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UK Risk Register Details for Blissus insularis

Pest has been archived

This pest has been assessed for the Risk Register and is considered to pose a low risk to the UK. The information on this pest was correct as of 11/03/2025, but is no longer actively maintained. It will only be updated if new information is received which indicates the potential for a significant increase in risk to the UK.

This record was last updated on 11/03/2025

Common Names

  • Chinch bug, southern

Scenario and Pathways

Scenario for Risk Register

  • show / hide
  • Pest is introduced

Pathway Assessed for Entry to UK

  • show / hide
  • Plants for planting (except seeds bulbs and tubers)

Common Pathways

  • show / hide
  • Plants for planting (except seeds bulbs and tubers)

Risk Ratings and Current Mitigations

Unmitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 1
Spread [1 - 5] 2
Impact [1 - 5] 2
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 1
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 2
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 2

Current Mitigations

  • show / hide

Key mitigation for pest

Regulation

Surveillance

Industry Scheme

Contingency Plan

Awareness

Research

Mitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 1
Spread [1 - 5] 2
Impact [1 - 5] 2
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 1
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 2
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 2

Proposed Actions

Proposed Actions

Regulation

Deregulation

Management By Industry

Targeted Survey

PRA

Contingency Plan

Publicity

Research

Distribution and Pest Details

Distribution

Country / Territory Status Notes
Europe
Portugal Present
North America
Mexico Present
United States Present
South America
Colombia Present
Central America
Antigua and Barbuda Present
Bahamas Present
Bermuda Present
Cuba Present
Dominica Present
Grenada Present
Haiti Present
Jamaica Present
Martinique Present
Panama Present
Puerto Rico Present
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Present
Trinidad and Tobago Present
Turks and Caicos Present

Type of Pest

  • Insect (Hemiptera)

Host or Industry at Risk

  • show / hide

Ornamental grasses

Major Hosts

  • Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.
  • Paspalum notatum Fluegge
  • Paspalum vaginatum Swartz
  • Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze

Threats to Protected Cultivation

  • N/A

Forest Tree Pests and Pathogens

  • N/A

Further Information

PRA Availability

PRA not available

Regulation and EPPO listing

  • show / hide

Not currently listed

Actions Indicated

  • show / hide

Action

No statutory action

General Comments

Blissus insularis is an insect pest which causes yellowing and death of the tropical and sub-tropical turf grass Stenotaphrum secundatum (St Augustine grass) in southern states of North America, especially Florida, and in Portugal where damage was first noted in 2019. The UK outdoor climate is unsuitable for both the host plant and insect, so the risk associated with this pest is considered very low.

Further Information

Uncertainty

  • show / hide

Key uncertainty for pest

Climate

Current distribution

Hosts

Impact

Pathways

Regulation

Taxonomy

UK distribution

Risk Records for this Pest