Quarantine pests intercepted in consignments of ornamental plants imported into Poland in 1993/1998¹

Abstract

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.

Aliens Coming by Ships: Distribution and Origins of the Ocellated Skink Populations in Peninsular Italy

“…Furthermore, Italy also holds the European record for the number of alien species, including 30% of its terrestrial and freshwater vertebrates [8]. Among those, the detection of alien reptiles has increased in recent decades in coastal areas following the increased importance of reptiles as pets and, mostly, accidental introductions with the brick, plant, and lumber trade [9,10]. Although most releases fail to establish a reproductive population, as regarding only single individuals, many reptile species have successfully colonized areas where there were historically absent.…”