George Th. Papadoulis

Dittrichia viscosa andRubus ulmifolius as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the role of certain Coccinellid species

The role of the self-sown shrubsDittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter andRubus ulmifolius Schott as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids was investigated. In the field studies conducted,D. viscosa grew adjacent to crops of durum wheat and barley andR. ulmifolius grew adjacent to cotton. The relative abundance of the parasitoids of(a) Capitophorus inulae (Passerini) onD. viscosa, (b) Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) on durum wheat and barley,(c) Aphis ruborum (Börner) onR. ulmifolius, and(d) Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton in various parts of Greece, was assessed during the years 1996–2000. In 2000, the fluctuation of parasitization of the above four aphid species was recorded and the action of the aphidophagous predators of the family Coccinellidae was studied. It was observed thatAphidius matricariae Haliday predominated onC. inulae andR. padi in all sampling cases. In contrast,Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the dominant species parasitizingA. ruborum onR. ulmifolius andA. gossypii on cotton in Thessaly (central Greece) and Macedonia (northern Greece), whereasLysiphlebus confusus Tremblay et Eady andBinodoxys acalephae (Marshall) were the dominant parasitoid species in Thrace (northern Greece).Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus was the most abundant coccinellid species on durum wheat, whereasAdonia variegata (Goeze) predominated on cotton. However, coccinellid individuals were scarce on bothD. viscosa andR. ulmifolius. The present study indicated that these two shrubs can be regarded as useful reservoirs of aphid parasitoids.

Distribution and Migration of Insects and Mites in Flat Storage Containing Wheat

Studies were conducted in a flat storeroom in central Greece, filled with approx. 90 tons of wheat, in order to evaluate insect and mite species abundance, and changes in population density and distribution among sampling units and locations. The surface of the grain bulk was divided into two sampling zones: the central and the peripheral (edge). At 10-day intervals, five wheat samples were taken from the central zone and eight from the peripheral zone, with a non-partitioned grain trier (1.6-m length, 250-g capacity). Fifteen insect species and 12 mite taxa were found during the sampling period, (June 1999–Feb. 2000). The most abundant insect species wereSitophilus oryzae (L.),Cryptolestes ferrugineux (Stephens),Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) andLatheticus oryzae Waterhouse; the most abundant mite species wereAcarus siro L.,Lepidoglyphus destructor (Shrank), and the predatorsBlattisocius tarsalis (Berlese) andB. keegani Fox. Grain temperature decreased during the storage period, more slowly in the central than peripheral zone; grain moisture content increased. The highest population densities for both insects and mites were recorded during September and October. The most numerous species of insects and mites showed an aggregated spatial pattern, as indicated by Iwao’s Patchiness Regression.

Cunaxid mites of Greece (Acari: Cunaxidae)

Abstract A nationwide survey of cunaxid mites of Greece revealed 14 species belonging to the genera Bonzia Oudemans (1 species), Cunaxoides Baker and Hoffmann (4 species), Pulaeus Den Heyer (1 species), Neocunaxoides Smiley (2 species), Cunaxa Von Heyden (4 species), Coleoscirus Berlese (1 species) and Pseudobonzia Smiley (1 species). Bonzia halacaroides Oudemans, Cunaxoides fidus Kuznetzov and Livshitz, Cunaxoides desertus Kuznetzov and Livshitz, Cunaxa meiringi Den Heyer, and Coleoscirus simplex Ewing are recorded for the first time in Greece. Two new species, Cunaxoides paracroceus n. sp. found on Graminae and on an unidentified plant, and Cunaxa thessalica n. sp. found in moss, are described and illustrated.

Mites Associated with Stored Seed Cotton and Related Products in Greece

Samples were taken during a 2-year period (Sept. 1998 to Sept. 2000) from 17 ginning mills, located in the main cotton production regions in Greece. The material was examined in order to determine the presence and relative abundance of mites in stored seed cotton and its products: cotton fiber, cottonseed and cotton gin trash. Twenty-two mite taxa were found, with the predominance of mite species on each type of stored commodity differing significantly. Fifteen taxa were recorded in seed cotton, where the most abundant species wereTyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) andTarsonemus waitei Banks. In contrast, only four species were found in cotton fiber, withT. putrescentiae being the dominant one. Nine taxa were recorded in the cottonseed samples, where the most abundant species was by farLepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank).Caloglyphus sp. was the most abundant species in cotton gin trash, where a total of 13 taxa were found. Most mites were found in gin trash, followed by cottonseed and seed cotton; very few mites were detected in cotton fiber.

First record of the citrus red mite Panonychus citri in Cyprus

A new phytophagous mite species, Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) (the citrus red mite), was found in Cyprus during spring 2008, infesting citrus plantations. Mites occurred in large numbers, mainly in the canopy of orange, lemon and mandarin trees. The adults and larvae preferred the upper surfaces of mature leaves of the above citrus species, although they occurred on both leaf surfaces. Orange, lemon and mandarin trees were greatly affected by this mite, as its high population densities under hot and dry conditions in the spring caused heavy leaf drop (firing) and twig dieback.

New records of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Cyprus

Predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae are important biological control agents of phytophagous arthropods including mites. A survey on phytoseiid mites associated with different crops was carried out in many localities in Cyprus during 2009 and 2010. Five species are recorded for the first time from various plants in Cyprus: Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), N. cucumeris (Oudemans), Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Phytoseius plumifer (Canestrini & Fanzago). In all cases, these phytoseiid mite species were found in great abundance.

Composition and seasonal abundance of mites on three citrus species in Greece

In order to compare the composition and the relative abundance of the mite species occurring on three citrus species, sweet orange, sour orange and mandarin, 25 monthly samplings were conducted on mandarin in a citrus orange orchard in Argolis county, Greece, from June 2004 to June 2006. In the examined samples, mites from 15 taxa belonging to 3 orders were identified. These included nine predatory taxa belonging to three families (Phytoseiidae, Cheyletidae, Bdellidae), four primarily fungivorous taxa in the family Tydeidae and Tarsonemidae, two phytophagous taxa belonging to families Tetranychidae and Eriophyidae and one saprophagous taxon (Cryptostigmata). From the aforementioned taxa, 14 were found on sour orange, 13 on sweet orange and 9 on mandarin. Tydeus californicus was the only “dominant and constant” taxon in all the three citrus species. Lorryia sp. nr. formosa was “dominant and constant” on mandarin, while on sweet orange was “recedent and constant” and on sour orange was “influent and accessory”. Aceria sheldoni was “dominant and accessory” on sour orange, while it was “recedent and accidental” on sweet orange and totally absent on mandarin. All the other taxa were “influent”, or “recedent”. Population of Tydeus californicus in all citrus species was higher in fall, winter and early spring, while in summer it was declining. The mean population level on sweet orange was significantly higher compared with mandarin. A similar population pattern was observed in L. sp. nr. formosa, with the expectance of mandarin during 2005. Tetranychid population on sweet orange was the highest, but no significant difference was observed on the other two species. The A. sheldoni population was significantly higher on sour orange compared with sweet orange, while on mandarin was absent. Also, predatory mites’ population was significantly higher on sour orange than on sweet orange and mandarin. They were present in the samples for long periods in all citrus species.

Composition and seasonal abundance of mites associated with citrus in Greece

ABSTRACT In order to estimate the composition of the mite taxa occurring in citrus and their seasonal and relative abundance, 25 monthly samplings were accomplished in an orange orchard in “Nea Kios” region, Argolis county, Greece, from June 2004 to June 2006. In the examined samples, mites from 19 taxa belonging to 10 families in 3 orders were identified. These included nine predatory species belonging to three families (Phytoseiidae, Cheyletidae, Bdellidae), four primarily fungivorous species in the family Tydeidae and Tarsonemidae, five phytophagous species belonging to two families (Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae), and one saprophagous taxon (Cryptostigmata). The only “dominant and constant” species was Tydeus californicus (Banks). Lorryia formosa Cooreman was “recedent and constant,” while Panonychus citri (McGregor), Pronematus sp., Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot), and Cryptostigmata were marked as “recedent and accessory.” All the other taxa were “recedent and accidental.” Population of T. californicus was in general higher in fall, winter, and early spring. A similar population fluctuation was observed in L. formosa, in relatively lower population density. Tetranychids had remarkable population densities from June 2004 to December 2004 and from February 2005 to May 2005. Phytoseiids were present in long intervals, while their population peaked in June 2004 and April 2005. The role of tydeids as a very convenient prey to conserve phytoseiid population, when primarily phytophagous mites are absent, is to be considered.

Two new species of the genus Neocunaxoides Smiley (Acari: Cunaxidae) from Greece

Abstract Adult females of two new cunaxid mites, Neocunaxoides abiesae n. sp. and N. smolikensis n. sp. are described and illustrated. The first species was collected from moss on the trunk of Abies cephalonica Link. and second species from bark of Fagus sylvatica L. and moss on the trunk of Pinus sp. in Greece.

Bryobia serifiotica N. SP. (Acari: Tetranychidae: Bryobiinae) from Greece

Abstract The female, deutonymph, protonymph and larva of Bryobia serifiotica n. sp., collected from Lavandula stoechas L. (Labiatae) in Greece, are described and illustrated.