Stefano Scalercio

Efficacy of new mass-trapping devices against Bactrocera oleae (Diptera tephritidae) for minimizing pesticide input in agroecosystems

Decreasing pesticide use in olive groves is central to controlling pathogens and pests such as Bactrocera oleae. This has led to the development of mass trapping devices which not only minimize pesticide use but, with improved efficacy of attractants, also decrease costs associated with pest control and ensures that the quality of olive oil is safe for human consumption. This study was undertaken to test a new device which utilizes reduced quantities of both insecticide (lambda-cyalothrin) as well as the female olive fly pheromone (1,7-dioxaspiro-(5.5)-undecane). The new device was tested against an older device manufactured by the same company. The use of plastic polymers as substrate for encapsulating the pheromone allowed for a slower pheromone release, prolonging the efficacy and duration and thus reducing costs. The density of adult populations was monitored using yellow chromotropic traps that were checked every ten days and the degree of olive infestation, as determined by preimago stages, was assessed by analyzing 100 drupes per plot. Infestation analyses were performed every ten days. The control plot had the lowest density of adults and the highest drupe infestation rate. The new devices were more effective than the older devices in both attracting adults and controlling infestation of drupes. Moreover, the new devices containing reduced amounts of pheromone and insecticide were cheaper and exhibited longer functional efficacy. In addition to the slower release of attractants, the plastic polymers used in these newer devices were also more resistant to mechanical and weather degradations. Results demonstrate that mass trapping can indeed be an effective means of controlling B. oleae via eco-sustainable olive farming.

Evaluation of the impact on entomocoenosis of active agents allowed in organic olive farming against Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin, 1790)

Several attempts for evaluating environmental impact of active agents allowed in organic olive farming against Bactrocera oleae have been made, but very few studies were performed contemporaneously on more than one of them. Insects were chosen as indicators because they are known to react very quickly to environmental perturbations, mainly at the community level. In fact, the coenosis is the functional unit interacting with biotic and abiotic environmental parameters. Seven taxa, known for their sensitivity to habitat alterations, were sampled and grouped in functional groups: predators and parasitoids, phytophagouses and pollinators. The coenotic balance between these two functional groups was analyzed. The study was carried out in an organic olive orchard in the municipality of Terranova da Sibari, Cosenza, Southern Italy. The tested active agents (Azadirachtin, Rotenone, Copper Oxychloride) were sprayed twice (end of September and middle October). During the treatments the population dynamics of all the taxa were knocked-down. No one tested compound seems to be harmless to the entomocoenosis, particularly on phytophagouses and pollinators. In truly organic farming it is necessary to provide natural refuge areas to beneficial insects (i.e. pest antagonists) in which no active agents are sprayed and alternative preys could be found.

Stipa austroitalica garigues and mountain pastureland in the Pollino National Park (Calabria, Southern Italy)

As part of a LIFE-Nature project promoted by the Pollino National Park, the semi-open mountain pastureland of the Pollino karstic massif has been studied. The most important habitats in terms of nature conservation have been found at lower altitudes in the Stipa austroitalica garigues, that are composed of a very complex mosaic of successional habitats ranging from open grassland to more or less mature forest. Cattle grazing and burning seem to be the most effective rejuvenation factors and both are helpful in maintaining high biodiversity levels in birds (many lark species), butterflies and Carabid beetles (some quantitative data are presented for invertebrates). Vegetation features, relationships with land use and possible management in relation to faunal conservation are discussed.

Susceptibility of Cultivars to Biotic Stresses

The Italian history of crop protection has been dominated by the use of agrochemical, generally having a negative impact on the environment and residues in final products. The approach based on the use of genotypes with low susceptibility to biotic stresses searching for sources of resistances was largely uninvestigated for long time. Only recently researchers focussed their studies on this subject. Studies devoted to this subject are very difficult mainly for permanent crop such as the olive tree because time consuming and because it is very hard to compare the behaviour of a large germplasm in the same pedoclimatic condition. Furthermore, it is very hard to design tests of resistances under controlled conditions because of the difficulty due to the hard tolerance of captivity of pests such as olive fly and many others. In any case, recently research activities on this field has been greatly improved and several research projects are supported by many institutions.

Ptilophora variabilis Hartig, 1968, bona species, and description of Ptilophora nebrodensis sp. n. from Sicily (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae)

In this paper, we redescribe Ptilophora plumigera variabilis Hartig, 1968 and raise it to species rank. Furthermore we describe Ptilophora nebrodensis sp. n. from Sicily, as the third European species belonging to the genus Ptilophora Stephens, 1828. These two species are allopatric vicariants of Ptilophora plumigera (Denis Schiffermüller, 1775) respectively in Apennine Italy and Sicily. We present the differential features mainly concerning the morphology of genitalia and molecular data. Ptilophora variabilis shows a scattered distribution, generally very localized, whereas P. nebrodensis sp. n. is restricted to a few localities in the mountainous areas of North Sicily, being very rare. Both species predominantly inhabit forests in mountain areas, with occurrence of broadleaved trees, especially Acer spp. (Fam. Aceraceae).

Ground beetles in Mediterranean olive agroecosystems: Their significance and functional role as bioindicators (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The impact of agricultural practices and soil management on the communities of arthropods living in the agricultural landscape is acknowledged as a critical issue by the literature, and it needs to be better investigated to improve the ecological sustainability of agriculture. In the present study, we aimed to study how soil management affect carabid species distribution in one of the most typical agroecosystem of the Mediterranean region, i.e. the olive grove. In South Italy olive plantations feature different types of soil management, from tillage to half- or full-cover cropping. Species distribution has been examined for a total of 10,189 individuals and 62 species collected from 17 sites. Notably from our analysis we have observed that three factors (climax vegetation, soil features and soil management) explained half of the data variability. The composition of species groupings mirrors both bioclimatic conditions (climax vegetation) and soil features, especially watering, while soil management affects the species distribution, with different intensity from site to site. Eleven species have been recognized as the most abundant in the different facets of the studied olive groves and consequently designated as characteristics of the olive agroecosystem. The species traits of the sampled species have been weighted for a compelling evaluation of the effects of agricultural management on biodiversity, showing uniform traits distribution when coping with the ecological factors that characterize the different plantation facets. We have found that carabid beetles can be used as model organisms for studying the effects of agricultural practices. Our study suggests that the interaction of man-induced trasformation with the natural background of the olive agroecosystem may be difficult to disentangle, so that such complexity must be taken into account when carabid beetles are expected to provide an ecosystem service for good agricultural practices.

Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1858) (Noctuidae, Catocalinae) e Calamodes subscudularia (Turati, 1919) (Geometridae, Ennominae), specie nuove per la fauna dell’Italia continentale (Lepidoptera)

FIRST RECORD OF PANDESMA ROBUSTA (WALKER, 1858) (NOCTUIDAE, CATOCALINAE) AND CALAMODES SUBSCUDULARIA (TURATI, 1919) (GEOMETRIDAE, ENNOMINAE) FOR CONTINENTAL ITALY (LEPIDOPTERA). (Contributions to the knowledge of the Lepidoptera of Southern Italy. XXI) Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1858) was collected in Calabria, first record for Southern and continental Italy, and in a new locality of Western Sicily: the Trapani’s saline; Calamodes subscudularia (Turati, 1919), previously noted only for Sicily in Italy, was also collected on the river bed Fiumara Trionto (Calabria). On underline the increment in italian fauna of Sicilia species and tropical or subtropical species. Key words: Noctuidae, Geometridae, first record, Calabria, Southern Italy. Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1858) viene segnalata per la prima volta in Italia continentale a Copanello (Cosenza, Calabria); inoltre, per questa specie si segnala una nuova stazione in Sicilia occidentale, le saline di Paceco (Trapani). Calamodes subscudularia (Turati, 1919) viene anch’essa segnalata per la prima volta in Italia continentale nella Fiumara del Trionto (Cosenza, Calabria); in precedenza era nota solo per la Sicilia. Viene messa in evidenza la tendenza per la fauna dell’Italia continentale ad arricchirsi di specie finora note solo per la Sicilia o dalla distribuzione tropicale o subtropicale.

Addenda e corrigenda ai Geometridae dell’Italia meridionale (Contributi alla conoscenza della Lepidotterofauna dell’Italia meridionale. XX)

ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA TO GEOMETRIDAE OF SOUTHERN ITALY (Contributions to knowledge of the Lepidoptera in Southern Italy. XX) Collection data on Geometridae of southern Italy are reported. The most interesting ones regard two species newly recorded for the continental Italy: Hemistola siciliana Prout, 1935 and Idaea rainerii Hausmann, 1994; one species newly recorded for central and southern Italy: Eupithecia ochridata Pinker, 1968; eight species newly recorded for southern Italy: Pachycnemia tibiaria (Rambur, 1829), Idaea laevigata (Scopoli, 1763), Eupithecia cuculliaria (Rebel, 1901), Eupithecia laquaearia Herrich-Schaffer, 1848, Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759), Eupithecia subumbrata (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775), Eupithecia pusillata (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775) and Eupithecia scopariata (Rambur, 1833). Moreover, the Authors have been made some corrections and modifications, also from a nomenclatural point of view, of the monography on the Geometridae collected in Southern Italy (Parenzan, 1994). Key words: Lepidoptera Geometridae, faunistic reports, Southern Italy. Sono forniti nuovi dati sui Geometridi dell’Italia meridionale acquisiti negli ultimi anni; sono riportate anche nuove localita che ampliano la diffusione al versante tirrenico calabrese per alcu- ne specie gia note per diverse localita del versante ionico. I reperti piu interessanti sono: Hemistola siciliana Prout, 1935 e Idaea rainerii Hausmann, 1994, nuove per l’Itala continentale; Eupithecia ochridata Pinker, 1968, nuova per l’Italia centrale e meridionale; Pachycnemia tibiaria (Rambur, 1829), Idaea laevigata (Scopoli, 1763), Eupithecia cuculliaria (Rebel, 1901), Eupithecia laquaearia Herrich-Schaffer, 1848, Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck, 1759), Eupithecia subumbrata (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775), Eupithecia pusillata (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775) e Eupithecia scopariata (Rambur, 1833) nuove per l’Italia meridionale. Sono inoltre apportate alcune correzioni e modifiche, anche nomenclatoriali, alla monografia sui Geometridi dell’Italia meridionale (Parenzan, 1994), rese necessarie in seguito a verifica di dati ed a revisioni tassonomiche. Parole chiave: Lepidoptera Geometridae, segnalazioni faunistiche, Italia meridionale.

Nuovi reperti per la fauna microlepidotterologica degli ambienti forestali del Parco Nazionale della Sila, area MAB Unesco (Lepidoptera yponomeutoidea, Gelechioidea)

Vengono segnalate per la prima volta nel territorio del Parco Nazionale della sila 10 specie di microlepidoptera sottolineando il loro interesse faunistico per l’Italia meridionale. Ethmia pusiella e segnalata per la prima volta in Calabria. Cedestis subfasciella, Ypsolopha ustella, Schiffermuelleria schaefferell a, Herrichia excelsella, Harpella forficella e Mirificarma cytisell a sono segnalate per la prima volta in Italia meridionale. Argyresthia goedartella, A. pruniella e Sophronia sicariellus sono segnalate per la prima volta in Italia centro-meridionale.

I Macroeteroceri della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Laghetti di Marinello” (Sicilia nord-orientale) (Lepidoptera Heterocera)

Riassunto - Gli scopi di questa ricerca sono quelli di contribuire alla conoscenza della macrolepidotterofauna della Sicilia nord-orientale e di caratterizzare la comunita presente nella Riserva Naturale Orientata “Laghetti di Marinello”. Sono stati effettuati 23 campionamenti tra dicembre 2007 e dicembre 2008 col metodo della caccia al lume. Sono stati catturati 2.537 individui appartenenti a 160 specie, tra cui Chloroclystis v-ata e Laelia coenosa, segnalate per la prima volta in Sicilia; importanti anche le segnalazioni di Calamodes subscudularia, Mythimna languida e M. joannisi, specie piuttosto rare e localizzate. Le specie piu abbondanti sono state: Eilema caniola, Eublemma viridula, Idaea filicata, Dysauxes famula e Idaea seriata, che da sole rappresentano il 42% di tutta la comunita, favorite dalla presenza delle rispettive piante nutrici e dall’elevato adattamento alle condizioni climatiche del sito. Il numero di specie e i valori degli indici di diversita indicano un basso livello di biodiversita ospitata, ma la fenologia, le analisi corologica e autoecologica delle specie, insieme ai confronti effettuati con altre faune, indicano una comunita ben caratterizzata e peculiare, diretta espressione delle condizioni abiotiche e biotiche della Riserva.