In Ghana, surveys were carried out from April to November 2022 to determine whether the vectors of huanglongbing (‘Candidatus Liberibacter spp.’ – EPPO A1 List) were present. These surveys were conducted in residential areas and citrus orchards in the Volta region. Citrus and Murraya species were visually inspected for the presence of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae – EPPO A1 List) and Trioza erytreae (Hemiptera: Triozidae – EPPO A2 List). Eggs, nymphs, and adults of insects suspected to be D. citri and T. erytreae were observed. Using morphological and molecular methods, the presence of both D. citri and T. erytreae was confirmed in Ghana. D. citri was found at several locations, at elevations of less than 200 m a.s.l., on Murraya paniculata plants grown for ornamental purposes. T. erytreae was found in 1 location on a non-rutaceous plant, Triclisia subcordata (Menispermaceae) in a garden. Several specimens of D. citri and T. erytreae were tested (qPCR) for the presence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, ‘Ca. L. africanus’, and ‘Ca. L. americanus’, but none gave positive results. This is the first time that the vectors of huanglongbing are reported from Ghana.

Source of information:

https://gd.eppo.int/reporting/article-7643