BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ACLEES SP. CF. FOVEATUS AND FIRST RECOVERY OF AN ASSOCIATE BEAUVERIA BASSIANA STRAIN

Aclees sp. cf. foveatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is spreading in Central Italy, causing severe infestation on fig trees. There are very few information for this pest and no natural enemy is reported. Here, we report the first recovery of a natural enemy associated with this invasive weevil, a strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The potential use of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes as biocontrol agents was tested against adults in laboratory trials. In agree with the detection in nature, only treatments with B. bassiana were able to control the insects. This result opens new frontiers for the environmental friendly control strategies against this weevil

Biological Notes and Distribution in Southern Europe of Aclees taiwanensis Kono, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): A New Pest of the Fig Tree

Ficus carica L. is one of the earliest cultivated fruit trees, and figs are a typical fruit of the Mediterranean diet and traditional medicine as well. In recent years, a new pest, the black weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kono, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) native to Asia, has been recorded in France and Italy. Aclees taiwanensis causes the rapid death of the fig tree by its larvae that dig alimentation galleries in the trunk and surface roots, compromising the phloem flux. In Italy, from 2005, the year of the first detection of A. taiwanensis, the fig production has nearly halved, decreasing from 20.09 t to 10.65 t. To date, no specific EU regulation has been applied to prevent the A. taiwanensis spread, and we can reasonably expect a rapid diffusion of this pest all over the Mediterranean area. To avoid the loss of the Mediterranean fig orchards, effective strategies to detect and control the black weevil are required. Such strategies need a detailed knowledge of A. taiwanensis distribution, biology, and physiology. This paper updates the known distribution of this species in Southern Europe, using a citizen science approach, and describes, under laboratory and field conditions, its main biological traits

Notes on Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera Drosophilidae): field survey in Tuscany and laboratory evaluation of organic products

Reported for the first time in Italy in 2009, the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera Drosophilidae), has rapidly spread throughout the country, causing serious damage on many fruit crops. The potential of infestation rate by D. suzukii is enormous: the females can complete many generations per year, and are able to attack the fresh, ripe fruit of many hosts by laying eggs under the soft skin; the larvae grow in the fruits and destroy the commercial value of them. The host range of SWD is reportedly wide, including both cultivated (soft fruits, sweet cherry, stone fruits etc…) and wild plants. In 2013, field surveys aimed at monitoring the presence of the insect on Tuscany territory, were regularly carried out: on an important district for the sweet cherry production with differently managed in control, on a biological blueberry orchard and even on other host plants neighboring the samples’ areas. D. suzukii was present in the monitored areas and its numerically large populations and heavy infestations on sweet cherries have shown that the species has settled in these areas. In laboratory tests, labeled organic products and substances of natural origin - in accordance with the requirements of EU regulations which provides for the reduction of chemicals - were evaluated as concern toxicity and residual effect on the pest. As regards effects of direct toxicity, products based on Beauveria bassiana have shown some effectiveness in the control of SWD, other organic products have shown interesting results. The evidences acquired are discussed

ACLEESCF. SP. FOVEATUS(COLEOPTERA CURCULIONIDAE), AN EXOTIC PESTOF FICUS CARICAIN ITALY: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO DEFENCE BASEDON ALUMINOSILICATE MINERALS AS HOST PLANT MASKING SOLIDS

The exceptionally frequent entries of alien pest are a major source of concern for the farmers who haveto protect their crops from unknown insects, often without natural enemies in the new areas. A new pestbelonging to the Molytinae family (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), tribe Hylobiini, reported as Acleessp. cf.foveatusVoss, was recently introduced in Italy. The species is responsible for severe damages in many Italianfig nurseries and orchards, particularly in the Italian Central Northern regions, i.e. Tuscany, Ligury andLatium. Currently, no active ingredients are registered against this insect on fig crops. An innovative and eco-friendly approach for controlling this exotic weevil infestation was investigated, by using montmorillonite-based clays, either in their native state or containing copper(II) species, and clinoptilolite zeolites, in order tocheck the perception of the adults’ weevil towards the different solid materials and, subsequently, to evaluatethe capability of these innovative products to act as masking agent with respect to the host plant and/or asrepellent upon contact. The formulations containing copper(II)-exchanged clay and clinoptilolite zeoliteshowed preliminary promising results in terms of efficacy and environmental sustainability

FIRST RECORD OF RICANIA SPECULUM(WALKER, 1851) (HEMIPTERA RICANIIDAE)FROM VENETO, PIEDMONT AND LATIUM REGIONS AND NEW HOST PLANTS

The distribution of Ricania speculum(Walker, 1851) (Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha Ricaniidae) in Italy was updatedand the species was recorded for the first time in Veneto (2017), Piedmont (2018) and Latium (2018) regions. Theoccurrence of this species in Sardinia, previously recorded, is here excluded. Moreover, 33 new host plants belonging to 29families resulted to be attacked by this alien invasive species confirming its outstanding polyphagy

Data from: Microsatellite genotyping of medieval cattle from central Italy suggests an old origin of Chianina and Romagnola cattle

Analysis of DNA from archaeological remains is a valuable tool to interpret the history of ancient animal populations. So far most studies of ancient DNA target mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which reveals maternal lineages, but only partially the relationships of current breeds and ancient populations. In this study we explore the feasibility of nuclear DNA analysis. DNA was extracted from 1000-years old cattle bone collected from Ferento, an archaeological site in central Italy. Amplification of 15 microsatellite FAO-recommended markers with PCR products yielded genotypes for four markers. Expected heterozygosity was comparable with values of modern breeds, but observed heterozygosity was underestimated due to allelic loss. Genetic distances suggested a position intermediate between (1) Anatolian, Balkan, Sicilian and South-Italian cattle and (2) the Iberian, North-European and Central-European cattle, but also a clear relationship with two central-Italian breeds, Chianina and Romagnola. This suggests that these breeds are derived from medieval cattle living in the same area. Our results illustrate the potential of ancient DNA for reconstructing the history of local cattle husbandry

Efficacy of <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> and Mechanical Traps for the Control of <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Fig Plants

The black weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a xylophagous insect native to Southeast Asia and introduced to Italy in 2005. Here, the species completes its entire life cycle on Ficus carica L., causing economic damage and leading to the plants’ death. Nowadays, there are no insecticides registered for its control. In this study, a commercial product based on Beauveria bassiana, Naturalis®, was associated with Rincotrap® tissue. Semi-field trials were carried out on fig seedlings by comparing two different concentrations (3% and 10%) of this entomopathogenic fungus distributed in suspension on Rincotrap® bands. The results showed that the fungal product had a biocidal effect in both treatments. Afterward, trials were conducted in a fig orchard in order to verify the effectiveness of this association in the field. The addition of Naturalis® at a 3% concentration to Rincotrap® bands did not alter the number of adults captured. The total mortality was 43.7% and 23.8%, respectively, in the treated and control plots. Among the total number of dead adults, only the mortality rates of B. bassiana exceeded 70% in both plots. Further long-term studies in several environments are necessary to improve this technique and create an integrated control system for the black fig weevil