8f338f38-416f-4209-a57c-521dd905e9e4 United Kingdom 2024-02-01 Diaprepes abbreviatus (Citrus root weevil) is a major pest of Citrus, root vegetables, ornamentals, and other commercial crops in the Caribbean and a few of the most southern states of the USA where it was unintentionally introduced. Attempts to eradicate it from Gran Canaria are ongoing, and it is established in one tropical indoor site in the south of England, UK. During a commodity risk assessment of Ligustrum spp. (privet) from the UK conducted by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), this pest was short listed as a possible pest of concern.  A UK assessment was required to indicate whether this pest could establish elsewhere in the UK and whether statutory action is required.
This rapid PRA shows that Diaprepes abbreviatus does not pose a risk to plants in outdoor environments in the UK. This weevil has only established outdoors in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It does pose a risk to glasshouses with tropical and subtropical temperatures, particularly those with plants growing in the ground, as eradicating the pest would be more challenging than with containerised plants.

]]> Claire Gent Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Express pest risk analysis plants for planting Risk assessment Diaprepes abbreviatus Arachis hypogaea Citrus Dracaena draco Eugenia uniflora Ipomoea batatas Ligustrum Saccharum officinarum Sorghum Zea mays United Kingdom https://pra.eppo.int/getfile/27fe5c2e-69dd-43b8-99d2-003fa5160141