Alert Summary
Italy’s national plant protection authority issued new reports concerning the spread of Ricania speculum in central and northern regions, and the detection of Phytophthora bilorbang in olives in southern regions.
In Italy, the national plant health service (Servizio Fitosanitario Nazionale) issued recent technical bulletins on two emerging concerns:
First, a technical information sheet was released for Ricania speculum (the spotted lanternfly-like planthopper). This flatid insect, native to Southeast Asia, was first reported in Liguria in 2009 and is now spreading rapidly in central-northern Italy. R. speculum is highly polyphagous (attacking vines, olives, ornamentals, etc.) and can weaken plants by feeding and producing honeydew. The document notes it is not yet a regulated quarantine pest, but due to its rapid expansion, it warrants monitoring.
Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche
Ricania speculum (Flatid Planthopper) - (the spotted lanternfly-like planthopper)
- Pest: Ricania speculum
- Crops Affected: Vine, Olive, Ornamental Trees
- Region: Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche
- Alert Date: early May 2025
Symptoms: Adults and nymphs suck plant sap, causing leaf curling, reduced vigor, and sooty mold due to honeydew secretion. Eggs are laid on twigs.
Recommended Actions:
- Use green sticky traps from August to detect adults.
- Remove and destroy egg-laden twigs during winter pruning.
- Monitor orchards regularly for new infestations.
- No specific insecticide recommendations yet; physical and cultural controls advised.
The second alert was focusing on Phytophthora bilorbang (formerly “oaksoil” P. taxon), an oomycete newly detected in Italian olives. It has been found causing root and collar rot on wild olive (Sardinia) and on “Nera di Gonnos” olives in Calabria. The pathogen can induce wilting, collar cankers, and decline, especially in waterlogged soils. While P. bilorbang is not on any emergency quarantine list, the bulletin warns that moving infested soil or nursery stock can spread it.
2. Phytophthora bilorbang (Root and Collar Rot)
- Pathogen: Phytophthora bilorbang
- Crop Affected: Olive tree
- Region: Calabria, Sardinia
- Alert Date: early May 2025
Symptoms: Sudden wilting, yellowing leaves, collar cankers, and root rot. Symptoms worsen in poorly drained or waterlogged soils.
Recommended Actions:
Control measures should focus on prevention.
- Avoid planting in water-retentive soils.
- Use certified disease-free nursery stock (avoid importing olive plants with soil).
- Remove infected plants and dispose of the soil responsibly.
- In nurseries, applications of phosphonate (fosetyl-Al) are recommended, as phosphite treatments are considered the most effective chemical control for Phytophthora diseases.
- Improve drainage and reduce irrigation in infected plots.
These alerts, issued through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Protection Portal, serve as early warnings for growers. Farmers in affected regions are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with these notices, monitor their crops regularly, and consult licensed local agronomists before taking action. Emphasis should be placed on prevention rather than reactive control. Adopting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies not only improves long-term effectiveness, ensuring good plant health, but also promotes more sustainable and environmentally responsible plant protection.
