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UK Risk Register Details for Monema flavescens

This record was last updated on 22/05/2026

Common Names

  • Oriental moth

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)
  • Cut flowers or branches

Risk Ratings and Current Mitigations

Unmitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 2
Spread [1 - 5] 3
Impact [1 - 5] 3
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 5
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 6
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 30

Current Mitigations

  • show / hide

Key mitigation for pest

Prohibition of some hosts from current distribution

Regulation

Surveillance

Industry Scheme

Contingency Plan

Awareness

Research

Mitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 2
Spread [1 - 5] 3
Impact [1 - 5] 3
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 5
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 6
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 30

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
United Kingdom Absent
North America
United States Present (Limited) Massachusetts
Asia
China Present
Japan Present
North Korea Present
Russia Present Eastern part of Asian Russia
South Korea Present
Taiwan Present

Type of Pest

  • Insect (Lepidoptera)

Host or Industry at Risk

  • show / hide

Broadleaved trees

Major Hosts

  • Acer L.
  • Acer buergerianum Miq.
  • Acer palmatum Thunb. Ex Murr.
  • Acer platanoides L.
  • Acer pseudoplatanus L.
  • Alnus hirsuta (Spach) Rupr.
  • Betula nigra L.
  • Carya Nutt.
  • Celtis L.
  • Cercis chinensis Bunge
  • Cornus kousa (Buerg.) Hance
  • Diospyros kaki L.
  • Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.
  • Gleditsia triacanthos L.
  • Hamamelis japonica Sieb. & Zucc.
  • Lagerstroemia indica L.
  • Malus Mill.
  • Photinia glabra (Thunb.) Maxim.
  • Populus L.
  • Prunus L.
  • Prunus yedoensis Matsumura
  • Pyrus L.
  • Quercus L.
  • Quercus acutissima Carruth.
  • Rhamnus L.
  • Salix L.
  • Styrax japonica (= japonicus) Sieb. & Zucc.
  • Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.
  • Zelkova serrata (Thunb. Ex Murr.) Makino

Threats to Protected Cultivation

Forest Tree Pests and Pathogens

  • Broadleaved

Further Information

PRA Availability

Netherlands (2004, 2024); EFSA (2024)

Regulation and EPPO listing

  • show / hide

EPPO Alert

Actions Indicated

  • show / hide

Action

Statutory action

General Comments

Distinctive caterpillar which feeds on many different broad-leaved trees in its native Asia. It is also found in a small area in the USA, where it has persisted for over 100 years, but not apparently spread significantly. Reports of impacts on trees in the current range are scattered, but touching the caterpillars does cause rashes in humans. UK climate likely to limit pest to one generation per year.

Further Information

Uncertainty

  • show / hide

Key uncertainty for pest

The level of impacts in its current range

Climate

Current distribution

Hosts

Impact

Pathways

Regulation

Taxonomy

UK distribution

Risk Records for this Pest