Giuseppina Pellizzari

Alien scale insects (Hemiptera Coccoidea) in European and Mediterranean countries: the fate of new and old introductions

This contribution focuses on recent interceptions and introductions of alien scale insects and their current distribution in European and Mediterranean countries. Data and collections were gathered in markets, nurseries, and botanical gardens, mostly in Italy, either indoors or outdoors. New or recent records of the following alien species are presented: Exallomochlus hispidus (Morrison); Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (Pseudococcidae); Coccus viridis (Green); Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Coccidae); Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead); Aspidiotus destructor Signoret; Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead; Fiorinia fioriniae Targioni Tozzetti; Lepidosaphes pinnaeformis (Bouché); Pseudaulacaspis brimblecombei Williams (Diaspididae). New data and pest status of Phoenicococcus marlatti Cockerell (Phoenicococcidae) and Trabutina mannipara (Hemprich & Ehrenberg) (Pseudococcidae) are also reported. The possible repeated introductions of the latter from North Africa to south Italy by trans-Mediterranean winds, is hypothesized.

Description of a new species of Toumeyella Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccidae) from Mexico, with a taxonomic key to mexican species

A new species of soft scale insect from Mexico, Toumeyella fontanai Kondo & Pellizzari sp. nov. is des-cribed and illustrated. A taxonomic key to the species of scale insects of the genus Toumeyella Cockerell known in Mexico is provided.

Investigating biological control agents for controlling invasive populations of the Mealybug Pseudococcus comstocki in France

Pseudococcus comstocki (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a mealybug species native to Eastern Asia and present as an invasive pest in northern Italy and southern France since the start of the century. It infests apple and pear trees, grapevines and some ornamental trees. Biocontrol programmes against this pest proved successful in central Asia and North America in the second half of the 20th century. In this study, we investigated possible biocontrol agents against P. comstocki, with the aim of developing a biocontrol programme in France. We carried out systematic DNA-barcoding at each step in the search for a specialist parasitoid. First we characterised the French target populations of P. comstocki. We then identified the parasitoids attacking P. comstocki in France. Finally, we searched for foreign mealybug populations identified a priori as P. comstocki and surveyed their hymenopteran parasitoids. Three mealybug species (P. comstocki, P. viburni and P. cryptus) were identified during the survey, together with at least 16 different parasitoid taxa. We selected candidate biological control agent populations for use against P. comstocki in France, from the species Allotropa burrelli (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Acerophagus malinus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The coupling of molecular and morphological characterisation for both pests and natural enemies facilitated the programme development and the rejection of unsuitable or generalist parasitoids.

Check list and zoogeographic analysis of the scale insect fauna (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) of Greece

This paper presents an updated checklist of the Greek scale insect fauna and the results of the first zoogeographic analysis of the Greek scale insect fauna. According to the latest data, the scale insect fauna of the whole Greek territory includes 207 species; of which 187 species are recorded from mainland Greece and the minor islands, whereas only 87 species are known from Crete. The most rich families are the Diaspididae (with 86 species), followed by Coccidae (with 35 species) and Pseudococcidae (with 34 species). In this study the results of a zoogeographic analysis of scale insect fauna from mainland Greece and Crete are also presented. Five species, four from mainland Greece and one from Crete are considered to be endemic. Comparison with the scale insect fauna of other countries is provided.

Description of female nymphal instars and adult female of Kermes echinatus Balachowsky (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Kermesidae) based on specimens from Crete and mainland Greece, with a discussion on geographical variation.

The first-instar nymph, second- and third-instar female nymphs and the adult female of Kermes echinatus Balachowsky (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Kermesidae) are described and illustrated; micrographs of morphological details are also provided. The species was collected on the island of Crete (Greece) and on mainland Greece, new localities for this species, and are compared with Israeli specimens from where it was originally described.

Nidularia pulvinata (Planchon, 1864) (Hemiptera Kermesidae) gall-inducing attitude

Recurrent Nidularia pulvinata outbreaks off Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae) led us to scrutinize large amount of infested and damaged trunks, branches and twigs. A long series of detailed observations suggested studying the attitude of the Kermesidae to induce phloem/xylem disorganization by saliva injection, possibly. Evidence show that woody plants tissues near or under the scale insects swell considerably giving the organs a prominent and rising appearance. Infested bark and other plant surfaces are prone to produce crevices and other possible shelters for future crawlers that will find a nice living site nearby. In vivo transverse section, accurate observations corroborated with polarized light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy suggests that the scale stylets strongly disturb the explored plant tissues. Plant tissues reply to the injury with considerable overgrowing and necrosis. By observations and evidenced we discuss the opportunity to consider Nidularia pulvinata a gall-making species, also comparing its attitude with that of other Kermesidae and Asterolecaniidae. Nidularia pulvinata infestation starts from crawlers that set into natural bark crevices. Scales feeding elicits the plant reaction that results in progressive widening of infested crevices. That, in consequence, offers more room for the subsequent broods of the Kermesidae. To evaluate the action of Nidularia feeding on host plant wood, we fell down two small Quercus ilex infested to death. We chose and mark several points before to cut the infested trunks and branches transversally. The action of Nidularia pulvinata feeding on host plant wood is clear in the left and central figure in comparison to right picture of a not infested trunk. Each log was pictured from the transversal section and the corresponding side. Red dashed lines connect corresponding points of the wood. The red arrow points to wood overgrowths for Nidularia infestation, while a blue arrow target a lateral branch bud. Red lines encircle wood overgrowths due to hyperplasia/hypertrophy stimulated by the Kermesidae. On twigs the Nidularia pulvinata feeding results in wood swelling, depression/overgrowth and necrosis.

Nidularia pulvinata (Planchon) (Hemiptera: Kermesidae) urban outbreaks associated with entomopathogenic fungi

Pest outbreaks often give to insect pathogens the opportunity to infect their host species eventually leading them to death. Recent Nidularia outbreaks off urban Quercus ilex L. showed some cases of entomopathogenic fungi virulence, apparently sustained by species of Fusarium and other fungi. Infection is apparent on the Nidularia population because fungi provoke the scale color shifting to orange or dull-green in medium in large patches. After the isolation in an axenic culture of the Kermesid-associate Mycota, ITS genomic regions amplified by PCR using the universal ITS5/ITS4 primers were sequenced by external service (Macrogen, Seoul, South Korea) for molecular identification. Blast analysis (http://blast. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/Blast. cgi) of the ITS sequence showed a high homology with Quambalaria cyanescens (de Hoog & G. A. de Vries) Z. W. de Beer, Begerow & R. Bauer 2006 (Fungi: Basidiomycota), (identity: 97-96%; e-value 0. 0; coverage 82-75%), Fusarium acuminatum Ellis & Everh. 1895 (Fungi: Ascomycota) and Fusarium avenaceum (Fr. ) Sacc. 1886 (Fungi: Ascomycota) (identity: 99%; e-value 0. 0; coverage 82-80%), and Penicillium sumatraense Svilv. 1936 (Fungi: Ascomycota) (identity: 100%; e-value . 0; coverage 95-91%). We investigate the biological and ecological role of the above-recorded fungi by correlating the age of infected scale and their age. Mass culturing of the most promising pathogen will lead to semi-field trials to demonstrate the isolate entomopathogenic ability. Finally, we discuss the case of homonymy between the fungal Taxon named Nidularia pulvinata (Schwein.) (Gasteromycetes) and the scale Nidularia pulvinata (Planchon) that can lead to some confusion.

First record of the Kuwana pine mealybug Crisicoccus pini (Kuwana) in Italy: a new threat to Italian pine forests?

The Asiatic Kuwana pine mealybug, Crisicoccus pini (Kuwana, 1902) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae), is reported in Italy for the first time. It was detected in September 2015 on maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, and stone pine, Pinus pinea, trees growing in the town of Cervia (Ravenna Province), Northern Italy. The mealybug has caused yellowing and decline of the pine trees. Pinus pinea is recorded here as a new host for C. pini.

ON THE IDENTITY OF THE GENUS LECANOPSIS TARGIONI TOZZETTI

ON THE IDENTITY OF THE GENUS LECANOPSIS TARGIONI TOZZETTI The genus Lecanopsis Targioni Tozzetti was generally accepted by coccidologists until 1994. In that year, on the basis that the exact facies of the genus was not known and that there was no type material, it was proposed that all the species previously included in Lecanopsis be transferred to the genus Paralecanopsis (synonymised with Lecanopsis in 1980) and that only the type species, L. rhyzophila Targioni Tozzetti, be retained in Lecanopsis, thus allowing a proper diagnosis of this group. In order to clarify the identity of the genus Lecanopsis, we have carefully checked the original descriptions of the genus and of its type species by Targioni Tozzetti and by Signoret. This work has highlighted some small mistakes in the translation of the original description from Italian or Latin to French and also some omissions, and these could have led to the conclusion that the real facies of this genus was not known and that the type species, L. rhyzophila, could not be congeneric with the other species currently included in Lecanopsis. However, some original drawings of Lecanopsis by Targioni Tozzetti, which he sent to Signoret in 1872, have been discovered in the Museum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. On the basis of this new information, and with the support of the authoritative opinion of two members of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature, we consider that (i) the genus Lecanopsis is a valid genus and propose (ii) that the species of Lecanopsis recently transferred to the genus Paralecanopsis Bodenheimer be re-assigned to the genus Lecanopsis Targioni Tozzetti. Key words: host plants, Asperula, Rhizobium, Rhyzobium, Agropyrum, Aclerda subterranea, Paralecanopsis turcica, Lecanopsis formicarum, history, illustrations, behaviour.

Kermes vermilio Planchon and Nidularia pulvinata (Planchon, 1864) (Hemiptera Kermesidae) outbreaks off urban Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

Kermes vermilio and Nidularia pulvinata severe outbreaks are lethal to young holly oaks and strongly damage adult trees. Such infestations are common in several South Italian urban and peri-urban areas and have been reported for a while. Recently we have been observing in Bari (Apulia region) a new considerable invasion of both Nidularia and Kermes on Q. ilex not scale-infested hitherto. The phenomenon is possibly in connection with the new northward expansion of Nidularia that is presently recorded in Italian areas with a continental climate as Veneto and Romagna regions. City surveys and damage estimations revealed the entity of kermesidae impact regarding direct and indirect costs for the maintenance of urban parks, public gardens and leisure areas, avenues and boulevards. Moreover, we discuss the synecology of the two species evaluating the prevalence of mixed infestations on the same plant or the reciprocal competitive displacement. Possible causes of the actual outbreak may lie in ecological disturbance along the rural-urban transition zone, changes in the available range of insecticides, wrong or absent tree maintenance, changes or fluctuation in climatic parameters. Mixed infestations by Kermes vermilio and Nidularia pulvinata off Quercus ilex are not truly mixed; this is evident as we realise that K. vermilio prefers to infest host twigs while N. pulvinata mostly sets on the trunk and the main branches. The two species seems to share a single host plant occupying two near but distinct niches. Damages are similar, being both the Kermesidae capable of inducing die back, but Nidularia actively damages the trunk, also. In a case of infested public greeneries, the officers are usually unable to check the pests, i. e. by an IPM strategy or by chemical control. Possibly because of the extended swarming of crawlers or the missing of effective insecticide authorised for urban area use. Moderate control is given by tree formulate injection but results often less useful than expected. Another phytosanitary “pest cleaning” measure applied by the officers consists of cutting down symptomatic dried twigs as massive pruning every four-five years. Intense pruning in spring and the consequent plant re-sprouting appears favourable to plant health but for a very short lapse. New sprouts are quickly colonised by wandering crawlers and became intensely infested. Moreover, twigs and small branches cut down leave on the plant much more of the Nidularia population while prune down most of the Kermes out the plant. Intense and not timed pruning favours Nidularia by displacing Kermes from the host plant in such a way that urban Q. ilex are heavily infested by the most damaging and lethal of the two pest species. We classified from 1 to 5 the staging of the die back induced by Kermesidae, as reported in table below.