damage to Melia azedarach , a widely used ornamental tree that lines streets in Valencia. There is contradictory information regarding impact in mangoes in Spain. This could be due to the relatively recent establishment of the pest. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and further spread. P. psidii meets the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this species to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.