Pest categorisation of Grapholita packardi

Area of Science:

• Plant Health
• Entomology
• Pest Risk Analysis

Background:

• Grapholita packardi (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a pest identified in North America, affecting crops like blueberry and cherry.
• This species is currently not known to occur within the European Union (EU).

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a pest categorization of Grapholita packardi for the EU.
• To assess the potential risk of establishment and impact of G. packardi within the EU.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on G. packardi distribution, host plants, life cycle, and damage.
• Assessment of potential introduction pathways and establishment likelihood in the EU based on climatic and host availability data.
• Evaluation against criteria for Union quarantine pest and regulated non-quarantine pest status by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Main Results:

• Grapholita packardi is a well-defined species with a known distribution in North America, impacting blueberries, cherries, and occasionally apples, pears, and plums.
• Potential introduction pathways include host plants for planting and infested fruits.
• Climatic similarities and widespread host plants in the EU suggest a high potential for G. packardi establishment, with one to three generations annually.
• Blueberries and cherries are identified as the most likely impacted crops.

Conclusions:

• Grapholita packardi meets all EFSA criteria for consideration as a potential Union quarantine pest.
• The pest is not known to occur in the EU, thus not meeting criteria for a Union regulated non-quarantine pest.
• Phytosanitary measures are crucial to minimize the risk of G. packardi introduction into the EU.