Pest Risk Analysis Unit – Plant Pest Factsheets

DAFM plays a crucial role in protecting the favourable plant health status of Ireland. To support this role the Plant Science Division’s Pest Risk Analysis Unit (PRAU) continuously undertakes horizon scanning activities to identify emerging novel plant pest threats to Irish biosecurity. Novel pest threats can include: newly identified pest species from around the world, known pests increasing their host plant range (i.e. infesting new plant species) and pests increasing their distribution ranges (i.e. invading new geographical territories).

Identified pest threats are subjected to a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) process conducted to determine the potential level of threat posed to Irish biosecurity. PRAs are reviewed by experts from several DAFM divisions with roles in plant health (including Forestry Service, Horticulture and Plant Health Division and the Plant Sciences Laboratory). A key part of the PRA process is to provide science-based advice to risk managers who develop legislative measures to mitigate the likelihood of a pest’s introduction and establishment in Ireland.

Listed below are summary factsheets on a range of plant pests including EU quarantine pests; Irish protected zone pests; pests evaluated by the PRAU and newly arrived pest species. The purpose of the factsheets are to provide readers with a clear understanding of the pests appearance and symptoms of infestation on host plants. An overview of the pests’ characteristics and biology is also provided to aid readers in understanding of the nature of these species.

The EU priority pests are 20 plant pest species which are considered to pose the greatest threat to EU biosecurity. These 20 species are plant pests not native to any region of the EU and are regulated as quarantine organisms. This means there are strict measures in place to prevent their introduction into any EU member state. Should a priority pest enter an EU member state, containment measures are employed to mitigate against the pests further spread and eradication processes begin to eliminate the population of the invasive pest. A full list of factsheets will be produced for each pest between 2022-2023.

The Irish protected zone pests are plant pests which have not established in Ireland but are either native to regions of the EU or invasive species which have already established in certain EU member states. Ireland has enacted legislative measures to prevent against the introduction of these plant pests to protect Irish biosecurity and preserve our favourable plant health status. Currently, Ireland has 23 protected zones for individual pests. A full list of factsheets will be produced for each pest between 2022-2023.

The PRAU has evaluated a number of potential plant pest threats to Irish biosecurity. These plant pest threats have included both non-EU species, species present in continental EU member states and those that have recently established in Ireland.