Pest categorisation of non-EU Margarodidae.

The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of species in the family Margarodidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha; Coccoidea). Of 107 species of Margarodidae, 97 are not known to occur in the EU. Margarodids are cosmopolitan soil-dwelling species. The nymphs suck on the roots of host plants, while the adults have no mouthparts and do not feed. Some species are serious destructive pests of grape vines, sugar cane, oil palms, cotton or turf grass. The import of soil or rooted plants for planting with soil are potential pathways for entry. Measures are available to inhibit entry. Non-European species in the genus are regulated on plants for planting by Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IIAI). Non-EU Margarodidae species were categorised into three groups. The first group includes 11 species reported as pests of crop plants that satisfy all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess, to be regarded as Union quarantine pests. The second group includes 10 species that are not reported to cause economic damage to plants although they do feed on plants that are grown in the EU; these species do not satisfy all the criteria to be regarded as Union quarantine pests. Uncertainty exists whether species in this group could cause damage if they were introduced into the EU. The third group includes 76 species that appear restricted to climate and soil types that do not occur in the EU, feed on hosts that have limited significance in the EU, or are little studied due to their lack of impact. There is no evidence that these species satisfy the criteria to be regarded as Union quarantine pests in the EU. For completeness, the 10 species of Margarodidae that are known to occur in the EU are named in the opinion.