First detection of Brevipalpus lewisi in South Africa

Publication Date

Fri, 29 Sep 2017, 12:57

Last Updated

Sept. 29, 2017, 12:57 p.m.

Report Number

ZAF-35/1

Country

South Africa

Pest Id

Brevipalpus lewisi - (BRVPLE)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

B. lewisi has a broad host range, but was only detected on Vitis spp. in the notified areas.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

B. lewisi is considered to be present in the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. After surveys were conducted in two growing seasons, in production areas, it can be considered as absent in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is undertaking phytosanitary actions to determine the pest status in the remaining provinces of South Africa, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and North West.

Summary

The DAFF hereby provides notice of the detection of Brevipalpus lewisi on grapevine rootstock mother material in the Western and Northern Cape provinces. The first detection was confirmed by morphological examination of slide-mounted specimens that was finalized on 24 February 2015. The identification has been confirmed by an internationally recognized expert. Subsequent surveys followed during 2015 and were repeated in 2016 to determine the presence/absence of B. lewisi in other provinces. The pest status was found as reported above. Surveys in other provinces and on hosts other than grapevine are still on-going.
Movement of propagative material of affected nurseries from Northern and Western Cape provinces to the rest of South Africa are restricted in accordance with the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983) to prevent further spread of this pest to other provinces.

Danger

Potential spread or establishment of Brevipalpus lewisi from infested areas through host material to other provinces may negatively affect international trade on export potential of relevant host commodities.

Contact for info

Mr Thizwilondi Munzhelele, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Private Bag x14 Gezina 0031 Email: [email protected]

Report files

Brevipalpus lewisi pest report

Website

Issue keywords

Delimiting survey National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) Risk Management

Commodity keywords

Fresh grapes