First detection of Acalitus vaccinii in South Africa

Publication Date

Thu, 05 May 2016, 08:55

Last Updated

June 3, 2016, 12:30 p.m.

Report Number

ZAF-29/3

Country

South Africa

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Blue berry plants Vaccinium virgatum.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

The first pest report was provided by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) on 9 December 2014 as a pest identification from blue berry plants originating from Amsterdam, in the Mpumalanga province. Additional surveys in 2015 confirmed the pest is present on one farm in the area. In follow up surveys, the pest was also found in Lydenburg and Dullstroom in the same province. It was not found in any other province.

Summary

Acalitus vaccinii in a new pest in South Africa and has the potential to cause high crop damage. It was not detected in major blue berry production areas in South Africa such as the Western Cape.

Danger

Crop damage to affected farmers. Affected sites are placed under quarantine not to remove propagation material from the area.

Contact for info

Ms Muneiwa Ratshilingano Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Private Bag x14 Gezina 0031 Email: [email protected]

Report files

first detection of Acalitus vaccinii in South Africa

Website

Issue keywords

Delimiting survey Restrictions Risk Management

Commodity keywords

Fresh cranberries, bilberries and other fruits of the genus Vaccinium