Nemapogon granellus (L.) pest on corks of wine bottles stored for aging

The European grain moth, Nemapogon granellus (L.) (Lepidoptera, Tineidae), is reported as a pest in wine cellars where larvae feed on, and tunnel into, the corks of wine bottles. When tunnels ultimately connect both ends of the cork, the wine itself is affected and bottles rejected due to alteration in the organoleptic properties of the wine. Activity of larvae causes also aesthetic damage to the corks, which must be replaced before delivery to consumers. During 2011 and 2012 heavy infestations of European grain moth was observed in two Italian wine cellars, causing serious damage on exposed wine-bottle corks. The infestation occurred on high quality red wine bottles (approximately 13,000) stored for aging for over twenty years. In the control of N. granellus Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy was adopted: monitoring an trapping of adults with pheromone traps, accompanied by careful cleaning of the rooms, shelves and machinery, alternated with localized treatments using fogs with pyrethrum, and by the replacement of the infested corks. In addition, adoption of cellar sanitation procedures reduced the sources of pests as well as the possibility of insect reproduction

Descriptions of the Adult Genitalia and Immatures of the Asian Planthopper Ricania speculum Recently Introduced to Italy (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Ricaniidae).

The ricaniid planthopper Ricania speculum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) was recently introduced to Italy, apparently from southeast Asia. This species has the potential to become a significant agricultural pest, as it feeds on > 60 species of plants, some of which are of economic importance. Here we describe and illustrate the adult male and female genitalia and the first- through fifth-instar nymphs

A review of insect parasitoids associated with Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) in Italy. 1. Diptera Tachinidae and Hymenoptera Braconidae (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)

This paper is aimed to summarize the information available on the parasitoid complex of the European Grapevine Moth (EGVM), Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) in Italy. The list is the result of the consultation of a vast bibliography published in Italy for almost two hundred years, from 1828 to date. This allowed the clarification and correction of misunderstandings and mistakes on the taxonomic position of each species listed. In Italy the complex of parasitoids detected on EGVM includes approximately 90 species belonging to ten families of Hymenoptera (Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Chalcididae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Torymidae, Trichogrammatidae, and Bethylidae) and one family of Diptera (Tachinidae). This paper deals with EGVM parasitoids of the families Tachinidae (Diptera) and Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Only two species of Tachinidae are associated to EGVM larvae in Italy, Actia pilipennis (Fallen) and Phytomyptera nigrina (Meigen), whereas the record of Eurysthaea scutellaris (Robineau-Desvoidy) is doubtful. Moreover, 21 species of Braconidae are reported to live on EGVM, but, unfortunately, eight of them were identified only at generic level. Bracon mellitor Say has been incorrectly listed among the parasitoids of L. botrana. Records concerning Ascogaster rufidens Wesmael, Meteorus sp., Microgaster rufipes Nees, and Microplitis tuberculifer (Wesmael) are uncertain. Keyword

First report on egg-parasitoids of the Asian planthopper Ricania speculum

The first findings of egg-parasitoids of the invasive planthopper Ricania speculum (Walker) (Hemiptera Ricaniidae) are presented. Aprostocetus (Ootetrastichus) crino (Walker) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae), a native species until now only associated with Oecanthus spp. (Orthoptera Oecanthidae) eggs, was the most common. Chaetostricha similis (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae) and Polynema sp. (Hymenoptera Mymaridae), which also emerged from R. speculum egg clusters, should be confirmed as parasitoids of this planthopper

First report on egg-parasitoids of the Asian planthopper Ricania speculum

The first findings of egg-parasitoids of the invasive planthopper Ricania speculum (Walker) (Hemiptera Ricaniidae) are presented. Aprostocetus (Ootetrastichus) crino (Walker) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae), a native species until now only associated with Oecanthus spp. (Orthoptera Oecanthidae) eggs, was the most common. Chaetostricha similis (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae) and Polynema sp. (Hymenoptera Mymaridae), which also emerged from R. speculum egg clusters, should be confirmed as parasitoids of this planthopper

hymenoptera parasitoid a suitable biodiversity resource for vineyard environmental discrimination

Vineyards host a high number of insect species and represent suitable environments to investigate the relationships among arthropod community and environmental biodiversity. Hymenoptera Braconidae summarize many of the attributes required to a reliable group of bioindicators. Indeed, they represent a complete assemblage of a family taxon and are quite well known from a taxonomical and faunistic point of view, occupying the top of the ecological (trophic) pyramid and occurring in very diverse habitats. Braconidae subfamilies are often linked to a single host order, so directly expressing in some way, a functional role in the environment. Here we compared the abundance and the community composition of braconid subfamilies in three differently managed vineyards for two years (2012 and 2013). In each vineyard, the community structure resulted quite similar (abundance and composition) during the first part, but significantly diverged in the second part of the research period. Non Metric Dimensional Scale and Permanova Analysis well described the population distribution. The abundance of some subfamilies, consistently with their ecology, resulted significantly related to the habitat variables considered, as showed by the Multiple Regression analysis. The adoption of insecticides seems to not influence negatively braconid populations, probably because the surrounding areas are provided with a rich local vegetation of bushes and trees, where natural enemies can find refuge. The abundance of some subfamilies that adopt an endophagous koinobiont strategy against lepidopteran larvae showed differences statistically significant in the vineyard where the mating disruption technique was adopted, in comparison with their abundance in the other two vineyards

Ricania speculum specie polifaga da non sottovalutare

This paper focuses on the discovery of Ricania speculum in Italy. The morphology and biology of this invasive insect pest are also presented

Eggshell fine morphology of Allocontarinia sorghicola (Coq.) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The fine morphology of the Sorghum midge Allocontarinia sorghicola (Coq.) eggshell has been investigated, in ovary and laid eggs, with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The eggshell consists of three layers: exochorion, endochorion and vitelline membrane. The micropylar apparatus, situated at the egg anterior pole, has been studied in detail. It is formed by an exochorion invagination delimiting a sort of atrium with one external and several internal apertures. At the egg posterior pole stands out a long appendage becoming wrinkled few hours after oviposition and probably having mechanical function facilitating the egg entering and passing through the female reproductive ducts. Key words (in addition to those in the title): chorion, micropyle, vitelline membrane, ultrastructure.  MORFOLOGIA FINE DEGLI INVOLUCRI (CORION E MEMBRANA VITELLINA) DELL'UOVO DI ALLOCONTARINIA SORGHICOLA (COQ.) (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE)  Sono riportati i risultati di una indagine condotta al microscopio elettronico a scansione ed a trasmissione relativi alla struttura del corion e della membrana vitellina di uova ovariche e deposte di Allocontarinia sorghicola. La regione micropilare, situata al polo anteriore dell'uovo, è stata particolarmente studiata. Il micropilo è costituito da una invaginazione del solo esocorion delimitante una sorta di atrio con imboccatura (apertura micropilare esterna) più stretta del fondo nel quale tutt'attorno si aprono diversi fori laceri (aperture micropilari interne). Nelle uova deposte, le superfici dell'esocorion delimitanti l'atrio finiscono per aderire l'una all'altra, occludendo tutte le aperture micropilari. Il lungo peduncolo situato al polo posteriore ha molto probabilmente la funzione di facilitare il passaggio dell'uovo lungo i gonodotti femminili

First records of the genera Histeromerus Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Histeromerinae) and Ecclitura Kokujev (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) in Italy

Braconid genera Histeromerus Wesmael, 1838 from subfamily Histeromerinae and Ecclitura Kokujev, 1902 from subfamily Euphorinae are recorded in the fauna of Italy for the first time. The discussions about taxonomic position, morphological characters and composition of these genera as well as the redescriptions of the genus and species of Ecclitura primoris Kokujev are given

Taxonomic revision of the Campoplex difformis group (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae), with particular reference to species of economic importance

Despite their importance as potential biological control agents, species of the campoplegine genus Campoplex Gravenhorst, 1829 are hard to identify. Previous works provided short descriptions or poor illustrations of crucial characters, meaning it is often impossible to distinguish closely related species. We provide illustrations to identify species of the Campoplex difformis group and redescriptions of and illustrations for C. difformis (Gmelin, 1790), C. capitator Aubert, 1960, C. dubitator Horstmann, 1985, C. formosanae Horstmann, 2012, and C. unicingulatus (Schmiedeknecht, 1909). In addition, the taxonomic status of C. difformis is clarified; a lectotype is designated for C. capitator in Aubert’s collection in Lausanne and the host record for this species on Ancylis mitterbacheriana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) is queried; Campoplex corsicator Aubert, 1960 stat. nov. is removed from synonymy with Campoplex tibialis (Szépligeti, 1916) and redescribed