Acute spread in France of an invasive pest, the horse chestnut leafminer Cameraria ohridellaDeschka & Dimic (Lep., Gracillariidae)

The horse chestnut leafminer, Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) spread over the last 10 years from central Europe to western Europe and was observed for the first time in 2000 in the east of France and near Paris. This study presents the results of surveys carried out in France in 2001 to investigate the distribution and infestation level of the leafminer. One year after its first discovery, the moth was present in a large part of the country and for the first time has been observed in Paris. The spread of the moth is due mainly to natural dispersal and to passive dispersal by human activities.     

Parasitism of the horse chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridellaDeschka and Dimic (Lep., Gracillariidae), in Serbia and Macedonia

A study concerning the parasitism of Cameraria ohridella, a pest of Aesculus hippocastanum invading Europe, has been carried out in Serbia and Macedonia in 1998 and 1999. From C. ohridella 14 species of parasitoids were reared, which are polyphagous and occur in the whole of Europe. Twelve of the species found belong to the Chalcidoidean family Eulophidae. The rates of parasitism at different sampling dates did not exceed 25%. The results, when compared with data from central Europe, showed that C. ohridella most certainly does not originate from Serbia or Macedonia – the regions in which C. ohridella was observed for the first time – as an indigenous leaf miner on A. hippocastanum.     

Parasitism of the horse chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridellaDeschka and Dimic (Lep., Gracillariidae), in Serbia and Macedonia

A study concerning the parasitism of Cameraria ohridella, a pest of Aesculus hippocastanum invading Europe, has been carried out in Serbia and Macedonia in 1998 and 1999. From C. ohridella 14 species of parasitoids were reared, which are polyphagous and occur in the whole of Europe. Twelve of the species found belong to the Chalcidoidean family Eulophidae. The rates of parasitism at different sampling dates did not exceed 25%. The results, when compared with data from central Europe, showed that C. ohridella most certainly does not originate from Serbia or Macedonia – the regions in which C. ohridella was observed for the first time – as an indigenous leaf miner on A. hippocastanum.     

d -Alanine-d -alanine ligase gene ( ddl ) of Erwinia chrysanthemi strain EC16 II: analysis of pectate lyase regulation using ddl ? mutant

 Erwinia chrysanthemi (Ech) triggers soft rot disease mainly by secreting pectate lyase (Pel), which is regulated in a complex manner by many regulatory genes. In a previous study, we used a gene dosage method to show that the ddl gene, which encodes d-alanine-D-alanine ligase, reduced Pel production and tissue maceration by Ech strain EC16n. In this study, the ddl ⁻ marker-exchanged mutant was shown to overcome the long growth lag caused by various salts in the growth medium and to increase Pel production over that by EC16n, especially in a medium containing magnesium salts. Thus, ddl seems to regulate Pel production in a negative manner. Because the profiles of a gel shift assay using the pelE promoter region as the target DNA with crude extracts of EC16n and ddl ⁻ mutant were distinguishable, Ddl is thought to affect the binding of other regulatory proteins. Expression of the ddl gene was induced in the medium containing a low-molecular-weight fraction of potato extract, but it was reduced in that containing both polygalacturonic acid (PGA) and the fraction. The repression of ddl expression by PGA should contribute in part to the in planta hyperinduction of Pel. Received: May 15, 2002 / Accepted: June 20, 2002     

Survey on the distribution of the Horse Chestnut ScalePulvinaria regalisCanard (Hom., Coccidae) in Germany in the years 1996 to 1998

In the present study, the distribution of the Horse Chestnut Scale insectPulvinaria regalis Canard in Germany in the years 1996 to 1998 and tendencies in the variation of infestation levels during the past three years were investigated by a survey. A questionnaire was sent to the offices for green areas and environmental affairs of 121 cities in Germany with a population exceeding 75.000 citizens. Additional observations by the authors were also taken into consideration. A comparison to data from 1995 was conducted. In the year 1998, this arboricultural pest occurred in 34 cities (15 in 1995) and could be found in the areas of the Rhineland and the Ruhr-Valley, from Bonn in the south up to Münster (Westphalia) in the north and from Aachen in the west to Hagen and Dortmund in the east.P. regalis could also be detected in Offenbach and Frankfurt a. M., It also occurred southward along the rivers Rhine and Neckar in the cities of Mainz, Ludwigshafen, Freiburg and Stuttgart. The most southern point whereP. regalis was detected in July 1998 was Zürich in Switzerland. The first occurrence of the 19 new observed infestations withP. regalis took place in six instances before 1995, eight in 1995, three in 1996, and one each in 1997 and 1998. The investigations about tendencies in the variation of infestation levels revealed a decrease in scale numbers only in the cities where Horse Chestnut Scales have been observed first in Germany. On the other hand, almost every place located further away from these infestation sites showed a population increase ofP. regalis. Constant infestation levels over the past three years could be found in only two cities. In most cases lime, maple and horse chestnut trees were the host plants of this scale insect.     

Survey on the distribution of the Horse Chestnut ScalePulvinaria regalisCanard (Hom., Coccidae) in Germany in the years 1996 to 1998

In the present study, the distribution of the Horse Chestnut Scale insectPulvinaria regalis Canard in Germany in the years 1996 to 1998 and tendencies in the variation of infestation levels during the past three years were investigated by a survey. A questionnaire was sent to the offices for green areas and environmental affairs of 121 cities in Germany with a population exceeding 75.000 citizens. Additional observations by the authors were also taken into consideration. A comparison to data from 1995 was conducted. In the year 1998, this arboricultural pest occurred in 34 cities (15 in 1995) and could be found in the areas of the Rhineland and the Ruhr-Valley, from Bonn in the south up to Münster (Westphalia) in the north and from Aachen in the west to Hagen and Dortmund in the east.P. regalis could also be detected in Offenbach and Frankfurt a. M., It also occurred southward along the rivers Rhine and Neckar in the cities of Mainz, Ludwigshafen, Freiburg and Stuttgart. The most southern point whereP. regalis was detected in July 1998 was Zürich in Switzerland. The first occurrence of the 19 new observed infestations withP. regalis took place in six instances before 1995, eight in 1995, three in 1996, and one each in 1997 and 1998. The investigations about tendencies in the variation of infestation levels revealed a decrease in scale numbers only in the cities where Horse Chestnut Scales have been observed first in Germany. On the other hand, almost every place located further away from these infestation sites showed a population increase ofP. regalis. Constant infestation levels over the past three years could be found in only two cities. In most cases lime, maple and horse chestnut trees were the host plants of this scale insect.     

Biological characteristics and life tables of Neoseiulus umbraticusChant (Acari, Phytoseiidae) at three constant temperatures

The development time, survival and fecundity of the generalist predatory mite, Neoseiulus umbraticusChant, were determined at 20, 25, and 30°C and 65±10% RH. N. umbraticus females completed development in 9.7, 8.0 and 5.9 days, respectively, using a diet of all life stages of Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval. Total developmental times of males were relatively shorter at 25 and 30°C than at 20°C. In general, preoviposition, oviposition, and postoviposition periods of N. umbraticus shortened as temperature increased. The longest survival rate of N. umbraticus of 80.5 days occurred at 20°C, followed by 67.0 and 57.6 days at 25 and 30°C, respectively. Mated females laid an average 0.9, 1.3 and 1.4 eggs per female per day and 33.1, 44.0 and 43.6 eggs over their entire lives at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The sex ratios of this species were 0.57, 0.57 and 0.54 female (female+male) at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) became greater with rising temperatures from 0.123 at 20°C to 0.180 at 30°C. The net reproduction rate (R_o) was highest at 25°C (25.0 females/female) and lowest at 20°C (18.8 females/female), while T_o decreased with increasing temperatures, from 23.8 days at 20°C to 17.5 days at 30°C.     

Influence of altitude on adult emergence and dynamics ofKaltenbachiola strobi (Winnertz) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) populations and its parasites in the Tatra National Park, Poland

A field study onKaltenbachiola strobi (Winnertz) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), was carried out between 1987 and 1993 in the highest mountain range in the Western Carpathians located within the Tatra National Park, in southern Poland. Rearing and analysis of 5 780 cones ofPicea abies (L.)Karst., collected from trees growing at different altitudes, yielded 30,478 individuals ofKaltenbachiola strobi, which infested 89.10% of the cones. In case of 29.81% of cones there were more than 20 larvae ofK. strobi per cone. It was shown thatK. strobi in the Tatra Mts. is more abundant in spruce stands of the upper mountain forest zone. Significant connections between the time of cone infestation byK. strobi and its parasitoids and characteristic phenophases in spruce foliage and cone development, and also the development of selected vegetation of the forest floor at different heights above sea level were determined. It was shown that the population dynamics ofK. strobi had tendency to alternate the increase and decrease in numbers every two years. It was also discovered that every two years spruce cones were inhabited by the population ofK. strobi with increased percentage of individuals having prolonged diapause. In total, the parasitoids reduced the population ofK. strobi by about 16–22.63%. Parasitism ofK. strobi in the lower mountain forest zone was higher than in the upper zone.Triplatygaster contorticornis Ratz. (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae),Torymus azureus Boheman (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) andTetrastichus strobilanae Ratz. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were most effiecient in reduction of the population ofK. strobi, and in the lower mountain forest zoneT. azureus was the dominant parasitoid species, while in the upper zoneT. contorticornis andT. strobilanae. It was shown that a considerable part of the populations ofT. azureus, T. contorticornis andT. strobilanae have their diapause prolonged and highly synchronized with the diapause of their host.     

First report of Thrips setosus in Belgium

The Japanese flower thrips, Thrips setosus, is a polyphagous insect which in Europe has mainly been observed on hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.). The first report of T. setosus in the EPPO region was in the Netherlands (2014). Since then it has been observed in four other countries inside the EPPO region: Germany (2015), the United Kingdom (2016), France (2016) and Croatia (2016). Its dispersal is most likely to be related to trade. Because of its polyphagous nature, there is a risk of spread to other economically important crops. Therefore, T. setosus was included in the national survey project ‘STATREGO’, during which the status of several invasive plant pests and diseases in Belgium was determined.     

Spread modelling: a suitable tool to explore the role of human-mediated dispersal in the range expansion of the yellow-legged hornet in Europe

Abstract

Invasive species can spread locally on their own and can be introduced at long distance by humans. Here, we show how a spread model can be used to explore the role of humans in the range expansion of the invasive yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, in Europe with a special focus on some islands. In 2017, the hornet distribution in France, southern Belgium, south-eastern Germany and northern Spain could largely be explained by the insect’s own dispersal while the occurrence in Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Great Britain likely results from human-mediated dispersal. However, in the following years, it could spread to Portugal, Italy and Great Britain also by its own means. The yellow-legged hornet has likely reached the Channel Islands by its own flight but it could hardly reach the Mediterranean islands. Hence, the infestation in Majorca likely results from an accidental introduction. When simulating human-mediated dispersal in the Mediterranean islands, the hornet density would remain relatively low anyhow. Assessing the means of dispersal is important in terms of pest management as the target is either to reduce the spread rate and the population density, or to reduce the risk of entry.     

Aesculus pavia foliar saponins: defensive role against the leafminer Cameraria ohridella

BACKGROUND: Recently, the leafminer Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic has caused heavy damage to the white‐flowering horse chestnut in Europe. Among the Aesculus genus, A. pavia L. HBT genotype, characterised by red flowers, showed an atypical resistance towards this pest. Its leaves, shaken in water, originated a dense foam, indicating the presence of saponins, unlike the common horse chestnut tree. The aim was to isolate and identify these leaf saponins and test their possible defensive role against C. ohridella. RESULTS: Spectroscopic analyses showed that A. pavia HBT genotype leaves contained a mixture of saponins, four of which were based on the same structure as commercial escin saponins, the typical saponin mixture produced by A. hippocastanum and accumulated only within bark and fruit tissues. The mixture showed a repellent effect on C. ohridella moth. The number of mines detected on the leaves of A. hippocastanum plants treated with A. pavia HBT saponins through watering and stem brushing was significantly lower than the control, and in many cases no mines were ever observed. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the exogenous saponins were translocated from roots/stem to the leaf tissues, and their accumulation seemed to ensure an appreciable degree of protection against the leafminer. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Die Verbreitung der Ro?kastanien-Miniermotte Cameraria ohridellaDesch. & Dimic (Lepid., Gracillariidae) in der Region Südtirol-Trentino

A survey on the present distribution of the horse chestnut leafmining moth, Cameraria ohridella Desch. & Dimic 1986, in Europe and in Italy is given: In Europe, within a period of 15 years, the leafminer – recently introduced into Central Europe – has settled in an area that spreads over 13 latitudinal and about 20 longitudinal degrees; in Northern Italy, an area of approximately 50,000 km² has been afflicted in the 5 years since the leafminer's introduction in South Tyrol and Julian Venetia in 1993.The development of the distribution in the region of South Tyrol and Trentino is shown: In the province of Bozen-South Tyrol, between 1995 and 1999 the moth has spread in all the three principal valleys (Eisacktal, Pustertal, Etschtal); in the Trentino province, first local attacks began only in 1998, near Trento and Riva, but spread over the entire Etschtal/Adige Valley in 1999. While in South Tyrol C. ohridella was introduced from the North (North Tyrol), the introduction into the Trentino occured from the South (Verona).At present the attacks in Trentino province are preponderantly low (resulting heavy only in the city of Trento and in Riva del Garda) and limited to altitudes ranging from 70 to 700 in. In South Tyrol, attacks are mainly heavy in altitudes ranging from 250 to 900/950 m, while they are low in the increasingly affected higher altitudes of 1,000 to 1,230 m. Numeric attack parameters are given to show attack intensities.The number of generations per year depends on the respective climatic conditions: in lower-altitudes, usually three generations develop in a year, but in higher altitudes (800 to 1,100 m) only two generations; in the climatically favoured area around the Lake Garda a (partial) fourth generation appears possible.The question of host plants (Aesculus sp., Acer sp.) and the larval parasitism of C. ohridella is discussed. The parasitism of the larvae, principally by Eulophidae (Hym., Chalcidoidea), was ascertained already in the first years of attack: In South Tyrol, 16 species of parasitoids appeared, and 8 in the Trentino province, but only two species were dominant: Minotetrastichus sp. and Pnigalio sp. The level of parasitism reached was low, comparable to other Central European countries.     

Spread risk of Eutypella canker of maple in Europe1

Eutypella canker of maple, caused by the pathogen Eutypella parasitica, has recently been reported for the first time in Europe. A rule‐based model of Eutypella parasitica spread risk in Europe is presented. This model incorporates the effects of spatial and temporal variability of multiple variables on pathogen spread and establishment. Model predictions are based on current knowledge of host susceptibility, pathogen reproduction and pathogen transmission, with particular regard to the host species’ distribution and climate suitability. Maps of host species’ distributions and monthly weather conditions were spatially analyzed in a Geographic Information System using the magnitude and direction of each variable's effect on disease spread. Spread risk predictions were computed for each month and averaged to generate a cumulative risk map. The model was calibrated using data on the natural distribution of Eutypella canker in North America. Extensive areas covering the natural distribution of maples in Europe are at considerable risk from the Eutypella parasitica infection. The most endangered regions are broad areas of the Balkans, the Apennines, France, Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.     

中国及欧洲各国的苹果蠹蛾种群遗传多样性分析

为研究不同国家和地区苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella种群的遗传多样性,对采自我国新疆维吾尔自治区和黑龙江省,以及德国、法国和西班牙等欧洲国家的11个种群共60个苹果蠹蛾个体进行基因组重测序,有效测序样本数为56个,共获得8 455 843个群体单碱基突变（single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP）位点。利用SNP数据进行了苹果蠹蛾群体遗传进化树的构建、主成分分析以及遗传结构分析。结果显示,入侵我国黑龙江省的苹果蠹蛾与德国BD种群更为接近,我国新疆维吾尔自治区与黑龙江省苹果蠹蛾种群有一定的分化,前者种群遗传多样性更低。表明我国东北地区和西北地区的苹果蠹蛾种群具有不同的遗传多样性特征,入侵我国的苹果蠹蛾种群可能来源于欧洲。     

First record of Phytomyza gymnostoma Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae) a leaf mining pest of leeks in Greece

In autumn 2007, an allium leafminer, Phytomyza gymnostoma Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was recorded for the first time in non‐commercial leek crops in the areas of Elassona and Katerini in Central Greece. Leek plants were severely damaged by the leafminer larvae infestation. Typical feeding symptoms were observed, caused by the mining behaviour of larvae within inner and outer leaves of leek plants, resulting in the formation of descending galleries. Pest control was performed locally using commercial insecticides with unknown efficacy mainly due to ignorance of the species biology.     

Establishment and dispersal of the parasitoids Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Semielacher petiolatus Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), introduced into Tunisia for the biological control of Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Abstract

A programme for the biological control of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) was carried out in Tunisia between 1996 and 1998. Two exotic parasitoids, Ageniaspis citricola (Logvinovskaya) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) and Semielacher petiolatus Girault (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), were introduced from Australia, mass-reared in a greenhouse on Citrus aurantium L. seedlings infested with P. citrella, and released in different orchards located in the major citrus-growing area of Tunisia. In 1996, A. citricola was recovered in 39.13% of release sites, reaching a maximum percentage of parasitism of 28%. In 1997, the parasitoid was recovered in a third of all release points, with an average percentage of parasitism of 5%. However, the wasp was unable to survive the winter 1998, and has become extinct. The non-establishment of A. citricola may have been due to the more arid climatic conditions present during the rainless summer and most of the autumn in Tunisia. By contrast, the establishment, dispersal, and reduction in citrus leafminer population observed with S. petiolatus between 1997 and 1998 shows this species to be well-adapted to the Tunisian climate. The average percentage parasitism of P. citrella by S. petiolatus increased from 6.6% in 1997 to 15% in 1998. Moreover, S. petiolatus was established in 76% of release points in 1997 and in 82% in 1998. It spread as much as 30 km from some release points, with no apparent decline in parasitism levels with distance. Semielacher petiolatus is considered to be an effective biological control of the leafminer in Tunisia. Its biological control action would supplement the action of the native parasitoids Pnigalio sp. and Cirrospilus pictus Nees (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuta absoluta</Emphasis> Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a new invasive species in Israel

Tuta absoluta, the South American tomato moth, is reported for the first time in tomato-growing areas in Israel.     

Distribution of the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walker 1859) in the north‐eastern part of the Carpathian Basin with a new Ukrainian record and Hungarian data

After it was recorded in South‐West Germany and the Netherlands in 2007, the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) spread rapidly in Europe and appeared in West Hungary in 2011. In the eastern part of the country the first specimen was caught in 2015 with a blacklight trap. On the basis of specimens of C. perspectalis caught in blacklight, pheromone or feeding attractant traps, the authors summarize its distribution and publish four new records from Hungary and the first data from West Ukraine (Transcarpathia). The flight dynamics of three generations of this pest are also described for 2015 and 2016.