Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a serious invasive crop pest native to Asia and currently widespread in many parts of the globe. However, little information is available on its seasonal abundance in southern Italian fruit crops, including Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy). Here, we aimed at investigating i) the pest seasonal flight activity, ii) its population genetics, and iii) the potential occurrence of associated parasitoids. To this end, traps were deployed in five locations of strawberry and cherry districts of East and North-West sides of the Mount Etna for one year. In addition, host-parasitoid interactions with wasp species sampled by sentinel fruit trapping were investigated under laboratory conditions. The East locations were warmer than the North-West ones, and flies were captured all year except in August. In the North-West locations no flies were caught during the winter. Fly captures peaked in late spring and autumn in all locations. Sequencing of a portion of the mithocondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) from individuals of D. suzukii indicated a population genetic identity suggesting a single source of invasion. The field trapping revealed the occurrence of one larval parasitoid, Leptopilina boulardi (Barbotin, Carton and Kelner-Pillault) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), and two pupal parasitoids, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Trichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae). Nevertheless, only the pupal parasitoids were able to successfully develop on D. suzukii in laboratory bioassays. While obtained results indicate that climatic conditions strongly affect the local fly population and represent the bases for developing sustainable D. suzukii management programs, native parasitoid impact on pest population dynamic should be further investigated in this region-specific context.

BACKGROUND Aphis gossypii is a worldwide agricultural pest that causes high levels of economic losses by feeding and transmitting virus diseases. It is usually controlled by chemical insecticides, but this could lead to the selection of resistant populations. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified associated with insecticide resistance. Monitoring activities to detect the presence of such mutations in field populations can have an important role in insect pest management but, currently, no information on Italian strains is available. RESULTS The presence of target site mutations conferring resistance to different insecticides was analysed in Italian field collected populations of A. gossypii with an allele specific approach (QSGG, Qualitative Sybr-Green Genotyping). Primers were designed to detect mutations in genes coding acetylcholinesterase (S431F), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (R81T) and voltage-gated sodium channel (M918L and L1014F). S431F was widespread but with high variability across populations. R81T was detected for the first time in Italy but only in two populations. The L1014F mutation (kdr) was not found, while in the samples showing the M918L two different nucleotidic substitutions were detected. Mutant allele frequencies were, respectively, 0.70 (S431), 0.31 (M918) and 0.02 (R81). Further analysis on the voltage-gated sodium channel gene showed the presence of eight haplotypes and one non-synonymous mutation in the gene coding region. CONCLUSION Multiple target-site mutations were detected within Italian populations. The combinations of genotypes observed in certain locations could affect negatively the control of this pest. Preliminary insights on the genetic structure in the Italian populations of A. gossypii were acquired. (c) 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

This dataset assesses the response of eggplant plants to 3 conditions: noninfested control plants, plants infested by Bemisia tabaci whitefly, and plants infested by Bemisia tabaci where Macrolophus pygmaeus plant bug was also released. The data of the various parameters relating to the responses of the different eggplant plants to the three tested conditions were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA. Where significant differences were detected, the means were separated by Tukey’s HSD test (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis was carried out using the program Statistica (StatSoft, TIBCO Software Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). The provided dataset was used in the investigation of whether the Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) plant bug can mitigate the damage caused to plants by the Bemisia tabaci whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). A discussion and interpretation of the data, as well as subsequent results, is provided in the scientific publication "Can Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) Mitigate the Damage Caused to Plants by Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)?", published in the Insects journal. This research was conducted within the VIRTIGATION project, which is part of the EU Open Research Data pilot. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101000570.

Nowadays, in protected vegetable crops, pest management based mainly on biological control represents the most sustainable alternative to pesticide use. The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is one of the key pests that negatively impact the yield and quality of such crops in many agricultural systems. The predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus is one of the main natural enemies of the whitefly and is widely used for its control. However, the mirid can sometimes behave as a pest itself, causing damage to crops. In this study, we investigated the impact of M. pygmaeus as a plant feeder, by analyzing the combined impact of the whitefly pest and the predator bug on the morphology and physiology of potted eggplants under laboratory conditions. Our results showed no statistical differences between the heights of plants infested by the whitefly or by both insects compared with noninfested control plants. However, indirect chlorophyll content, photosynthetic performance, leaf area, and shoot dry weight were all greatly reduced in plants infested only by B. tabaci, compared with those infested by both pest and predator or with noninfested control plants. Contrarily, root area and dry weight values were more reduced in plants exposed to both of the insect species, compared with those infested only by the whitefly or compared with noninfested control plants, where the latter showed the highest values. These results show how the predator can significantly reduce the negative effects of B. tabaci infestation, limiting the damage it causes to host plants, though the effect of the mirid bug on the underground parts of the eggplant remains unclear. This information might be useful for a better understanding of the role that M. pygmaeus plays in plant growth, as well as for the development of management strategies to successfully control infestations by B. tabaci in cropping environments.

Bemisia tabaci is a group of cryptic and morphologically indistinguishable species able to cause severe damage to many agricultural and ornamental plants. Among the various species of this complex, the Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species stand out as they are highly polyphagous, invasive, easily in acquiring resistance to many insecticides and reproduce quickly. Considering how (1) the geographic distribution of B. tabaci is changing with the ongoing global climate change and (2) no knowledge is presently available on phylogenetics of whitefly endosymbionts in Sicily, a population survey was conducted in the most important horticultural production areas of the island to assess the species composition within the B. tabaci complex, including their endosymbiont community and their geographic distribution. Our results show that the MEAM1 species and two mitochondrial variants of B. tabaci MED are present in pure or mixed populations, the MED Q1 presents the highest level of genetic variability within the MED populations in Sicily, having been found almost across the island and, MED Q2 was nearly exclusively detected in the Ragusa province. MEAM1 individuals were rare and exclusively detected in two localities in the Trapani province. The survey on endosymbionts community revealed the existence of a species specific composition, showing the lowest endosymbiont diversity in MED Q2 populations, typically characterized by only Rickettsia. Moreover, except for Portiera in MEAM1, no sequence variation was found within any endosymbiont sequence. Co-infection patterns of different endosymbiont species are discussed in the context of their needs for host cell metabolites. The present study defines an updated distribution map of cryptic species and phylogenetic groups of the B. tabaci complex and the first status on the endosymbiont community in Sicily; but it also represents the first report of whitefly endosymbionts sequences not only from Sicily but from Italy as a whole.

During surveys in citrus groves infested by Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) in Sicily (Italy), an exotic ladybug was detected. The species was identified through morphological and molecular techniques as Serangium montazerii Fürsch (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), which is known to be a natural enemy of whiteflies. Taxonomic and historical notes on the spread of the species are given. The predator is reported feeding on A. spiniferus for the first time and may play an important role in the biological control of the whitefly.

This datasheet on Therioaphis tenera covers Identity, Overview, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Ovatomyzus boraginacearum covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Dysaphis lappae cynarae covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

The aphid Myzocallis macrolepidis sp. n. is described from the Apulia region, Italy, where it was collected on Quercus macrolepis. The new taxon has a pale-yellow colour in life as alate viviparous females and paler nymphs. Its life cycle remains unknown at present, as sexual morphs were not yet collected; nevertheless, being the aphid host plant a deciduous oak species, very probably the insect performs a monoecious holocycle. Morphologically most similar aphids are M. occidentalis and M. schreiberi from which the new species can be mainly distinguished by the different ratio of last rostral joint to second hind tarsomer and a few other morphological and ecological features. The molecular analysis also confirms the genetic difference of the new taxon from the other allied congeneric species, and molecular differences are briefly discussed.

The genus Myzocallis Passerini (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Calaphidinae, Myzocallidini) is a rather primitive group of aphids currently comprising 45 species and 3 subspecies, subdivided into ten subgenera, three of them having a West Palaearctic distribution. The majority of the species inhabit Fagales plants and some of them are considered pests. Despite their ecological interest and the presence of some taxonomic controversies, there are only a few molecular studies on the group. Here, the main aims were to develop a DNA barcodes library for the molecular identification of West Palaearctic Myzocallis species, to evaluate the congruence among their morphological, ecological and DNA-based delimitation, and verify the congruence of the subgeneric subdivision presently adopted by comparing the results with those obtained for other Panaphidini species. These study findings indicate that Myzocallis (Agrioaphis) leclanti, originally described as a subspecies of M. (A.) castanicola and M. (M.) schreiberi, considered as a subspecies of M. (M.) boerneri, should be regarded at a rank of full species, and the subgenera Agrioaphis, Lineomyzocallis, Neomyzocallis, Pasekia were elevated to the rank of genus, while Myzocallis remain as such.

This datasheet on Tinocallis himalayensis covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Prociphilus oleae covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Semiaphis heraclei covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Delphiniobium junackianum covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Macrosiphum daphnidis covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Prociphilus mexicanus covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Protaphis anuraphoides covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.