Scaphoideus titanus identified in Hungary

Scaphoideus titanus is threatening the grapevine industry in Europe as vector of "flavescence doree" (FD) quarantine disease. It was recently identified in countries neighbouring Hungary, however S. titanus and FD were not recorded during the Auchenorrhyncha fauna monitoring performed in several Hungarian vineyards between 1997 and 2005. In 2006 new sites near the Hungarian borders, in 9 counties, were involved in the surveys. S. titanus was found in Bacs-Kiskun, Somogy, and Zala counties: this is the first report of this insect in Hungary. The highest populations were recorded in abandoned vineyards near the Serbian border. Analyses to verify phytoplasma presence and identity were carried out in symptomatic grapevines and leafhoppers collected in these places, only the "bois noir" phytoplasmas were identified.