EVENT CONCLUDED

The Annual Meeting 2024 of the EURL for Insect and Mites took place in Vienna on 25th of June.This year´s workshop was featured with a keynote speech on the genus Agrilus (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) by Aurelien Sallé, an internationally recognised expert from the University of Orleans. However, the main topic of the workshop was Agrilus planipennis, the emerald ash borer. The presentations provided an overview on biology, detection and identification, impact, and risk of entry, establishment and spread. The EPPO network of experts working on surveillance, monitoring, and control as well as Euphresco projects were introduced. A comprehensive validation study on several ID – tests for A. planipennis was presented by the EURL.

Other topics of the workshop addressed new tools for reference material. Impressive high-resolution pictures of insects and whole genome amplification showed new possibilities to provided reference material to the EU-NRLs. The programme was rounded off with reports on EPPO and EFSA activities (new diagnostic protocols) and updates on EU-priority pests (Lepidoptera black hole project, Pseudips mexicanus and Spodoptera frugiperda) by the EURL and EU-NRLs.

In addition—against the backdrop of the beautiful historic city of Vienna, the workshop offered plenty of networking opportunities for the participants.

Thank you all for your participation and we look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Please, find all the material (report and presentations) from the event by clicking HERE