Pest categorisation of .

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), the Armenian mussel scale, for the territory of the European Union, following commodity risk assessments of and plants for planting from Türkiye, in which was identified as a pest of possible concern. is a polyphagous insect of temperate and arid areas, feeding on more than 60 plant species belonging to 26 families. Important crops significantly affected by in parts of Asia include stone fruits (, ), pome fruits (, ), grapes (), pomegranate (), walnuts () and ornamental plants ( spp. spp. spp. spp.). has two generations annually. The overwintered eggs hatch from late May to early June. First-instar nymphs crawl on the host plant for a short period, then settle to feed. Nymphs reach maturity in late summer or early autumn. Plants for planting, fruits and cut flowers provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability suggest that southern, central and some parts of northern EU countries would be suitable for the establishment of . Despite being a pest in Armenia, Iran and Tajikistan, there is no evidence of it being a pest in Türkiye. was detected in Bulgaria and Greece over 30 years ago, but there have been no records since, and its status is uncertain. Its ability to cause an impact in the EU is also uncertain. It is not listed in Annex II of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. Except for the criterion of having an economic or environmental impact, for which there is great uncertainty, satisfies all other criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.