Introduction
During the final week of May 2025, several critical pest and disease threats emerged across Spain’s key agricultural regions. This alert consolidates official warnings from regional agricultural authorities, including the Red de Alerta e Información Fitosanitaria (RAIF), Phytoma España, and regional bulletins. Below are detailed recommendations for olive, tomato, grapevine, almond, apple/pear, and wheat crops.
Olive trees
Regions: Jaén, Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga (Andalusia)
Date: May 26–June 1, 2025
Stage: Flowering to early fruit development
Olive Fruit Moth (Prays oleae)
Symptoms: Infestation of flowers and young fruits ("pepper stage"), larvae inside flower clusters and developing fruits.
Measures:
- Deploy pheromone traps to monitor adult activity.
- Apply insecticides (e.g., spinosad) when fruits reach 4–5 mm in diameter. Avoid bee-toxic products during flowering.
Repilo (Spilocaea oleaginea)
Symptoms: Dark circular spots on leaves, defoliation, reduced yield.
Measures:
- Apply copper-based fungicides preventively.
- Remove infected leaves to reduce spore spread.
Tomato
Regions: Almería, Murcia (Southeast Spain)
Date: May 27–June 1, 2025
Stage: Early fruit development
Tomato Leafminer (Tuta absoluta)
Symptoms: Larvae tunneling into leaves, stems, and fruits; "mined" foliage with necrotic patches.
Measures:
- Introduce biological controls (Nesidiocoris tenuis).
- Use pheromone traps (4–8/ha) for mass trapping.
- Apply targeted insecticides (e.g., emamectin benzoate) if infestations exceed thresholds.
Grapevine
Regions: Valencia, Montilla-Moriles (Córdoba)
Date: May 28–June 1, 2025
Stage: Flowering to berry development
Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola)
Symptoms: Yellow "oil spots" on leaves, white fungal growth on undersides.
Measures:
- Apply systemic fungicides (e.g., fosetyl-aluminum) before rainfall.
- Ensure thorough coverage of all green organs.
Almond trees
Regions: Granada (Cúllar, Orce, Galera)
Date: Ongoing until June 1, 2025
Stage: Nut development
Almond Wasp (Eurytoma amygdali)
Symptoms: Larvae inside almonds, premature fruit drop.
Measures:
- Mandatory insecticide sprays (e.g., deltamethrin) in affected areas.
- Destroy infested fruits to break the lifecycle.
Apple/Pear trees
Regions: Aragón
Date: May 26–June 1, 2025
Stage: Fruit development
Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)
Symptoms: Larvae burrowing into fruits, exit holes with frass.
Measures:
- Use pheromone traps to time insecticide applications.
- Apply kaolin clay or spinosad during larval emergence.
Wheat
Regions: Castilla y León
Date: May 26–June 1, 2025
Stage: Grain filling
Stripe Rust (Puccinia striiformis)
Symptoms: Yellow-orange pustules in linear patterns on leaves.
Measures:
- Apply triazole fungicides (e.g., tebuconazole) if >5% infection.
- Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Conclusion
Spanish farmers must prioritize monitoring and timely interventions to mitigate losses. Adhere to regional guidelines, use authorized products, and integrate biological controls where possible. Stay updated via official portals like RAIF and Phytoma España for real-time advisories.
Find all previous alerts and pest and disease management practices in the following articles.
May 2025 EU plant protection changes: New pesticide rules & resistant crop varieties
Plant Protection Alerts: Spain – Mid May 2025
Plant Health Alert: Spain – Early May 2025
Lower Acetamiprid MRLs in Key Crops - New EU Regulation
Top 5 Crop Diseases and Pest Threats to EU Agriculture in 2025
Spring Frosts and Hail Hits Southern Europe’s Fruit Crops
How Biopesticides & AI Are Revolutionizing Crop Protection
Floods Are Reshaping Mediterranean Agriculture – Can EU Policies Keep Up?
