Comparison of Three Attractants for the Effective Capture of Xylotrechus chinensis Adults in Multi-Funnel Traps.

The Asian coleopteran Xylotrechus chinensis (Chevrolat) (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) is an invasive species in several European countries, attacking mulberry trees. In the current research, we evaluated the performance of three mixtures consisting of pheromones and attractants for the monitoring of X. chinensis adults. Attractant 1 (i.e., geranyl acetone, fuscumol acetate, fuscumol, monochamol, 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, 2-methyl-1-butanol, anti-2,3-hexanediol, prionic acid + ethanol), attractant 2 (i.e., geranyl acetone, fuscumol acetate, fuscumol, monochamol, 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, 2-methyl-1-butanol, anti-2,3-hexanediol, prionic acid + α-pinene + ethanol) and attractant 3 (i.e., geranyl acetone, fuscumol acetate, fuscumol, monochamol, 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one, 2-methyl-1-butanol, anti-2,3-hexanediol, prionic acid + α-pinene + ipsenol + ethanol) were baited in multi-funnel traps and installed in mulberries for a two-year period in Athens (Greece). The flight activity of X. chinensis starts at the end of April and terminates at the end of October. The peaks of X. chinensis flight activity were observed on 16 August 2021 and on 6 July 2022. Attractant 3 proved to be the most effective blend, catching 953 adults, followed by attractant 2 (523 adults) and attractant 1 (169 adults), throughout the experimental period. It seems that the pest was not attracted to the basic part of the blend (i.e., pheromones + ethanol). The incorporation of α-pinene and ipsenol resulted in the elevated activity of the base lure. The elevated performance of attractant 3 may be attributed to only the α-pinene and the ipsenol, or possibly the α-pinene, ipsenol, and ethanol, because the pheromone blend did not contain any of the pheromone components of the target species. Overall, attractant 3 could be a useful tool to detect and track X. chinensis in new invasive areas, triggering early management strategies against further establishment of this species.

Trunk Injection with Insecticides Manages Xylotrechus chinensis (Chevrolat) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Xylotrechus chinensis (Chevrolat) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a serious wood-boring insect of mulberry trees (Morus spp.). Larvae of this species enter the trunk of the tree and feed on woody tissues. Xylotrechus chinensis is endemic in several Asian countries, while, in the last decade, it invaded Europe. In the present work, we evaluated trunk injection against this pest. The systemic insecticides fipronil, imidacloprid, and spirotetramat were used in the trials. Abamectin was used as a positive control since it has been found to be effective for the management of X. chinensis. Imidacloprid and fipronil proved to be highly effective against this species in both years (9.5 and 12.1 exit holes/tree in 2021, 5.0 and 8.8 exit holes/tree in 2022, respectively), while spirotetramat was the least effective. The lowest mean number of exit holes was recorded when abamectin was applied in both years (4.7 exit holes/tree in 2021 and 3.3 exit holes/tree in 2022). The percentage of exit holes was reduced by 76.1, 71.8, and 85.6% in trees treated with imidacloprid, fipronil, and abamectin, respectively, after two years of application, while spirotetramat caused a 37.4% reduction. Trunk injection with imidacloprid, fipronil, and abamectin could be used against X. chinensis for long-term control of mulberry trees.

Geographical Distribution and Long-Term Monitoring of Physokermes hellenicus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) on Abies spp. (Pinales: Pinaceae) in Greece.

The scale Physokermes hellenicus (Kozár & Gounari) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) has been recently included in the Greek entomofauna as a beneficial honeydew species. However, there are no adequate data about its geographical distribution and degree of infestation. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine these parameters in fifteen mountains of Greece. Furthermore, the monitoring of P. hellenicus infestation was carried out over a six-year period with regard to natural enemies and honeydew presence at three mountains (i.e., Menalon, Parnis and Tymfristos) that are traditional honeybee foraging areas. An extensive geographical distribution of the scale was negatively correlated with the latitude. Over the period of the study, P. hellenicus infestation exhibited a decreasing trend in the three mountains, which was more obvious at Menalon. The abundance of natural enemies of P. hellenicus, their effectiveness on honeydew excretion and the fecundity of P. hellenicus are discussed. The reduction in the honey produced at the Menalon mountain (a protected designation of origin product) could be attributed to the reduced presence of P. hellenicus in the fir forest. Among the other identified arthropods, Dreyfusia nordmannianae Eckstein (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) is reported for the first time infesting Abies cephalonica (Pinales: Pinaceae) in Greece. Furthermore, this species is reported for the first time as a co-parasite with P. hellenicus on A. cephalonica in Greece. Since D. nordmannianae is a serious pest, additional research is needed to determine its status in Greek fir forest ecosystems.

Effect of Processed Beverage By-Product-Based Diets on Biological Parameters, Conversion Efficiency and Body Composition of Hermetia illucens (L) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

The effect of spent coffee grounds (SCG), brewer's spent grains (BSG) and their mixtures with the addition of brewer's yeast (BY) were tested in two rearing densities of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (L.). Different treatments were investigated on larval development, survival, yield, protein conversion (PrCR) and bioconversion rate (BCR), substrate mass reduction and body composition of the insect. BSF larvae were able to develop sufficiently in all diets, except on sole SCG. The addition of BY enhanced the performance properties of diets, especially in the case of SCG, where larvae underperformed. Substrate mass reduction, PrCR and BCR were affected only by feed and exhibited higher values on reference feed, followed by BSG and SCG+BSG enriched with BY. Density did not have a significant effect on various larval nutrients, except for fat, which was higher on larvae fed enriched feeds with BY and in the 300 larval density. The interaction between feed and density strongly affected the nitrogen and protein levels, larval yield and ash. Generally, diets which contained SCG exhibited high larval crude protein levels. Our results illustrate that low value beverage by-products can be successfully utilized as constituents of a successful BSF diet.

Parasitoids and Predators of Physokermes hellenicus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in Greece.

The genus Physokermes Targioni Tozzetti includes species that are distributed in the Holarctic region and feed on conifers. The recently described scale Physokermes hellenicus (Kozár and Gounari) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is an endemic species of Greece whose host plants are fir trees of the genus Abies (Pinales: Pinaceae). It is considered as beneficial scale insect species since its honeydew secretions are exploited by honeybees leading to the production of a special honey with important physicochemical characteristics. Since there are no previous data on the natural enemies of P. hellenicus, an investigation was carried out during 2013 in forested areas of eight mountains in south and central Greece aiming to correlate the presence of P. hellenicus with certain parasitoids and predators. Seven species of Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Pteromalidae, and Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera); five species of Anthribidae and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera); and four species of Dictinidae, Linyphiidae, and Theridiidae (Araneae) were identified. Twelve of them were identified at the species level while four at the genus level. Among them Microterys lunatus (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Pseudorhopus testaceus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), and Anthribus fasciatus Forster (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) were the most abundant natural enemies of P. hellenicus adult female while Metaphycus unicolor Hoffer (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Trichomasthus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) were found to parasitize P. hellenicus male nymph. Cinetata gradata (Simon) (Araneae: Linyphiidae) is reported for first time in the Greek arachnofauna. Our results suggest that the abundance of the fir scale P. hellenicus could be affected by a complex of parasitoid and predator species of different taxa. Future long-term research on these species in relation with abiotic factors would help to understand possible fluctuation of the scale's population.

The genus Eustigmaeus Berlese (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from Greece.

The present study summarizes the previous limited knowledge on the genus Eustigmaeus from Greece. Based on material collected from many localities, nine species are recorded from Greece for the first time and four species, Eustigmaeus irregularis sp. nov., E. fantinoui sp. nov., E. microvacuolatus sp. nov., and E. capitatus sp. nov. are described as new to science. Additionally, males of five known species of Eustigmaeus are described for the first time. A list of the world species of the genus Eustigmaeus and a key to species of this genus recorded in Greece are provided.

Four new records and two new species of Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Turkey, with a key to the Turkish species.

Four species of phytoseiid mites namely Neoseiulus knappi Zannou, Moraes, Ueckermann & Oliveira, Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) octogenipilus Kreiter, Tixier & Duso, Typhlodromus (T.) phialatus Athias-Henriot, and Typhloseiella isotricha (Athias-Henriot) are recorded for the first time from Turkey. Two new species Neoseiulus sekeroglui Döker & Stathakis n. sp. and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) antakyaensis Stathakis & Döker n. sp. are described and illustrated. A key to the all known phytoseiid species for the Turkish fauna is also provided.

A new record and a new species of the genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from Greece.

The genus Agistemus Summers (Acari: Stigmaeidae) is reported for the first time in Greece. Agistemus duzgunesae Koç, Çobanoglu & Madanlar, a new record for the Greek fauna, is re-described and illustrated based on specimens collected from various plants. Furthermore, Agistemus macrosetosus Stathakis & Kapaxidi n. sp. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Rubus sp. A list of all species of the genus Agistemus is provided. 

Two new species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from greece with re-description of Neoseiulus leucophaeus (Athias-Henriot).

Two new species, Neoseiulus elisiensis n. sp. and Neoseiulus neomarginatus n. sp., are described from Greece. Neoseiulus leucophaeus (Athias-Henriot) is re-described and illustrated based on specimens collected on Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. A key to all species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes reported from Greece is provided.

Influence of selected fruit tree pollen on life history of Euseius stipulatus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot) is a predatory mite widespread in the Mediterranean region considered to be important for the biological control of spider mites in citrus orchards. Development, survival and reproduction of this phytoseiid mite feeding on seven commercially obtained pollen were studied under constant laboratory conditions (20 +/- 1 degrees C, RH 65 +/- 5%, photoperiod 16L: 8D h). Mites were kept individually at rearing units with ample quantity of almond (Prunus amygdalus Batch), apple (Malus domestica Borkh), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), cherry (Prunus avium L.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), plum (Prunus domestica L.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.) pollen as food source. Developmental time from egg to adult varied between the several pollen tested from 8.38 +/-0.08 to 9.58 +/- 0.11 days for females and from 8.23 +/-0.12 and 9.07 +/-0.12 days for males. Female longevity varied from 11.53 +/- 1.22 to 51.38 +/- 2.45 days, while fecundity ranged from 22.84 +/- 2.30 to 43.61 +/- 3.78 eggs/female. The predator was unable to reproduce when feeding on walnut pollen. Data were submitted to life table analysis and values of the intrinsic rate of increase were derived, ranging from 0.079 to 0.146 (day(-1)). The cumulative Weibull function that was used to describe the age specific survival of females produced excellent fits to the survival data. Results show that almond, plum, cherry and apricot pollen possess higher nutritional value for E. stipulatus than pear and apple pollen and thus may contribute in sustaining and increasing the predator population in field conditions. Walnut pollen can be utilized by the predator only to survive during short periods of time when principal or alternative food sources are scarce.