Pest categorisation of Diaphorina citri

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Published on: Wed, 06 Jan 2021

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) (Asian citrus psyllid) for the EU. D. citri is a key pest of citrus in several countries as it is a vector of serious bacterial pathogens, the putative causal agents of Huanglongbing (HLB) also known as citrus greening. Eggs are laid on tips of growing shoots on and between unfurling leaves. Females may lay more than 800 eggs during their lives. Nymphs pass through five instars. The life cycle requires from 14 to 49 days, depending upon the season. There is no diapause, but populations are low in winter. It overwinters as an adult which may live for several months. The species completes 9–10 generations/year; however, under protected conditions, up to 16 generations have been recorded. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (Annex IIA) regulates D. citri, as a quarantine pest not known to occur in the EU territory. Fruits and plants for planting provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Climatic conditions and the availability of host plants provide conditions to support establishment in the EU. The introduction of D. citri would have an economic impact in the EU through direct but mainly indirect effects due to potential transmission of HLB. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. D. citri satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. D. citri does not meet the criteria of occurring in the EU, nor plants for planting being the principal means of spread, for it to be regarded as a potential Union regulated non‐quarantine pest.