Un organismo nocivo non ancora documentato in Europa è stato introdotto in Svizzera tra marzo e maggio tramite la vendita di diverse piante ornamentali infestate. Si tratta di esemplari di Callistemon, detta anche "scovolina". Cinquanta sono state importate da un'azienda italiana dove in seguito è stato rilevato un focolaio di Ripersiella hibisci. A darne notizia è l'Ufficio federale dell'agricoltura che esorta gli acquirenti di piante con un passaporto recante la bandiera europea e il numero IT-19-0327 ad annunciarsi senza indugio al Servizio fitosanitario federale per evitare che il nuovo e pericoloso organismo nocivo possa radicarsi diventando una minaccia per l'ortoflorovivaismo.
La Ripersiella hibisci, è un pseudococcide che trascorre il suo ciclo di vita sulle radici della pianta. Si tratta di una cocciniglia classificata come particolarmente pericolosa in Svizzera e nell'UE. Può infestare varie specie, specialmente quelle in vaso, come l'ibisco, l'oleandro, i rododendri, i fichi e vari bonsai.
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