Experience of polyphagous alien pests of protected crops in Great Britain¹

Abstract

It is government policy in Britain to prevent the introduction of alien pests and to eradicate any of economic importance as soon as possible, should they be found in Britain. In recent years a series of polyphagous pests have been introduced into glasshouses in Britain, including Liriomyza trifolii and L. huidobrensis, Frankliniella occidentalis, Opogona sacchari, Bemisia tabaci and Spodoptera littoralis. Of these, only F. occidentalis is no longer subject to eradication and is now established in Britain. The measures taken to eradicate these pests are discussed. Emphasis is given to the unusual technical problems presented by each pest. These problems include the differing pest life histories and the tolerance of pesticides. Crop husbandry and pesticide approval can affect the choice of eradication strategy. Where possible, the eradication strategy is integrated with biological control.

Host Range Studies for Tomato chlorosis virus, and Cucumber vein yellowing virus Transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

“…ToCV is retained by B. tabaci for 2-3 days (Wisler et al, 1998a). The UK is part of an EU protected zone for B. tabaci, and in the UK the vector is unlikely to survive other than in protected environments; however it is regularly intercepted on imported plant material (Morgan and Macleod, 1996), and subjected to successful containment and eradication action (Bartlett, 1992;Cheek, 1999). Significantly, should ToCV be introduced to the UK or other European countries, an alternate ToCV vector, T. vaporariorum, is widespread within the European-Mediterranean region.…”

Mites and ticks (Acari). Chapter 7.4

“…Th e fi rst superfamily is represented by a single family with aliens, Phytoseiidae, which are predators of spider mites. In Europe, species such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) californicus and Iphesius (Amblyseius) degenerans are used as biological control agents against phytophagous pests (Bartlett 1992, Croft et al 1998, Easterbrook 1996, EPPO 2002, Garcia Mari and Gonzalez-Zamora 1999, Helle and Sabelis 1985, McMurtry and Croft 1997. Th ree families of Dermanyssoidea contain alien species.…”

“…Th e third introduced mite, Iphiseius degenerans, targets numerous species of thrips (van Houten andvan Stratum 1993, van Houten andvan Stratum 1995), e.g. Th rips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Albajes et al 1999, Bartlett 1992, McMurtry and Croft 1997, Sengonca et al 2004). …”

“…Cynara scolimus Fauna Europaea (2009), González Núñez et al (2002) Aceria paradianthi (Keifer,1952) Aculops gleditsiae (Keifer, 1959 Bartlett (1992), EPPO (2002), Šefrová and Laštůvka (2005), Sengonca et al (2004), van Houten and van Stratum (1993), van Houten and van Stratum (1995 …”

First record of the Q Biotype of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, intercepted in the UK

“…The first global invasion of B. tabaci occurred in the late 1980s (De Barro et al 2011). Within the UK, the species has been intercepted annually on imported plant material since 1987 (Bartlett 1992). The primary concern is that the whitefly imported on ornamental plants such as poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) can transfer and infect tomatoes with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) both of which are not currently present in the UK.…”