Europe-invasion

Guides

• Aceria fraxiniflora

  ash flower gall mite

  Aceria fraxiniflora is a North American gall mite that produces distinctive galls on ash trees, particularly on male flowers. Native to North America, it was first recorded in Europe in southeast Hungary in 2017 and has since spread rapidly across eight Central-Eastern European countries by 2023. The mite appears to be a strict specialist on North American ash species, with no records from native European ashes. Its rapid spread on invasive green ash has raised interest in its potential as a biocontrol agent, though its real impact on host fitness remains unquantified.

  gall-miteeriophyidinvasive-speciesbiocontrol-potentialash-pestEurope-invasionFraxinus-specialist

• Platynota stultana

  Omnivorous Leafroller, Omnivorous Leafroller Moth

  Platynota stultana, the omnivorous leafroller, is a highly polyphagous tortricid moth native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has become an established invasive pest in Hawaii, Spain, Italy, and multiple other European countries. Adults are small with wingspans around 14 mm and are active year-round in warm climates. The species completes four to six generations annually in California and produces severe economic damage in vineyards, greenhouses, and nursery operations. Larval feeding on grape berries causes skin breakage that leads to fungal rot and crop losses up to 80%.

  invasive-speciesagricultural-pestpolyphagoustortricidaeleafrollervineyard-pestgreenhouse-pestpheromone-monitoringEurope-invasionCalifornia-pestHawaii-establishmentEPPO-region-threat