The Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) of Greece

Keys for the identification of genera and species of the subfamily Aphidiinae which occur in Greece as well as the observed parasitoid — aphid relations on various host plants are presented.     

A new<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidius</Emphasis> species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) from high-montane areas of southeastern Europe

Aphidius montenegrinus sp.n. from Serbia and Montenegro is described and illustrated. It parasitizedAcyrthosiphon daphnidis Ilharco, onDaphne alpina L. The parasitoid was described and illustrated using scanning electron microscope photographs and line drawing. The new species is a member of theAcyrthosiphon aphid parasitoid guild and was collected from Zabojsko Jezero Lake in Montenegro. The parasitoid and the hyperparasitoid spectrum ofA. daphnidis are presented for the first time. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting April 30, 2004.     

A new<Emphasis Type="Italic">Praon</Emphasis> species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Uroleucon</Emphasis> parasitoid complex from the mediterranean area

A new hymenopteran aphid parasitoid species (Praon uroleucon sp. n.) fromUroleucon sp. infestingCarduus acanthoides L. is described from Yugoslavia. It is diagnosed and illustrated with scanning electron microscope photographs and line drawings. The new species is placed in thePraon dorsale species group, and a key to species of that group is provided. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 9, 2002.     

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on weeds from Ankara, Turkey

Studies were conducted during the years 2001–2003 to determine the parasitoids of Aphidoidea (Homoptera) species on weeds in Ankara province. Six genera and ten species of aphid parasitoids belonging to Braconidae were determined. The tritrophic associations of plant/aphid/parasitoid were analyzed. Forty-four associations of aphidiinae wasps, host aphids and host plants new to the Mediterranean region and 71 new associations for Turkish fauna were reported. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2005.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dittrichia viscosa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus ulmifolius</Emphasis> as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the role of certain Coccinellid species

The role of the self-sown shrubsDittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter andRubus ulmifolius Schott as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids was investigated. In the field studies conducted,D. viscosa grew adjacent to crops of durum wheat and barley andR. ulmifolius grew adjacent to cotton. The relative abundance of the parasitoids of(a) Capitophorus inulae (Passerini) onD. viscosa, (b) Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) on durum wheat and barley,(c) Aphis ruborum (Börner) onR. ulmifolius, and(d) Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton in various parts of Greece, was assessed during the years 1996–2000. In 2000, the fluctuation of parasitization of the above four aphid species was recorded and the action of the aphidophagous predators of the family Coccinellidae was studied. It was observed thatAphidius matricariae Haliday predominated onC. inulae andR. padi in all sampling cases. In contrast,Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the dominant species parasitizingA. ruborum onR. ulmifolius andA. gossypii on cotton in Thessaly (central Greece) and Macedonia (northern Greece), whereasLysiphlebus confusus Tremblay et Eady andBinodoxys acalephae (Marshall) were the dominant parasitoid species in Thrace (northern Greece).Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus was the most abundant coccinellid species on durum wheat, whereasAdonia variegata (Goeze) predominated on cotton. However, coccinellid individuals were scarce on bothD. viscosa andR. ulmifolius. The present study indicated that these two shrubs can be regarded as useful reservoirs of aphid parasitoids.     

Growth loss of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) stands as related to periodic outbreaks of the cedar shoot moth (Dichelia cedricola)

An outbreak ofDichelia cedricola (Diakonoff) (Lep.: Tortricidae), the cedar shoot moth (CSM), began in spring 1998 and lasted 3 years. This was the first monitored outbreak of the CSM in Isparta, Turkey. Tree crowns recovered to near normal condition by the middle of each growing season (in early June) during the outbreak. Tree volume and volume element increments were examined throughout the outbreak cycle from 1954 to 2001. In the past, CSM activity in stands of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) was assessed through radial increment analyses. Cedar tree ring chronologies were analyzed for evidence of the CSM. Tree-ring chronologies from nonhost cedar (nondefoliated sample trees) were used to estimate potential growth in the host cedar (defoliated sample trees) during current and past outbreaks; all trees selected were the same subspecies and varieties. Regional outbreaks of the CSM were identified by synchronous and sustained growth periods of the trees. In 2001, increment cores were collected from 17 host and 16 nonhost dominant or codominant trees and annual radial growth indices from 1954–2001 were calculated for each of two host and two nonhost sample plots. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height, and volume increment, and were graphically compared between CSM host cedar and nonhost cedar trees. Tree ring evidence suggests that a large-scale outbreak occurred in 1955 (from 1955 to 1966) and a small outbreak occurred in 1985 (1985–1990) and in 1998 (1998-continued) in the study area. The average diameter growth reductions around 1955, 1985 and 1998 were 40%, 46% and 7% of potential, respectively. It was concluded that a narrow latewood band is significant indicator of defoliation by the CSM and the outbreaks appear to be associated with dry winter and spring weather prior to the autumn and winter in which wood feeding occurred. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 24, 2004.     

利用管氏肿腿蜂防治光肩星天牛技术研究

光肩星天牛Anoplophora glabripennis是我国重大的森林害虫,对我国造林绿化和林业生态工程建设造成了严重危害。由于其为蛀干害虫,隐蔽性生活,难以防治。利用天敌开展生物防治是控制天牛的重要措施,作者研究探讨了利用管氏肿腿蜂Sclerodermus guani防治光肩星天牛技术。测定了管氏肿腿蜂对光肩星天牛1~3龄幼虫的室内控制作用,研究了林间防治防治技术。结果表明,在室内试验条件下,管氏肿腿蜂由于是抑性外寄生性,其产卵之前的刺蛰可造成天牛幼虫直接死亡,对1、2、3龄幼虫的平均致死率分别为100%、92.10%和87.29%;可寄生3龄天牛幼虫。在管氏肿腿蜂防治光肩星天牛小幼虫的林间试验中,管氏肿腿蜂对光肩星天牛小幼虫的致死率为27.79%~37.87%,平均为32.51%,放蜂比例以蜂虫比8~10:1的寄生率最高。     

The side-effects of pesticides onDiaeretiella rapae, a parasitoid of the turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi)

Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh.) is an endoparasite of the turnip aphid,Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) with a wide geographical distribution. The four Pesticides Nogos 50 EC at 600 ml per acre, Dimecron 50 WSC, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL at 500 ml per acre, used in practice for the control of this pest, were tested for their side-effects onD. rapae. The parasitoid was reared on pottedBrassica napus plants infested with aphid under laboratory conditions (22±2°C, 60–70% rel. hum., 16 h light and 8 h dark). In one test, adult female parasitoids were exposed to fresh pesticide residues on glass plates and in another test, the pupae within aphid mummies were directly sprayed. The results revealed that Dimecron 50 WSC, Nogos 50 EC and Monofos 40 WSC were harmful causing 100% mortalitv toD. rapae followed by Tamaron 600 SL (97% moderately harmful) after 24 hours of application, compared to no mortality in control, where only water was sprayed. Directly spraying of pupae with Dimecron 50 WSC and Nogos 50 EC reduced adult parasitoid emergence to 9 and 7%, respectively, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL to 3% compared to 78% emergence for the control within one week of treatment. The results showed that none of the tested pesticides was safe toD. rapae and according to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) further testing under semi-field and field conditions is recommended.     

Two new species of egg parasitoids (hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) of wood-boring beetle pests from China

Oobius agrili sp.n. andAvetianella xystrocerae sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are described from China. Morphological characters of the new species are illustrated.O. agrili is an egg parasitoid of the emerald ash borerAgrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) andA. xystrocerae is an egg parasitoid of the wood borerXystrocera globosa (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The two new species are potential biocontrol agents of economically important pest insects. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (IZCAS). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 17, 2005.     

Anselmella malacia, a new pest wasp (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) reared fromSyzygium samarangense in Malaysia

A new pest wasp,Anselmella malacia Xiao & Huang sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is described fromSyzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry. The larvae ofAnselmella are phytophagous and develop as seed-eaters of some species ofSyzygium. This is the first record of anAnselmella species reared fromSyzygium samarangense. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Hymenopteran Parasitoids on Fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Latin America and the Southern United States: Diversity, Distribution, Taxonomic Status and their use in Fruit Fly Biological Control

We first discuss the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of the Neotropics. Even though the emphasis is on Anastrepha parasitoids, we also review all the information available on parasitoids attacking flies in the genera Ceratitis, Rhagoletis, Rhagoletotrypeta, Toxotrypana and Zonosemata. We center our analysis in parasitoid guilds, parasitoid assemblage size and fly host profiles. We also discuss distribution patterns and the taxonomic status of all known Anastrepha parasitoids. We follow by providing a historical overview of biological control of pestiferous tephritids in Latin American and Florida (U.S.A.) and by analyzing the success or failure of classical and augmentative biological control programs implemented to date in these regions. We also discuss the lack of success of introductions of exotic fruit fly parasitoids in various Latin American countries. We finish by discussing the most pressing needs related to fruit fly biological control (classical, augmentative, and conservation modalities) in areas of the Neotropics where fruit fly populations severely restrict the development of commercial fruit growing. We also address the need for much more intensive research on the bioecology of native fruit fly parasitoids.     

Ecological Studies on the Larger Grain Borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col.: Bostrichidae) and their Implications for Integrated Pest Management

In this article, we review studies of the ecology of the larger grain borer, Protephanus truncatus, both outside and within the maize storage systems. Laboratory studies have shown that P. truncatus can breed on a wide range of woody substrates (branches, roots, and seeds). Pheromone trap catches in different habitats strongly suggest that P. truncatus is well-established in certain non-agricultural environments, presumably breeding in dead or dying wood. In Meso-America, West and East Africa, P. truncatus reproduction in the field has been documented in branches ring-barked by cerambycid beetles. Within a maize store, P. truncatus densities can increase from very small initial colonies of probably less than 200 individuals to densities in excess of 1000 beetles per kg after about 4–6 months of storage. Insect parasitoids are very often found in smallholders' grain stores attacked by P. truncatus, but they do not contribute significantly to population regulation. Declines in maize store population levels in Benin from 1993 to 1996, and in adult abundance in pheromone traps in the natural environment in Kenya, have been attributed to predation by the introduced predator, Teretrius nigrescens, but in recent years pheromone trap catches in West Africa suggest that the situation may be complex. Several environmental factors, notably temperature, humidity, and daylength, and their interactions, have been correlated with P. truncatus flight activity, as well as, in West Africa, the emptying of maize stores. Laboratory experiments have shown food quality also affects flight activity. Factors terminating dispersal and flight are most likely attraction to the male-released aggregation pheromone. Short range attraction to plant volatiles has also been recorded. In Africa the highest densities of P. truncatus tend to occur in humid lowlands, which contrasts with the situation in meso-America where P. truncatus tend to occur in greatest numbers in cooler upland regions. Pheromone trap catches can be significant predictors of the risk of stores becoming infested. Coupled with the development of a rule-based model of flight activity, these studies may offer the prospect of predicting the risk of store infestation based upon temperature and humidity measurements.     

Pseudomonas syringae pv. avii (pv. nov.), the Causal Agent of Bacterial Canker of Wild Cherries (Prunus avium) in France

Bacterial strains isolated from cankers of wild cherry trees (Prunus avium) in France were characterized using numerical taxonomy of biochemical tests, DNA–DNA hybridization, repeat sequence primed-PCR (rep-PCR) based on REP, ERIC and BOX sequences, heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) as well as pathogenicity on wild cherry trees and other species of Prunus. They were compared to reference strains of Pseudomonas syringae pathovars isolated from wild and sweet cherry and various host plants. Wild cherry strains were closely related to P. syringae (sensu lato) in LOPAT group Ia (+ - - - +). Wild cherry strains were pathogenic to wild cherry trees and produced symptoms similar to those observed in orchards. They were pathogenic also, but at a lesser extent, to sweet cherry trees (cv. Napoléon). The wild cherry strains were collected from five different areas in France and appeared to constitute a very homogeneous group. They showed an homogenous profile of a biochemical and physiological characteristics. They were closely related by DNA–DNA hybridization and belonged to genomospecies 3 `tomato'. Rep-PCR showed that wild cherry strains constitute a tight group distinct from P. s. pv. morsprunorum races 1 and 2 and from other P. syringae pathovars. HMA profiles indicated that the ITS of all wild cherry strains were identical but different from P. s. pv. persicae strains since the two heteroduplex bands with reduced mobility were generated by hybridization with the P. s. pv. persicae pathotype strain CFBP 1573. The 8 genomospecies of Gardan et al. (1999) have not been converted into formal species as they cannot be differentiated by biochemical tests. Therefore, the pathovar system within P. syringae was currently used. P. syringae pv. avii is proposed for this bacterium causing a wild cherry bacterial canker and strain CFBP 3846 (NCPPB 4290, ICMP 14479) is designated as the pathotype.     

Entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae, heterorhabditidae) as control agents forParahypopta caestrum, a pest in the culture ofAsparagus officinalis

The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs)Steinernema feltiae (under the trade name Entonem) andHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (under the trade name Larvanem) were evaluated as potential control agents ofParahypopta caestrum, the major pest of the asparagus crop in Greece. In laboratory experiments the two nematodes provided equal insect suppression, but significant differences were found in the time it took them to kill the larvae.S. feltiae caused high levels of mortality within 24 h and the highest level at 48 h. In contrast,H. bacteriophora required 96 h to achieve the highest level of mortality. In field experiments, the nematodes provided equal insect suppression as compared with the insecticide cadusaphos and the mixture teflubenzuron +Bacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki. No significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the insecticides used, but there were significant differences between the control and treatments. The findings showed thatS. feltiae andH. bacteriophora could be used to control the insectP. caestrum in asparagus culture. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 10, 2007.     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

A survey of the Eriococcidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of Ankara Province,Turkey

The Coccoidea of cultivated and non-cultivated areas of Ankara Province, in central Anatolia, Turkey, were surveyed between 1999 and 2001. Eleven species of Eriococcidae were collected, of which nine are new records for Turkey:Acanthococcus greeni Newstead,A. micracanthus Danzig,A. munroi Boratynski,A. roboris (Goux),A. zernae Tereznikova,Rhizococcus cingulatus (Kiritchenko),R. cynodontis (Kiritchenko),R. herbaceus Danzig andR. pseudinsignis (Green). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Sept. 30, 2003.     

Biological Control of the Hibiscus Mealybug, Maconellicoccus Hirsutus Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the Caribbean

The hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green, was first reported in the Caribbean in 1994 in Grenada. This was the first record of the insect as a major pest in the New World. By the beginning of 2001, the pest had spread to over 25 territories from Guyana and Venezuela in the South to Bahamas in the North. The pest has also extended its distribution to Central America (Belize) and North America (California, USA). Early attempts to control the pest using pesticides resulted in failure and a classical biological control approach was adopted. Several exotic natural enemies were introduced but control was attributed to Anagyrus kamali Moursi and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant. In all countries where biological control was implemented, this resulted in success. This paper reviews the remarkable success story. Information is provided on the distribution and factors leading to rapid spread of the pest, its pest status and resultant economic losses, and implementation of the biological control effort.     

Biological Control of the Larger Grain Borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Biological control was first considered shortly after the accidental introduction of Prostephanus truncatus in Africa in the early 1980's. This article reviews first the history of the biological control efforts with a focus on the results and recommendations of the initial international meetings and foreign exploration projects, followed by a discussion of the more important biocontrol agents, in particular the histerid Teretrius nigrescens. Since the release of T. nigrescens in Africa a number of techniques have been employed by different research groups to measure the effect of the natural enemy on P. truncatus, including pheromone trapping, field experiments, gut analysis grain store surveys, simulation modelling, and statistical and economic analysis the conclusions of these various studies have been largely equivocal, and the results of studies with recent data suggest that uncertainty is growing. Further resources and time are needed both for a proper evaluation and for the further development of control strategies compatible with biological control.     

Aloe ring spot,a new disease of aloe caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haematonectria haematococca</Emphasis> (Berk. &; Broome) Samuels &; Nirenberg (anamorph: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> sp.)

A ring spot disease of Aloe vera was found on leaves of potted seedlings of Aloe vera in Hachijojima and Chichijima Islands, Tokyo. From tissue of ring spot lesions, a fungus producing Fusarium-type conidia was consistently isolated. After 1 month, reddish perithecia of nectriaceous fungus had formed on the colonies of this isolate on PDA. These nectriaceous and Fusarium fungi were identified as Haematonectria haematococca and Fusarium sp., respectively. From a single ascospore isolation, the former was confirmed to be the teleomorph of the Fusarium sp. Typical ring spot lesions were reproduced by artificial inoculations using single ascospore and single conidium isolates. Inoculations of five species of genus Aloe revealed that they were highly susceptible except for A. arborescens. This is the first report of a disease on Aloe caused by H. haematococca (anamorph: Fusarium sp.) in Japan, and it was named aloe ring spot.     

Phylogenetic relationships between the lettuce root rot pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae races 1, 2, and 3 based on the sequence of the intergenic spacer region of its ribosomal DNA

The genetic relationship between the vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) and between physiological races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOL), the causal pathogen of lettuce root rot, was determined by analyzing the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of its ribosomal DNA. A total of 29 isolates containing a type strain were tested: 24 Japanese isolates, 2 Californian isolates, and 3 Italian isolates. Three races (races 1, 2, and 3) were found in Japan, and race 1 was also distributed in California and Italy. Races 1, 2, and 3 each belonged to a distinct VCG: VCG-1, VCG-2, and VCG-3 (VCG-3-1, VCG-3-3), respectively. Phylogenetic (neighbor-joining) analysis of the IGS sequences revealed that races 1, 2, and 3 coincided with three phylogenetic groups (PG): PG-1, PG-2, and PG-3, respectively. These results indicate that the three races are genetically quite different and have a strong correlation with VCGs and phylogenetic groupings. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession no. AB195218