The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for European cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region. Founded on April 18th, 1951 and based in Paris, France, EPPO is the Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) for Europe under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).To meet its objectives to protect plants, strategize against the introduction and spread of dangerous pests, and to promote safe and effective control methods, EPPO develops international standards and recommendations, provides reporting services, participates in global discussions on plant health, EPPO hold regular expert working groups, and maintained EPPO codes.
The Siberian moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetverikov, is one of the most destructive conifer pests in Northern Asia, causing severe ecological and economic losses. In Russia, its range overlaps with that of the closely related pine-tree lappet Dendrolimus pini (L.), and this raises the potential for hybridization and complicates accurate identification, particularly in the context of the potential westward expansion of D. sibiricus. Here, we present the first comprehensive morphometric analysis of male genitalia aimed at distinguishing these two major forest pests and their hybrids. The study was based on D. sibiricus and D. pini specimens collected during the last 130 years (1894-2024) across Europe and Asia, including their hybrids reared indoors by crossing D. pini females with D. sibiricus males in 1956 and preserved in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia). Overall, 70 permanent genitalia slides were prepared (33 D. sibiricus, 33 D. pini, and 4 hybrids), and the following genital structures were measured: valva and harpe length, aedeagus width and length, and cornuti length. Dendrolimus sibiricus had significantly larger genital structures compared to D. pini: 74% longer harpe, 32% longer valva, and a 28% wider and longer aedeagus. In contrast, in D. sibiricus cornuti were 21% shorter than in D. pini. Hybrids displayed intermediate values for valva, harpe, and aedeagus lengths, and for these parameters, they significantly differed from both parental species. The following diagnostic indices were suggested to distinguish between the two species and their hybrids: Harpe Length/Valva Length Index (HL/VL) and Cornuti Length/Aedeagus Length Index (CL/AL). Decision-tree analysis identified HL/VL as the strongest predictor for separating the parental species and the Combined Genital Proportion Index (CGPI), which integrates harpe, valva, aedeagus, and cornuti lengths, as the strongest predictor for identifying hybrids. The morphometric criteria developed here have practical applications for monitoring programs and quarantine diagnostics, particularly in sympatric zones and regions at risk of D. sibiricus expansion.
An increase in biotic interactions towards lower latitudes is one of the most consistent patterns in ecology. Higher temperatures and more stable climatic conditions at low latitudes are thought to enhance biotic interactions, accelerating biological evolution and leading to stronger anti-herbivore defences in plants. However, some studies report contradictory findings, highlighting the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms. We used a combination of field observations and feeding trials in controlled environments to investigate the effect of climate on chemical defences and insect herbivory in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) throughout most of its geographic range in Europe, while controlling for physical defences. The concentration of lignin, flavonoids, and total phenolics increased significantly with temperature, whereas both field herbivory and weight of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae were negatively influenced by temperature. Lignin concentration positively influenced the weight of spongy moth larvae whereas it had no effect on field herbivory. We found no evidence of strong positive relationships between insect herbivory and larvae growth with leaf defences. Our study underscores the complexity of plant–herbivore interactions along climatic gradients and highlights the need for further research to disentangle these intricate relationships.
We use 964 earthquake records from the ARGONET, Cephalonia, Greece, array database to investigate the possible seasonal variation of ground motion at two surface and four borehole stations. We first apply the standard spectral ratio (SSR) method to compute the spectral site amplification factor, SAF(f), using as reference the deepest borehole station of the array, which is located at the engineering bedrock. We identify clear manifestations of a seasonal variation at both surface stations, even though one of them is installed on rock. At the deeper stations, the seasonal variation is only detectable in the high-frequency part of the vertical component at shallow depth, or is not detectable at all. This implies that the driving mechanism of the phenomenon operates at shallow depth. The identified good correlation of the observed cyclic variation with meteorological parameters, that is, rainfall and air temperature, suggests that the atmosphere-soil interaction and the hydrological system contribute to this mechanism. The seasonal variation at the two surface stations is observed at high frequencies (generally > 20 Hz). We show that correcting for this variation in SSR through appropriate modeling leads to more reliable estimates of the mean SAF at high frequencies, by reducing the associated standard deviation. As a second step, we compute horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSRs) using the same dataset and verify that the dominant features of the identified seasonal variation (or its absence at deeper stations) are also traceable by this method. This suggests that at sites with abundant data, HVSRs could provide direct information on the importance of the seasonal variation in ground motion, without the need for a reference station.
Bamboos are popular ornamental plants in the EPPO region though some of them have been observed to escape the confines of planting and establish in the natural environment. The aim of this study is to produce a risk‐based list of bamboo species which are recorded in the natural environment in the EPPO region, and to determine if any of the species require a pest risk analysis. Forty‐two bamboo species were identified as being present in the natural environment in the EPPO region. Of these, 11 species fulfil the three pre‐selected criteria for species to be considered potentially harmful: (1) the species is naturalized in at least one EPPO country; (2) the species has a running dispersal behaviour (leptomorph); and (3) there is evidence of invasive behaviour in at least one country. These 11 species were prioritized using the EPPO prioritization process for invasive alien plants. Owing to their high spread potential and potential high impact, three species, namely Phyllostachys aurea , Pseudosasa japonica and Sasa palmata , proceeded to the second stage of the prioritization process (risk management stage). All three species were identified as having a high priority for a pest risk analysis. In 2024, the EPPO Panel on Invasive Alien Plants agreed with the results of the study but noted that further information on impacts would be beneficial and therefore the Panel agreed that Ph. aurea and S. palmata should be added to the EPPO Alert List along with the already included P. japonica . This will raise awareness of these species in the region and further information can be gathered to support the development of a risk assessment.
Preparedness for plant pest outbreaks through contingency planning is an effective approach to ensure a rapid response. Within the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) region, Xylella fastidiosa has significant economic, environmental and social impacts in some member countries, as well as its potential for spread to other member countries. To enhance preparedness for this pathogen, a contingency planning simulation exercise workshop was jointly organized by EPPO and the Near East Plant Protection Organization. The event took place over 3 days in May 2025 in Tunisia. A total of 69 participants from 21 countries attended the workshop. The attendees came from diverse plant health backgrounds, including experts from National Plant Protection Organizations, international organizations, plant health scientists, policy officials, inspectors, quarantine officers, and pest control specialists. Participants were divided into six groups, each acting as an outbreak management team tasked with addressing the challenges of an X. fastidiosa outbreak. The scenario was based on the first detection of X. fastidiosa at an olive nursery in a fictitious country called Surveyland. As the scenario progressed over a simulated one-year timeline, each team had to organize themselves to manage a range of issues designed to mimic the fictitious but realistic development of an X. fastidiosa outbreak.
