The invasive moth Paysandisia archon in Europe: Biology and control options

The palm borer moth (Paysandisia archon, Burmeister) is a member of the Castniidae family originally from South America and is currently included in the A2 list of the OEPP/EPPO. This moth was introduced to Europe in 2000 through ornamental palms. Since its accidental introduction, it has become a major threat for natural stands of native palms, as well as for nurseries and gardens in the Mediterranean basin. To date, neither preventive nor control methods have been implemented for managing this pest under field conditions. In this review, we highlight the most relevant information on the biology of P. archon and summarize the available control strategies with a special focus on biocontrol-based treatments.