First Report of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Italy

The first record of Reticuliterms flavipes (Kol l?r) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Europe was in 1837, in Vienna, Austria, after infested plants im ported from the U.S. were discovered in the green house of the Sch?nbrunn Palace (Kollar 1837). In 1924, R. flavipes was found on the French Atlan tic coast and initially described as a new species, R. santonensis (Feytaud 1924). The synonymy of R. santonensis with R. flavipes was eventually confirmed by mitochondrial DNA analyses (Aus tin et al. 2002). In France, R. flavipes is currently distributed in an area extending from the Gi ronde region up to Paris and Normandy, and causes structural damage to buildings and trees (Lohou et al. 1997). During the 1930s, R. flavipes was discovered in wooden forepoles of channel construction in the steam heating district of Hamburg, Germany, where populations were sup ported by the favorable microclimate (Weidner 1937). Today, populations of R. flavipes remain es tablished in Hamburg, and cause damage to buildings and trees (Hertel & Plarre 2006). In Oct 2008, a subterranean termite infesta tion was discovered by a homeowner in a de tached house and adjacent garden situated in a residential district built in the 1970s in the out skirts of Olgiate Olona (Varese), in northern Italy. Termite workers and soldiers were observed and collected during a structural inspection in Nov 2008. Specimens are maintained in the Marini termite collection at the University of Bologna. Molecular analysis was used to determine the termite species, which were preserved in 100% ethanol prior to DNA extraction. A 684-bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene and a 491-bp region of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene were amplified by PCR. Sequencing was performed by Macrogen Inc. (Seoul, South Korea). Closely related sequences were identified from GenBank using the BLAST network service (Altschul et al. 1990) at NCBI. For both genes, nucleotide sequences were identical in the 2 workers (GenBank Accession GU070788 and GU070789). Sequences from the Olgiate Olona house corresponded (97-100% cov erage, 100% similarity for COII sequence; 92 100% coverage, 100% similarity for 16S sequence) to GenBank sequences of R. flavipes from North America and France and of R. arenincola Goell ner (Table 1). This latter species appears to be identical to R. flavipes based on the DNA se quences obtained so far

Caste differentiation and growth of laboratory colonies of Reticulitermes urbis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

A total of 280 laboratory colonies of Reticulitermes urbis were raised for 3 years, in order to observe caste differentiation and overall colony growth, and to investigate whether the initial composition (0, 2 or 4 nymphs; 0, 5, 10, 20 or 50 workers) affected colony survival, population growth and other colony dynamics. We also wanted to determine the minimum number of individuals needed to establish a vital colony. As a result, every colony beginning with less than 20 workers died within 60 weeks, while colonies beginning with at least 20 workers survived until the end of the tests, with varied survival rates dependent upon the initial size and the time of formation (summer or autumn). The number of nymphs did not affect colony survival and colony growth. Reproductives developed from nymphs within 2 weeks and later from workers. Many of the reproductives derived from nymphs were killed by workers. The majority of the colonies contained two reproductives 3 years after initiating the tests. In addition, a few individual workers were still alive at the end of the 3-year tests. At the end of the tests, the proportion of soldiers ranged anywhere from 5.23 to 7.69% of the total population. The number of viable \u201cjuveniles\u201d from each colony was relatively low throughout the tests and the overall population growth was not sufficient enough to replace dead workers or increase the colony size considerably. These results indicate that the potential to establish viable and sustainable colonies for groups of R. urbis composed of 5\u201350 workers is very low

A new finding of Reticulitermes flavipes in northern Italy

The presence of an introduced termite species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), was recently reported for the first time in Italy, where it was found in Olgiate Olona (Lombardy). In this study, we report the finding of an additional R. flavipes infestation in Vailate (Lombardy), about 70 km from Olgiate Olona, indicating that this pest may be more widely distributed than previously known. Another sample examined in this study, collected in Rozzano (Lombardy), was found to belong to Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi), the only Reticulitermes species known for Italy up to 2001. Because south of Lombardy the recently described species Reticulitermes urbis Bagneres, Uva et Clement is also present, Reticulitermes distribution in Lombardy should be re-analyzed on the basis of genetic analysis

Reticulitermes urbis in Bagnacavallo (Ravenna, Northern Italy): a 15-year experience in termite control

We relate and discuss the application of a monitoring-baiting program with the IGR hexafl umuron to termite control in Bagnacavallo (Ravenna, Northern Italy), where a massive Reticulitermes urbis infestation existed in the old town. Termite control was carried out in different zones over a period of 15 years, starting from the centre of the infested area and extending towards the peripheral areas. The treatment succeeded in eliminating termites from Bagnacavallo old town, using a total of 63 g of hexafl umuron

Kalotermes sinaicus Kemner (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae): new morphological and genetic evidence, and assignment to the new genus Longicaputermes gen. nov

The drywood termite Kalotermes sinaicus Kemner was described in 1932, based on the observation of five soldiers collected in the north-east of Sinai (Egypt). No description of the alate exists in the literature. The species is known to occur also in Israel. We analyse from the morphological and the genetic point of view (partial COII, 16S, and 18S sequences) nine K. sinaicus samples collected in five Israeli localities, in order to provide data for a better definition of the species. Important morphological differences exist between K. sinaicus and other Kalotermes species. In particular, the wing venation of K. sinaicus alates is not compatible with that of Kalotermes and is similar to that of a group of genera including Paraneotermes, Comatermes, and Ceratokalotermes. From the genetic point of view, K. sinaicus is quite different from the species in the genus Kalotermes, with distances comparable to inter-genera distances. These morphological and genetic characters indicate that K. sinaicus should be excluded from the genus Kalotermes. Because these characters do not correspond to those of any existing genus, we describe it as a new genus: Longicaputermes gen. nov

A successful habitat patch creation for Zerynthia cassandra

Zerynthia cassandra (Geyer) (Lepidoptera Papilionidae) is a butterfly species endemic to Italy, which was recently split from the Habitats Directive species, Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et Schiffermuller). The distribution of Z. cassandra is fragmented, limited to microhabitats where the larval food plants (Aristolochia spp.) can grow. The creation of new habitat patches can increase habitat availability and connectivity, thus improving the chances of survival of this species. This study relates on the creation of a new habitat patch in a 320,000 m2 park in the province of Bologna (Northern Italy), 8-15 Km distant from natural patches occupied by Z. cassandra. Fifty rootstocks of the local larval food plant, Aristolochia rotunda L., were introduced in 1982 in a 5 7 30 m belt along the edge of a pond. From the 1990s onwards, the management of the park became more conservation-oriented and favoured the spread of A. rotunda, that is now abundant. In 2016, the new habitat patch was spontaneously colonized by Z. cassandra. The number of adults and the areas where eggs and larvae were found increased in 2017 and 2018, the presence of 67 adults was estimated in 2018, so Z. cassandra appears to be now well established in the park. In the light of this experience, criteria for the selection and management of sites for the creation of new habitat patches are suggested and discussed

First report of Coptotermes gestroi in Italy and Europe.

The first finding of Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae) in Italy and Europe is here reported. Termites were found on a yacht docked in a boatyard in Riposto (Catania, Sicily) for extraordinary repairs. Because C. gestroi and other Coptotermes species are known as serious pests, particular attention should be paid to the timely identification and treatment of their infestations, in order to avoid their settlement and spreading in Italy

First report of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Italy

An existing infestation of subterranean termites in and around a home in northern Italy was genetically determined to be the Nearctic species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). This is the first report of an established R.flavipes population in Italy. The source of the R.flavipes introduction is unknown