The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Maltese Archipelago

Past works on scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from the Maltese Archipelago are reviewed. Based on the literature and contemporary collections, a total of 93 species of scale insects belonging to 12 scale insect families are here reported (Aclerdidae 1 species; Asterolecaniidae 4; Coccidae 17; Diaspididae 46; Eriococcidae 5; Kermesidae 1; Margarodidae 1; Micrococcidae 1; Monophlebidae 2; Pseudoccocidae 11; Putoidae 2 and Rhizoecidae 2). Of these, 17 species represent new distribution records. Ten species are excluded from the scale insect fauna of the Maltese Islands. Of the 93 species present, only 29 (31.18%) are probably indigenous and the rest (68.82%) represent established introductions from elsewhere. More than 65% of the indigenous species are typical Mediterranean in distribution, with a few species having a mainly European chorotype. A quarter of the established aliens originate from Eurasia, followed by an East Asian/ Oriental component (20.31%); European (14.06%); Neotropical (14.06%); cryptogenic (14.06%); African (7.81%) and Australasian (4.70%). Movement of live fruit trees and ornamental plants into the Maltese Archipelago from nearby countries is probably the main route for entry of alien scale insects into the country. Some possible future introductions are discussed.peer-reviewe

Reproductive biology of Holepyris sylvanidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

Holepyris sylvanidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is reported as a cosmopolitan parasitoid of coleopteran including a major pest of stored products, the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum. The reproductive biology, and hence biocontrol potential of H. sylvanidis is relatively little known. Here we describe and evaluate aspects of egg size, immature development, adult mating behaviour, pre-oviposition time, fecundity, host attack and use, and adult longevity. Our key findings are that ≈72% of presented T. confusum immatures presented to females were attacked and ≈39% of these were fed on destructively with the remainder oviposited onto. First instar host larvae and host pupae were only utilized for feeding, second and third instar larvae were commonly used for either feeding or oviposition while fourth, fifth and sixth instar hosts were almost exclusively used for oviposition. Females usually laid single egg clutches and their average lifetime fecundity was ≈16.5 eggs. Females regularly provisioned with hosts often ceased laying eggs up to several weeks before their death but continued to kill and feed on hosts during this period. Adult longevity was greatly enhanced by the provision of hosts (females) or by non-host food sources (males). We conclude that the inoculative biocontrol potential of H. sylvanidis is likely to be limited by a low realized fecundity and the combination with other control methods in an IPM-approach is needed. Its ability to find and kill hosts may make it more suitable for inundative deployment

Olfactory host location and host preference of Holepyris sylvanidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and Cephalonomia waterstoni (Bethylidae), two natural enemies of Tribolium and Cryptolestes species: Poster

Parasitoids can suppress populations of their host and thus play a primary role in Integrated Pest Management. In the stored product environment, stimuli deriving from plant products, damaged plant products and hosts might be important for host location by the parasitoids. We studied foraging cues in Holepyris sylvanidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a larval parasitoid of Tribolium species and Cephalonomia waterstoni (Bethylidae), a natural enemy of the rusty grain beetle Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae). Our studies in a fourchamber olfactometer revealed that the host complexes of both Tribolium species and different living host stages attract naive H. sylvanidis females, whereas no reaction was observed to uninfested substrates. The olfactory response of C. waterstoni was found to be strongly elicited both by chemicals emitted by the dust, adult C. ferrugineus and C. ferrugineus third and fourth instar larvae. Our findings may contribute to the development of biological control strategies of T. castaneum, T. confusum and C. ferrugineus with parasitoids.Parasitoids can suppress populations of their host and thus play a primary role in Integrated Pest Management. In the stored product environment, stimuli deriving from plant products, damaged plant products and hosts might be important for host location by the parasitoids. We studied foraging cues in Holepyris sylvanidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a larval parasitoid of Tribolium species and Cephalonomia waterstoni (Bethylidae), a natural enemy of the rusty grain beetle Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae). Our studies in a fourchamber olfactometer revealed that the host complexes of both Tribolium species and different living host stages attract naive H. sylvanidis females, whereas no reaction was observed to uninfested substrates. The olfactory response of C. waterstoni was found to be strongly elicited both by chemicals emitted by the dust, adult C. ferrugineus and C. ferrugineus third and fourth instar larvae. Our findings may contribute to the development of biological control strategies of T. castaneum, T. confusum and C. ferrugineus with parasitoids

A new Paracoccus species from Palaearctic region (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae)

A new mealybug species, Paracoccus leucadendri sp. nov., is described from Portugal. This is the first record of a Paracoccus species from Europe. It is suggested that its presence in Portugal is the result of a fortuitous introduction with its host plant, Leucadendron sp. (Proteaceae). An identification key is presented to distinguish this new Paracoccus species from other mealybug species reported on Proteaceae in the world

Life Fertility Tables of Piophila casei L. (Diptera: Piophilidae) Reared at Five Different Temperatures

Abstract Piophila casei L. or cheese skipper is a well-known fly with a controversial role: it is considered harmful in the food industries but important in nature as a detritivore and useful for studies in forensic entomology. The temperature response of P. casei was studied at five constant temperatures: 15, 19, 25, 28, and 32°C. The lowest mortality percentage of eggs was recorded at 15°C and the highest at 32°C. Conversely, less mortality was observed for maggots at higher temperatures. The developmental time from first instar to adult decreased with temperature reaching the lowest value at 32°C (13.7 d). Adult longevity was strongly affected by temperature, decreasing from 20.5 d at 15°C to 6.6 d at 32°C. Mean total fecundity per female was higher at 25°C and lower at 15 and 19°C, whereas the best performance in mean daily total fecundity per female was recorded at 32°C. Male longevity followed a similar trend to the one observed for females. The net reproductive rate (R0) was greatest at 25°C, where..

The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of the Maltese Archipelago

Abstract Past works on scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from the Maltese Archipelago are reviewed. Based on the literature and contemporary collections, a total of 93 species of scale insects belonging to 12 scale insect families are here reported (Aclerdidae 1 species; Asterolecaniidae 4; Coccidae 17; Diaspididae 46; Eriococcidae 5; Kermesidae 1; Margarodidae 1; Micrococcidae 1; Monophlebidae 2; Pseudoccocidae 11; Putoidae 2 and Rhizoecidae 2). Of these, 17 species represent new distribution records. Ten species are excluded from the scale insect fauna of the Maltese Islands. Of the 93 species present, only 29 (31.18%) are probably indigenous and the rest (68.82%) represent established introductions from elsewhere. More than 65% of the indigenous species are typical Mediterranean in distribution, with a few species having a mainly European chorotype. A quarter of the established aliens originate from Eurasia, followed by an East Asian/ Oriental component (20.31%); European (14.06%); Neotropical (14.06%); cryptogenic (14.06%); African (7.81%) and Australasian (4.70%). Movement of live fruit trees and ornamental plants into the Maltese Archipelago from nearby countries is probably the main route for entry of alien scale insects into the country. Some possible future introductions are discussed

AN UPDATED LIST OF THE SCALE INSECT (HEMIPTERA COCCOMORPHA) FAUNA OF SOME SICILIAN ENDEMIC PLANTS

In this study Authors report scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) species for the first time recorded on some endemic plants of Sicilian flora, namely, Abies nebrodensis Mattei (Pinaceae), Astragalus siculus Biv. (Leguminosae), Betula aetnensis Rafinesque (Betulaceae) and Zelkova sicula Di Pasquale Garfi & Quezel (Ulmaceae).Abies nebrodensis is present in a single small population on Madonie Mountains. On this conifer the fir scale Parlatoria parlatoriae (Šulc) (Diaspididae) was collected. On B. aetnensis, that colonizes the lava substrates of Etna Volcano mainly at 1300–1900 m.a.s.l., a consistent population of an undescribed Diaspidiotus species (currently being described) was collected. Moreover Lepidosaphes ulmi (Linnaeus) (Diaspididae) was detected and collected on A. siculus which is characteristic plant of the upper part of the volcano. Zelkova sicula is a very rare relict of  the Tertiary, belonging to a genus of plants already extinct in Continental Europe; with only two small populations living in restricted woodland areas in south oriental Sicily where two scale insects were collected: Aspidiotus nerii (Costa) (Diaspididae) and Parthenolecanium sp. (Coccidae)

A morphological and molecular characterization of vine mealybug populations (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) from Tunisia

Some vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) populations in Tunisian vineyards have been morphologically and genetically characterized. The morphological examination was based on the main distinctive characteristics of species of Planococcus, namely the number and distribution of the multilocular disc pores and tubular ducts on the adult female. This showed the existence of two different vine mealybug populations in Tunisia. Likewise, in the molecular analyses, two separate clades were revealed in the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree, supporting the morphological studies and suggesting that there are two distinct populations of P. ficus on grapevine in Tunisia

A survey of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) occurring on olives in Tunisia.

A survey performed in 2009 within 52 Tunisian olive groves, located in 17 different olive-growing sites, revealed the occurrence of six scale insects on olives. The identified species were: the armoured scales Aspidiotus nerii Bouché, Lepidosaphes ulmi (L.), and Parlatoria oleae (Colvée), the soft scales Saissetia oleae (Olivier) and Filippia follicularis (Targioni Tozzetti) and the mealybug species Peliococcus cycliger (Leonardi). The soft scale F. follicularis is a new record for the Tunisian insect fauna. A mong these species, S. oleae was the predominant scale insect occurring throughout olive groves of northeastern Tunisia, whereas the mealybug P. cycliger was by far the most abundant species within olives groves of the Northwest region of Tunisia. However, P. oleae was the least abundant species, being present in only one olive-growing site in northeastern Tunisia. L arvae of the noctuid moth Eublemma scitula (Rambur) were reported feeding on S. oleae and the coccinellid Chilocorus bipustulatus L . was found feeding on both S. oleae and A. nerii. The two hymenopteran species Scutellista cyanea Motschulsky and Metaphycus spp. were recorded as the main parasitoids of S. oleae