The grapevine aphid Aphis illinoisensis : a good example of recent invasion and rapid colonization by aphids

Aphis illinoisensis represents one of the most recent aphid invaders from the New World to the Mediterranean Region. This aphid, which is native to North America and is now widely distributed in Central and South America, was first found in Southern Turkey in 2002, and in 2005 it was also found in Crete (Greece). Thereafter it was recorded from Northern Cyprus, Israel, Tunisia, Algeria, Montenegro and Libya, and is now probably present throughout the Mediterranean. The present work provides data on the presence of this aphid in the Maltese islands, a group of low-lying islands situated in the central Mediterranean Basin.peer-reviewe

First report of an adelgid from Malta (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea, Adelgidae)

In recent years, the aphid fauna of the Maltese Islands has received considerable attention. miFSud et al. (2011) reviewed earlier works on the subject and provided information on previously reported species and on several new records. An updated list of aphids provided therein included 98 Aphididae and a single species of Phylloxeridae. The only other family currently included with aphids, the Adelgidae was not represented in the list. Samples of young shoots of Pinus halepensis Mill. were observed infested with a whitish flocculent material in several localities in Malta and examination of this material proved it to belong to an adelgid which we report here underpeer-reviewe

Cinara tujafilina (del Guercio, 1909) - a new aphid record for Malta (Aphididae, Lachninae)

The aphidofauna of the Maltese archipelago is currently composed of some one hundred recorded species (Mifsud & Pérez Hidalgo, 2011; Mifsud et al. 2011) of which only six species are associated with conifers. Of these, three species belong to the genus Cinara: C. maghrebica, C. palaestinensis (both recorded on Pinus halepensis) and C. cupressi (recorded on Cupressus sempervirens). Identification of a recently captured single alate viviparous female of Cinara, based on Binazzi & Scheurer (2009) and Nieto Nafría et al., (2003), proved to be Cinara (Cupressobium) tujafilina (del Guercio, 1909), a species not previously recorded from Malta.peer-reviewe

First field records of the sexuales (males and oviparae) of Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera : Aphididae)

Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) is an aphid pest of great agricultural importance, not only due to its polyphagy but mostly due to its ability to transmit various plant viruses e.g. Citrus tristeza virus on Citrus (Blackman & Eastop, 2000). Blackman & Eastop (2000) considered this aphid to be entirely anholocyclic, because no sexual morphs have ever been observed in the field.peer-reviewe

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) associated with native trees in Malta (Central Mediterranean)

In the present study 25 aphid species which are known to be associated with trees in the Maltese Islands are recorded. Of these, 18 species represent new records; these include Aphis craccivora, Brachyunguis tamaricis, Cavariella aegopodii, Chaitophorus capreae, C. populialbae, Cinara cupressi, C. maghrebica, C. palaestinensis, Essigella californica, Eulachnus rileyi, E. tuberculostemmatus, Hoplocallis picta, Lachnus roboris, Myzocallis schreiberi, Tetraneura nigriabdominalis, Thelaxes suberi, Tinocallis takachihoensis and Tuberolachnus salignus. A number of the above mentioned species alternate hosts between the primary host, being the tree species, and secondary hosts being mainly roots of grasses. The record of Tetraneura ulmi could be incorrect and could possibly be referred to T. nigriabdominalis. Most of the aphid species recorded in the present study have restricted distribution in the Maltese Islands due to the rarity of their host trees. This is particularly so for those aphids associated with Populus, Quercus, Salix and Ulmus whose conservation should be addressed.peer-reviewe

Present status of aphid studies in Malta (Central Mediterranean) with special reference to tree dwelling species.

A critical review of aphid literature dealing with Maltese records revealed the presence of 50 species. Most of these records were included in local journals, some of which not accessible to the rest of the scientific community. Because of this, the Fauna Europaea Project and other works about aphids in Europe included only a few aphid records from Malta. In the present paper all names are corrected and updated and doubtful records have been highlighted. Although many species of trees which are known to host aphids are lacking in Malta, and those present are often rare and with confined distributions, aphid records total 25 species and most of these aphids can be considered as locally rare.peer-reviewe

Greenidea Ficicola : is it an example of rapid colonization due to climatic changes?

In recent years, several species of aphids of tropical or subtropical origins are being found outside their native range. The reasons for the accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of these aphids in new territories remain obscure. In most cases the accidental introduction of these rather small and cryptic species are often linked to human activities (such as international trade of plants and plant products) but other factors such as global warming may aid in the dispersal of such organisms. In the present work, the rapid colonization of Greenidea ficicola Takahashi, an aphid native to the Oriental Region, in different regions of the world (Afrotropics, Nearctic, Neotropics and Southern Europe) is documented.peer-reviewe

Aphids associated with shrubs, herbaceous plants and crops in the Maltese Archipelago (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea)

A survey of the aphids associated with Maltese shrubs, herbaceous plants and crops was carried out. Sixty six aphid species were recorded from more than 90 species of host plants. Forty eight aphids were recorded from the Maltese islands for the fi rst time bringing the total number of aphid species known from these islands to 99. New records include: Acyrthosiphon lactucae, A. pisum, Anoecia vagans, Aphis alienus, A. euphorbiae, A. hederae, A. lambersi, A. multifl orae, A. nasturtii, A. parietariae, A. picridicola, A. ruborum, A. sedi, Aulacorthum solani, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Capitophorus sp. nr. similis, Clypeoaphis suaedae, Cryptomyzus korschelti, Dysaphis apiifolia, D. foeniculus, D. pyri, D. tulipae, Hyadaphis coriandri, H. foeniculi, H. passerinii, Hyperomyzus lactucae, Idiopterus nephrelepidis, Macrosiphoniella absinthii, M. artemisiae, M. sanborni, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Ma. rosae, Melanaphis donacis, Metopolophium dirhodum, Pterochloroides persicae, Rectinasus buxtoni, Rhopalosiphum maidis, R. padi, R. rufi abdominale, Schizaphis graminum, Semiaphis dauci, Sipha maydis, Sitobion avenae, S. fragariae, Therioaphis alatina, Uroleucon inulae, U. hypochoeridis and U. sonchi. Of these 99 aphid species, 58 are of economic importance and 16 are alien introductions. For 15 of the aphid species, a total of 22 new host-plant records are made. Ten species of ants were found attending 18 aphid species.peer-reviewe

First record of the yellow sugarcane aphid Sipha flava (Forbes) (Hemiptera Aphididae) in the European continent

The yellow sugarcane aphid Sipha flava (Forbes) is recorded for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula and also in the European continent, on the common thatching grass Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf in Oliver, in two localities of Catalonia (La Selva del Camp and Blanes, provinces of Tarragona and Girona, respectively; NE Spain). Data on its biology and distribution worldwide and notes on its pest behaviour are given. Sipha flava had been recorded previously from Azores Islands (in 1979), and recently from Morocco (in 2008)

A New aphid species (Hemiptera Aphididae) living on Centaurea from Iran

Macrosiphoniella (Papillomyzus) iranica sp. n. (Aphididae Macrosiphini) is described from Iranian apterous viviparous females caught on Centaurea sp. and conserved in the Natural History Museum in London and in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris. The features of the new species are compared with those of the other 6 species of the subgenus Papillomyzus which are hosted on Centaurea and on other Cardueae, Cynareae or Anthemideae (Asteraceae) species and are distributed along a Mediterrean-Pontian-Turanian-East Palaeartic band