Pest categorisation of Anthonomus bisignifer

Jeger, Michael [Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London] Bragard, Claude [UCL] Caffier, David [High Council for biotechnology] Candresse, Thierry [Institut National de la Recerche Agronomique (INRA). Plant virus Team] Chatzivassiliou, Elisavet [Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Crop Science, Plant Pathology Laboratory] Dehnen‐Schmutz, Katharina [Coventry University, UK, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR)] Gilioli, Gianni [University of Brescia, Medical School, Department of Molecular and Transitional Medicine] Grégoire, Jean‐Claude [Université Libre de Bruxelles, Interfaculty School of Bioengineers] Jaques Miret, Josep Anton [IOBC-WPRS] Navarro, Maria Navajas [Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)] Niere, Björn [Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland] Parnell, Stephen [University of Salford, Mancheste] Potting, Roel [Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Office for Risk Assessment and Research] Rafoss, Trond [Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research. Plant Health and Plant Protection Division] Rossi, Vittorio [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di scienze agrarie, alimentari e ambientali, Department of Sustainable Crop Production]] Urek, Gregor [Agricultural institute of Slovenia - Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije, Ljubljana, Slovenia] Van Bruggen, Ariena [University of Florida] Van der Werf, Wopke [NWageningen University. Department of Plant Sciences, Centre for Crop Systems Analysi] West, Jonathan [Rothamsted Research, Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science] Winter, Stephan [Plant Virus Department, German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, DSMZ GmbH] Gardi, Ciro [European Food Safety Authority] Bergeretti, Filippo [EFSA European Food Safety Authority | EFSA · Plant Health Team] MacLeod, Alan [Department for environment food and rural affairs (Defra), Chief Plant Health Officer’s Unit] et al.[show all]

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of the strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus bisignifer Schenkling, (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), for the EU. Anthonomus bisignifer is a well-defined and distinguishable species, recognised as an occasional pest of strawberry (Fragaria) fruit production in Japan where it is also feeds on Rubus and Rosa spp. Adults clip developing buds, preventing fruit development and reducing yield. Losses are variable and are likely to depend on the cultivars attacked. Severe damage to Fragaria spp. has been reported but is rare. Flowers of ornamental garden Rosa spp. are more commonly damaged. Anthonomus bisignifer is not known to occur in the EU. A. bisignifer is listed in Annex IIAI of Council Directive 2000/29/EC. Host plants for planting could provide a pathway although only a few non-EU countries can export Fragaria plants for planting to the EU and A. bisignifer is not known to occur in any of them. However, Rubus and Rosa plants for planting could provide a potential pathway to introduce A. bisignifer. Considering climatic similarities of the region where A. bisignifer occurs and where hosts occur in the EU, A. bisignifer has the potential to establish within the EU. There would be one generation per year, as in Japan. Impacts could be expected on field grown and protected Fragaria, field grown Rubus and garden Rosa spp. There is uncertainty regarding which other hosts exist within Rosaceae, hence impacts could potentially be seen on other species too. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of introduction of A. bisignifer. All criteria assessed by EFSA for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest are met. As A. bisignifer is not known to occur in the EU, this criterion assessed by EFSA to consider it as a Union regulated non-quarantine pest is not met.