Gamasid soil mites (Arachnida Acari) as indicators of the conservation status of forests

The Gamasida of 8 study areas in 5 different Sites of Community Interest (SCI of the Nature 2000 network) of Central Italy, characterized by beech forest and by mixed forests, were investigated to collect information for define the conservation status of the investigated sites. Samples were taken in autumn from the forest ground of the study sites (litter and soil till 7 cm in depth) during the three years of the study. Collected adult specimens were identified at species level and data were used to calculate the following indices: Shannon, Simpson, Eveness and Maturity index. On the whole, in the 8 study sites were recorded 63 species of Gamasida, belonging to 17 families, and some species seems to be a rare component of the fauna. Among study sites, diversity indices ranged from 2.20 to 2.57 for the Shannon index and from 0.82 to 0.90 for the Simpson, while the Maturity index ranged from 0.69 to 0.85; no substantial differences were observed among different study areas

Monitoring EGFR-lung cancer evolution: a possible beginning of a “methylation era” in TKI resistance prediction

The advances in scientific knowledge on biological therapies of the last two decades have impressively oriented the clinical management of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients harboring Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations is dramatically associated with an improvement in disease control. Anyhow, the prognosis for this selected group of patients remains unfavorable, due to the innate and/or acquired resistance to biological therapies. The methylome analysis of many tumors revealed multiple patterns of methylation at single/multiple cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites that are linked to the modulation of several cellular pathways involved in cancer onset and progression. In lung cancer patients, ever increasing evidences also suggest that the association between DNA methylation changes at promoter/intergenic regions and the consequent alteration of gene-expression signatures could be related to the acquisition of resistance to biological therapies. Despite this intriguing hypothesis, large confirmatory studies are demanded to consolidate and finalize many preliminary observations made in this field. In this review, we will summarize the available knowledge about the dynamic role of DNA methylation in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients

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

Alien insects on Eucalytpus spp.: an australian biocenosis in Tuscany

Despite the diffusion of eucalypts in Italy, the community of insects hosted by these trees is scantily studied, while information about the presence of these pests is crucial for their potential threats to economic activities. This study aims at investigating and evaluating the status of Australian insects hosted by eucalypts in Tuscany (Central Italy). We found six established species and, among them, two species recently discovered in the study area were noteworthy for their potential impacts and diffusion: Gonipterus scutellatus complex and Glycaspis brimblecombei. We provided a distribution map on Tuscan coast for both these species and revised data on biology and presence of these and other alien insects Eucalyptus-linked species

FIRST INTERCEPTION OF TRICHOFERUS CAMPESTRIS (FALDERMANN, 1835) (COLEOPTERA CERAMBYCIDAE CERAMBYCINAE) IN ITALY

The Velvet Longhorned Beetle Trichoferus campestris (Faldermann, 1835) was intercepted for the first time in Italy, in the Naples harbour, during monitoring activities at entry points carried out in the context of the national project ASPROPI. T. campestris is widely polyphagous and able to colonize several woody species in both agricultural and forest environments. Moreover timber and solid wood items can be equally attractive to this pest. This additional report, in an area where other alien insect species had been identified in the past, emphasises how the national monitoring network represents a key element of the alert system designed to quickly counter the accidental introduction and spreading of exotic insect pests

A new additional record of Phloeosinus armatus Reitter from Italy (Coleoptera Curculionidae Scolytinae)

In the early 1990s, outbreaks of the Cypress bark beetle Phloeosinus armatus Reitter were reported on Cupressus sempervirens L. and C. arizonica Sarg. in north-western Italy (Liguria). About 10 years later, this bark beetle, whose distribution range is originally the eastern Mediterranean, was found again in the same region on rows and isolated plants of Mediterranean cypress. In this paper P. armatus is reported for the first time on C. sempervirens in central Italy (Tuscany), where this insect species is widespread both on ornamental trees and on woodland formations. A taxonomic key is presented for the identification of both the male and female adults of P. armatus among species of the genus Phloeosinus Chapuis living on Cupressaceae in south-western Europe. Due to its greater size, compared with the indigenous species P. aubei, and the behavioural similarities in the adult maturation phase among the two species, P. armatus could convey large quantities of inoculum of the fungus Seiridium cardinale (Wagener) Sutton et Gibson, causal agent of cypress canker. The need for extensive monitoring and specific research for the development of attractants and traps to capture the adult bark beetles is emphasized

EVALUATION OF SHEEP GRAZING EFFECTS ON NEMATODE COMMUNITY, INSECT INFESTATION AND SOIL FERTILITY IN SWEET CHESTNUT ORCHARDS: A CASE OF STUDY

In sweet chestnut cultivation, important ecosystem in Europe, the moderate sheep grazing practice may have some beneficial effects in organic farming. Its impact, on soil fertility, soil nematode community and level of fruit infested by tortricids and curculionids was evaluated in a case of study in Tuscany (Central Italy). An organic farm with sheep grazing system (SG) based on long-term field application was compared with an adjacent organic farm with poultry manure system (PM). In both managements, no treatment to control pests and diseases was applied and 0.19 kg /plant of nitrogen were distributed. SG increased twice the amount of organic C, total N and available P than PM. Moreover, the salinity effect of uric acid significantly increased the pH values in SG (from 5.0 to 6.2). The greatest accumulation of organic matter under SG provided stability in nematode community structure and the plant parasitic nematodes decreased. The analysis on the nematodes emerged from Galleria mellonella larvae, revealed that the abundance of native entomopathogenic nematodes was low and not effective to control insect pests. The sheep demonstrated to be the effective predators of tortricid and weevil larvae and in November, the total infestation was significantly lower in SG (34.3%) than PM (54.3%)

A key for the identification of larvae of Anoplophora chinensis, Anoplophora glabripennis and Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lamiinae) in Europe

Anoplophora chinensis (Förster), A. glabripennis (Motschulsky) and Psacothea hilaris (Pascoe) (Coleoptera Cerambycidae Lamiinae) are longhorned beetles native to the far eastern regions of Asia and were recently accidentally introduced into Europe. The three exotic species are harmful insects to broadleaved plant species, and much attention is being paid to prevent further introductions and spread in the European Union. Severe phytosanitary measures are applied with the aim of eradicating outbreaks of the pests. Crucial for control is rapid identification of the longhorned species during phytosanitary inspections, both in entry ports and in the rest of the territory of the European Union. Taxonomic keys and descriptions of the adult morphology are available in the literature, but there are significant gaps in the taxonomy of larval morphology, and thus molecular analyses are required. During monitoring activities, a practical morphological taxonomic key would be a rapid and useful tool for species identification of the larvae. In the present work, a taxonomic key provided with detailed morphological pictures is proposed for the identification of the larvae of the three exotic species A. chinensis, A. glabripennis and P. hilaris among the closely related species of the native fauna of Europe

REDOXI-miRNA of Keap1/Nrf2 axis in lung tumors

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First interception of Acrossidius tasmaniae (Hope, 1847) (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Aphodiinae) in Europe

In April 2013, four adults of Acrossidius tasmaniae (Hope, 1847) (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Aphodiinae) were found during the inspection of the Phytosanitary Service of Tuscany Region in the port of Leghorn, in a container from New Zealand. This is the first interception of this minor pest for cultivated plants in Europe.