Hirschmanniella caudacrena was detected in roots of aquarium plants imported from Thailand and Singapore to Poland. Morphology, morphometrics and diagnostic characters of the species are analyzed. It was shown that the ventral notch near the tail tip is a structure of two small symmetrical cuticular flaps. The significance of the tail tip structure to identify Hirschmanniella spp. pests is emphasized. Such detections indicate that aquarium plants imported from non‐European countries are an important pathway for entry to the EPPO region of the EU quarantine species of Hirschmanniella Luc & Goodey, 1963, other than H. gracilis (De Man, 1880), and deserve special attention from the plant quarantine services of EU member states.
During inspections of consignments of ornamental plants (cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes, pot plants, cut flowers) imported into Poland in 1993/1998, the following quarantine pests were intercepted most frequently: Frankliniella occidentalis (32 consignments), Aphelenchoidesfragariae (1 7), Steneotarsonemus laticeps (12) and Bernisia tabaci (1 1). These pests were found in plants for planting, pot plants and cut flowers imported mainly from The Netherlands. Thrips palrni (EPPO A1 list) was intercepted on orchid cut flowers from Thailand (2) and Cacoecirnorpha pronubana on pot plants of Thuja occidentalis from The Netherlands. Ditylenchus destructor was intercepted on bulbs of Erythroniurn denscanis (not previously described as a host). The methods of inspection and identification of particular intercepted pests are presented.
Radopholus bridgei was intercepted in water-inhabiting plants (Anubias sp., Echinodores sp., Ophiopogon sp.) imported to Poland from southeast Asia. This is only the second time that the species has been found and the first time that it has been reported in Europe. Because of its potential quarantine significance (Radopholus species are known to be highly polyphagous) the nematode is described and illustrated, thereby providing supplementary data to the original description. It was found that the 'rod-like' shape of the sperm in Radopholus (as often reported in the literature) is actually due to viewing the lens-shaped sperm cells in lateral aspect. This is a significant observation as sperm shape (rod-like or rounded) has been used as a taxonomic character. The potential of R. bridgei as a quarantine pest is currently unclear and its threat status needs to be studied.
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