Spotted lanternfly pest detected for first time in Moldova

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), a quarantine pest, has been detected for the first time in the Republic of Moldova. The infestation was identified on spontaneous forest plants (Ailanthus altissima) within an industrial area of Chișinău.

The National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) established a working group to implement eradication and monitoring protocols. Phytosanitary treatments and disinsectization measures were applied to an initial infested area of approximately 7,000 square meters using approved products. While the initial focus was considered eradicated, subsequent monitoring in the buffer zone revealed isolated populations of the pest in public spaces outside the original perimeter.

ANSA has urgently notified the Chișinău Municipality and the Green Spaces Management Association to mandate disinsectization in these areas. The insect, native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, poses a major phytosanitary risk due to its ability to feed on over 70 plant species, including grapevines, walnuts, maples, and various fruit trees. In certain cases, such as vineyards, production losses can reach up to 90%.