Logistic model for describing the pattern of flight of Kalotermes flavicollis in sherry vineyards

Kalotermes flavicollis is a serious pest in southern Spanish vineyards. The development of this termite is hidden inside galleries excavated along the wood of the vines. Dispersion is by the sexual adults, which emerge in autumn between September and November. These winged individuals constitute the main target to control the pest in integrated production. A logistic model based on the relationship existing between catches in sticky traps over 4 years and degree–days has been fitted for this termite in sherry vineyards in Andalucía. The results show that, above 548 accumulated degree–days, approximately 50% of winged individuals emerge. This information can help farmers to take control decisions.     

Braconidae (Hymenoptera) associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel

Data are presented on the occurrence of Braconidae (Hymenoptera parasitica) parasitizing insects associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel. Fifty-five genera of plants are listed, the richest in braconid fauna being tamarisk (9 species); acacia, pistachio and poplar (8 species each); carob and oak (7 species each). Of the 95 species of insect hosts mentioned, 53 are Lepidoptera, mostly Gelechiidae (7 species), Pyralidae (6 species), Noctuidae (5 species), Gracillariidae, Tortricidae, Geometridae, Lymantriidae and Lycaenidae (3 species each); 44 are Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (13 species), Scolytidae (12 species), and Bostrichidae (9 species); three are Diptera. Of the 92 species of braconids listed, of which only 65 have been fully named, 56 develop in Lepidoptera, mostly Noctuidae (15 species), Gelechiidae (11 species) and Pyralidae (9 species); 33 species develop in Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (12 species, Bostrichidae (10 species) and Scolytidae (5 species); and three species develop in Diptera. Thirty-eight species are new to the fauna of Israel; at least three of them are new to science,viz., Gnaptodon, Gildoria andDendrosotinus titubatus Papp.     

The influence of bait presentation on bait uptake by mice (Mus domesticus) in infested urban domestic dwellings

Several researchers have established a link between the presence of house mouse (Mus domesticus) infestations and detrimental effects on human health. Controlling mouse infestations therefore requires methods that are quick, safe and effective. A tamper-resistant bait station with a wax block which is manufactured to fit within it so that it cannot be shaken out is considered the safest way to present the bait. However, some authors have expressed concern about the efficacy of this method. Research to examine the effects of bait stations on the feeding of mice infesting domestic dwellings was undertaken in the city of Manchester, UK. Working in conjunction with Manchester City Council, suitable sites were found. A balanced Latin Square experimental design was employed to overcome any operational biases that could have occurred. Non-toxic baits were presented in one of four ways: whole wheat in a cardboard box; whole wheat in a open tray; whole wheat in a tamper-resistant box; and a non-toxic wax block in a tamper-resistant box. Baits were placed in four different locations within dwellings and during the feeding trial; the bait stations were rotated, so that each bait type was presented in each location. The bait take from 12 dwellings within 3 housing blocks was recorded. Three-quarters of the bait consumed during the trial was taken from the cardboard box. No bait was taken from the tamper-resistant box containing the wax block.

Risk assessments should drive the approach adopted in presenting rodenticide. Dwellings where vulnerable adults/children/pets are present may represent a risk of accidental poisoning may require a regime with tamper-resistant bait boxes containing wax blocks, to prevent baits being accessed. However, a balance between the safest and the most effective presentation of bait is needed and in areas where there is unlikely to be any access to baits (e.g. behind kitchen kickboards), use of alternatives must remain to ensure the shift resolution of infestations. Where bait can be placed safely and there are no children or pets present, cardboard boxes provide an effective means of ensuring that bait is consumed by the mice infesting domestic dwellings.     

Development and implementation of cost-effective strategies to manage brown rot of peach trees in Imathia,Greece

Development of cost-effective strategies to manage brown rot caused by Monilinia laxa of peach implies a better understanding of the susceptibility of different cultivars and pre-harvest contamination. This study investigated the susceptibility of 24 peach and nectarine cultivars to shoot blight caused by Monilinia spp. and found various levels of susceptibility, with the nectarine cultivar Tasty Free scored as the most susceptible. Studies on the the existence and detection of latent infections by Monilinia spp. in three peach (‘A37’, ‘Andross’, and ‘E-45’) and three nectarine (‘Venus’, ‘Fantasia’, and ‘Tasty Free’) cultivars were also conducted. The results showed that latent infections were detected only in nectarine cultivars when fruit were collected on 23 May and 22 June. In contrast, nectarine fruit collected on 7 June and all peach cultivars tested had no detectable latent infection. This study also indicated that the fungicide thiophanate methyl applied at the pit hardening stage reduced significantly the percentage of latent infection and subsequently preharvest fruit rots. Finally, a disease forecast model to predict blossom blight, caused by M. laxa, was evaluated in the Prefecture of Imathia, Greece. Trees, sprayed according to the model predictions, showed a statistically lower percentage of blighted shoots than those of unsprayed trees.     

Pathogenicity of fungi affecting black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia) in Greece

The main fungi affecting black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were recorded during a survey which took place in northern Greece in 1997. It was found thatPhomopsis oncostoma (Thüm.) v. Höhn,Aglaospora profusa (Fr.) de Not. andCucurbitaria elongata (@#@ Fr.) Grev. cause necroses of twigs, branches and even entire trees. The pathogenicity of these fungi was confirmed by inoculation experiments in which typical disease symptoms appeared with re-isolation of the respective fungi from the inoculated plants.     

Spread of verticillium wilt by nursery plants in olive groves in the Halkidiki area (Greece)1

Olive groves have been established during the last decade in the coastal area of Halkidiki and in the northern part of the Kassandra peninsula (GR). Visual symptoms of verticillium wilt were observed recently all over this area, particularly in young trees of cv. Hondrolia Halkidikis but not in the occasional old trees already in the orchards. The symptoms appeared regardless of the previous crop (cotton or not), so the nurseries supplying the farmers with young trees were assumed to be the primary source of infection. A survey of olive nurseries in the area was conducted during 1991. Eleven out of the total 18 nurseries in the area were located in the Verticillium dahliae-infested zone and 9 of these were sampled. Three-year-old olive seedlings were selected and isolations were made from the xylem onto PDA acidified with 0.25% lactic acid. V. dahliae-infected seedlings were detected in 4 out of the 9 nurseries examined. The presence of infected young trees in nurseries covering 15.6% of the total nursery area provided strong evidence that nurseries may be responsible for the recent expansion of verticillium wilt in the area.     

Flat limb (furede grene) of apple trees

Conclusions The experiments clearly show, that flat limb is a graft-transmissible disease.The experiments also demonstrate, that there is a great difference between the susceptibility of the various apple varieties, and furthermore that some varieties can act as symptomless carriers.As it is rather difficult or impossible to remove all infected trees in the nurseries by inspection and roguing, steps have been taken to establish a nucleus stock of all important apple varieties, from which the nurseries can be supplied with grafting and budding material.Important questions concerning flat limb, which are not yet solved, are a further search for symptomless carriers among the important apple varieties and also among the apple rootstocks.Furthermore it would be of value to know the exact effect of the disease on growth and fruit production of the infected trees. Experiments concerning these problems are now in progress.     

The scale Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in Greece

The phenology and natural enemies of Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in infesting Abies cephalonica, were studied in Greece during 1998–1999. This oviparous species develops one generation per year in Central Greece (Attica) and overwinters as 2^nd instar nymph. Young adult females appear by the end of July, and the first instar nymphs by the middle of August. By the middle of October, the whole population of the scale is recorded as 2^nd instar nymphs. The parasitoids Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker), Coccophagus Westwood sp., Aphycoides Mercet sp. and the predator Exochomus quadripustulatus L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were observed as natural enemies of the scale. The average fecundity of N. graniformis was 188.4 eggs.     

The scale Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in Greece

The phenology and natural enemies of Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in infesting Abies cephalonica, were studied in Greece during 1998–1999. This oviparous species develops one generation per year in Central Greece (Attica) and overwinters as 2^nd instar nymph. Young adult females appear by the end of July, and the first instar nymphs by the middle of August. By the middle of October, the whole population of the scale is recorded as 2^nd instar nymphs. The parasitoids Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker), Coccophagus Westwood sp., Aphycoides Mercet sp. and the predator Exochomus quadripustulatus L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were observed as natural enemies of the scale. The average fecundity of N. graniformis was 188.4 eggs.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of trunk-injected (14) C-imidacloprid in Fraxinus trees

BACKGROUND: Since the discovery of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (emerald ash borer) in 2002, researchers have tested several methods of chemical control. Soil drench or trunk injection products containing imidacloprid are commonly used to control adults. However, efficacy can be highly variable and may be due to uneven translocation of systemic insecticides. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sectored xylem anatomy might influence imidacloprid distribution in tree crowns. RESULTS: Imidacloprid equivalent concentrations were higher in leaves from branches in the plane of the injection point (0°) than in leaves from branches on the opposite side of the injection point (180°). Leaves from branches 90° to the right of injection points had higher imidacloprid equivalent concentrations than leaves from branches 90° to the left of injection points. Leaves and shoots had higher imidacloprid equivalent concentrations than roots and trunk cores, indicating that imidacloprid moves primarily through the xylem. CONCLUSION: Imidacloprid equivalent concentration in leaves varied over time and in relation to injection points. It is concluded that ash trees have sectored ‘zigzag’ xylem architecture patterns consistent with sectored flow distribution. This could lead to variable distribution of imidacloprid in tree crowns and therefore to variable control of A. planipennis. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

PM 3/59 (3) Synchytrium endobioticum: descheduling of previously infested plots

Specific scope

This Standard describes a procedure for descheduling plots previously infested by Synchytrium endobioticum.

Specific approval and amendment

First approved in 1999‐09. Revisions approved in 2003‐09 and in 2017‐09.     

The role of mite pocket-like structures on Agama caudospinosa (Agamidae) infested by Pterygosoma livingstonei sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae)

Pterygosoma livingstonei sp. n. collected from the Kenyan lizard Agama caudospinosa Meek shows morphological affinities with other South African congener species parasitizing lizards of the genus Agama, especially with P. triangulare Lawrence, 1936, but it differs in having glabrous genua II and III. P. livingstonei shows affinities with the Lawrence's hispida species group in the characters of genital and peripheral setae. This new species was found concentrated in a nuchal "mite pocket-like structure", a behaviour previously unreported among species belonging to the genus Pterygosoma. Mite pockets (or acarodomatia, acarinaria) of lizards typically house damaging chigger mites, and are usually interpreted as the evolutionary host's response to limit damage caused by parasites. Because scale mites are permanent ectoparasites and less damaging than seasonally occurring larval trombiculids, the heavy infestation by P. livingstonei in the nuchal skin folds of its host is interpreted as a consequence of the best utilisation of an available protected site by these mites that spend their entire life cycle on their host and whose primitive body shape prevents them from seeking shelter beneath the scales of their lizard host.     

Artichoke yellow ringspot virus infecting vetch (Vicia sativa) in Greece

A seed-transmitted virus was isolated from vetch seedlings showing severe stunting, reduced lamina and leaf mottling. Identification was based on host range, seed transmission, coat protein and nucleic acid analysis, electron microscopy and serology. This is the first record of vetch as a natural host of artichoke yellow ringspot virus (AYRSV). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

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.     

Causes of incipient rot and rot in regrowth Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri) trees

Eucalyptus diversicolor (karri) is the second most important commercial timber tree in Western Australia. Sawlogs from regrowth trees often have a discoloration in the heartwood that is more abundant than in sawlogs from mature trees. Other symptoms in regrowth logs include white rot, white pocket rot and brown rot. Fungal isolations and pathogenicity tests were conducted to determine whether this discoloration was incipient rot, and if so, what caused it and which rot(s) would eventually develop. A combined sample of 329 discs from recently felled trees and freshly cut scantling had discoloration in 48%, white rot in 14%, white pocket rot in 12% and brown rot in 4% of pieces of wood. Hymenochaete semistupposa was isolated from 22% of discoloured wood and 39% of white pocket rot samples. Stereum hirsutum was isolated from 4% of discoloured wood and 13% of white rot samples. Koch's postulates in regrowth karri trees showed that H. semistupposa caused extensive discoloration, with white pocket rot developing in the heartwood within 4 years, while S. hirsutum caused extensive discoloration, with white rot developing in both the heartwood and sapwood within 2 years. It was concluded that the discoloration was incipient rot, which would eventually develop into either white rot or white pocket rot.