Terho Hyvönen, Juho Hautsalo, Lea Hiltunen, Erja Huusela, Marja Jalli, Anne Nissinen, Marika Rastas, Pentti Ruuttunen, Irene Vänninen

A revision of emergent pests in major agricultural and horticultural crops in Finland

Introduction

A revision of emergent pests in major agricultural and horticultural crops in finland. Finland's agriculture faces new emergent pests. Review identifies weed, pathogen & arthropod threats in crops, driven by climate change, farming changes & chemical bans. Rapid emergence highlighted.

Abstract

Climate change and changes in agricultural production will benefit pest species in Northern Europe by decreasing climatic restrictions and increasing availability of host plant species. We reviewed changes in the status of agricultural and horticultural pests that were identified in 2011 as potential future threats to Finnish plant production and identified species that were not mentioned in the previous review but are considered emergent pests now. In field crops, the emergent weed species were Echinochloa crus-galli and Solanum nitidibaccatum, the emergent plant pathogens Zymoseptoria tritici, Fusarium graminearum and F. langsethiae and rusts (Puccinia spp.) in cereals, as well as Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) and emerging species of potato blackleg bacteria (Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp.). The migrant Lepidopteran, Autographa gamma, the established alien sawfly Athalia rosae in oilseed crops, the alien Bruchus rufimanus in faba beans, native Chaetocnema spp. in spring cereals and wireworms (Elateridae) in potato were the emergent arthropod pests of field crops. In horticultural crops, Aculops lycopersici, Bemisia tabaci, Rhagoletis batava, Igutettix oculatus, Hoplocampa flava and Hoplocampa minuta and Otiorhynchus spp. were emergent alien arthropod pests, while the greenhouse whitefly, various aphids, thrips, and Phytonemus pallidus and Tetranychus urticae were emerging mainly due to withdrawal of chemicals. Warm early summers, banning of chemicals and importation of plants and seeds were considered the major drivers of the change. Several pests not considered potential future threats in 2011 are now emergent pests in Finland, underlining rapid changes in pest emergence and the challenges of their prediction. Utilization of citizen science platforms is encouraged to enhance early observation of emerging pests.

Review

This paper presents a timely and crucial revision of emergent pest species threatening agricultural and horticultural production in Finland, framed within the accelerating context of climate change and evolving agricultural practices. Building upon a previous assessment from 2011, the authors meticulously identify pests that have gained emergent status, including those not previously flagged, across a range of crop types. The study comprehensively lists emergent weed species such as *Echinochloa crus-galli*, significant plant pathogens like *Zymoseptoria tritici* and *Fusarium* species, and a diverse array of arthropod pests, from the migrant Lepidopteran *Autographa gamma* to alien species like *Bruchus rufimanus* and greenhouse pests such as *Bemisia tabaci*. The abstract effectively highlights the key drivers underpinning these rapid shifts in pest dynamics. Warm early summers, alongside the withdrawal of certain chemical controls and increased importation of plants and seeds, are identified as major contributing factors. This multi-faceted causation underscores the complexity of pest emergence and the challenges in predicting future threats. The distinction between emergent pests in field crops (e.g., wireworms in potato, *Athalia rosae* in oilseed crops) and horticultural crops (e.g., *Aculops lycopersici*, *Rhagoletis batava*), with specific mention of chemical withdrawal impacting greenhouse pests, provides a valuable granular understanding of the problem. The authors' observation that many currently emergent pests were not considered potential threats just a decade ago powerfully emphasizes the unpredictable nature of these ecological shifts. Overall, this review offers a vital update for stakeholders in Finnish agriculture and pest management. By systematically cataloguing emergent threats and pinpointing their drivers, the paper provides an essential foundation for developing adaptive management strategies. The call for integrating citizen science platforms to enhance early observation of emerging pests is a forward-thinking and practical recommendation, acknowledging the dynamic and widespread nature of pest spread. This work not only contributes significantly to regional pest ecology but also serves as a strong case study for understanding and responding to the global challenges of pest emergence in a rapidly changing environment.

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