Compatibility and combined efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi and neonicotinoid insecticides against Myzus persicae (Sulzer): An ecofriendly approach

Efficacy of different entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) viz., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium (=Verticillium) lecanii and neonicotinoid insecticides i.e., Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam and Acetamiprid were evaluated alone and their 1:1 combination against Lipaphis erysimi prevalent in vegetable ecosystem. Among the entomopathogenic fungi, B. bassiana was found most promising registering lowest median lethal time (LT50) of 48.17, 48.92 and 48.87 h during the period of 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, followed by L. lecanii (49.57, 49.45 and 50.46 h), M. anisopliae (51.81, 51.67 and 51.63 h). Amongst the three neonicotinoids, Acetamiprid was found more efficacious than the Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam. Blending of B. bassiana and Acetamiprid at half of their recommended dose took lowest (22.76, 23.48 and 23.06 h during 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively) lethal time to kill the fifty per cent test population followed by L. lecanii + Acetamiprid (22.58, 22.68, 22.52 h) and M. anisopliae + Acetamiprid (22.61, 23.82, 23.60 h). Combinations of these entomopathogenic fungi and neonicotinoid insecticides had co-toxicity co-efficient values > 1 and lower LT50 values than each of their individual indicating the compatibility amongst them. Co-application of these EPF with sub-lethal concentration of neonicotinoids could not only be a green ecofriendly option against this sucking pest but also able to minimize the chemical insecticides load in the environment.

Megascolia (Regiscolia) bidens (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), a new distributional record for Continental Greece

Megascolia (Regiscolia) bidens (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), previously known to inhabit Dodecanese Islands, is recorded for the first time in the Saronic Gulf and Greek mainland. The species distribution and ecology are briefly discussed. A short species diagnosis is provided to assist further data collection.

Susceptibility of several cotton varieties to the cotton flea beetle, Podagrica puncticollis Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in a hot dry tropical environment of Ethiopia

Field trials were conducted to determine the reaction of cotton varieties to cotton flea beetle infestation. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications comprising twelve cotton varieties. The results showed significant (P < 0.01) differences among varieties in the populations of adult beetle they hosted and the injury they sustained at 15, 22, 29, 36 and 43 days after sowing (DAS). At 15 DAS, the highest numbers of adult beetle per plant (6.3), percent leaf area damaged (60.32 %) and number of shot-holes per attacked leaf (53.4) was recorded in Cucurova variety, whereas the lowest in Bulk-202 (2.05 beetles, 26.15% leaf area damaged and 23.16 shot-holes). The rate of incidence and damages decreased with the increase of the age of the cotton plants. Significant differences were also observed among cotton varieties in some agronomic characteristics i.e. in number of plants counted per plot at harvest and seed cotton yield in terms of kilogram per hectare. Seed cotton yield obtained from all cotton varieties varied from 602.36 to 1644.71 kilogram per hectare and the highest was obtained from Bulk-202, while the lowest from Local variety. Based on these findings, Cucurova, Local, Ionia and Acala SJ-2 varieties showed highly susceptible response, while Candia, Sille-91 and Deltapine-90 were moderately susceptible to cotton flea beetle. However, Bulk-202, Delcero and Claudia were relatively more tolerant varieties followed by CCRI-12 and Cuokra. These results will be important for the most proper management of cotton flea beetle.

First record of the invasive exotic sap beetle Phenolia (Lasiodites) picta (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in Greece

The exotic sap beetle Phenolia (Lasiodites) picta (Macleay, 1825) is recorded for the first time in Greece. In August 2018, a nitidulid beetle was found and photographed near Mt. Pelion of Central Greece. It was later identified as P. picta, a recent alien species in Europe, previously recorded from Spain, France, and Turkey. Photographic material and information on the species’ distribution, biology, and potential economic and ecological implications are discussed.

Damage caused by Cerambyx dux (Faldermann, 1837) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in apple orchards in northwestern Syria

Results of a field study showed Cerambyx dux (Fladermann) to be a major economic pest of domestic apple orchards in northwestern Syria. Higher levels of attack were detected on trees with larger trunk diameters. All trees with trunk diameters > 10 cm were infested (5 to 7 infestation holes per tree). For trees with trunk diameters of 5 to 10 cm, the level of infestation was 87.8% (2 to 4 infestation holes per tree). No attack by the longhorn beetle C. dux was detected on trees with a trunk diameter < 5 cm.

On track to becoming a cosmopolitan invasive species: First record of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the African continent

Native to E. Asia, the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) has managed to establish itself, and gradually expand its distribution, across Europe, Asia and recently America. This publication documents the first known record of the invasive species in Africa. The moth was observed in Constantine, Algeria in 2018 and was later identified as C. perspectalis. Possible scenarios of its introduction on the continent, as well as potential ecological implications, are discussed.

Description of a new species of Platypalpus of the candicans - cursitans subgroup from the Peloponnesus, Greece (Diptera: Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae)

Platypalpus cylleneus sp. n. belonging to the subgroup of Platypalpus candicans and cursitans is described from Mt Killini in the Peloponnesus, Greece. A review and a key to the members of the subgroup, P. candicans (Fallén, 1815), P. cursitans (Fabricius, 1775), P. cylleneus sp. nov. and P. nigrimanus Strobl, 1880, is provided.

Filling the gaps in the distribution of an alien species: The case of the feather-legged fly Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the Western Palearctic

The feather-legged fly, Trichopoda pennipes (Fabricius, 1781), is a parasitoid species introduced in several European countries over the last decades. This study provides new records for the presence of the tachinid in Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal areas. Four individuals were observed by the authors in Greece and Cyprus (2015-2019) and 11 additional records of the fly in Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Russia, and Turkey (2011-2019) were obtained from citizen science platforms. We provide the first records of the species on the aforementioned countries, contributing in the expansion of the current distribution range of the species. Current and future hypothetical expansion scenarios, as well as potential ecological implications are presented and discussed.

Α new tropical invader in Greece: The lantana plume moth Lantanophaga pusillidactylus (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)

This study documents the first known record of the lantana plume moth Lantanophaga pusillidactylus (Walker, 1864) in Greece. The moth was observed in four localities from April 2018 to November 2019, and four individuals were collected and deposited in the Zoological Museum of the University of Athens (ZMUA). All specimens were identified as L. pusillidactylus, an alien species in Europe, that has been recently introduced in Spain, Italy (Sicily), Portugal, and Malta. The possible pathways of its introduction, as well as potential ecological implications, are discussed.

Lampyris pseudozenkeri (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) new species to Greece and Europe

Lampyris (s. str.) pseudozenkeri Geisthardt, 1999, a species closely related to Lampyris (s. str.) zenkeri Germar, 1817 and previously known from the south-western Turkey (Kuşadası, Aydın Province), is newly recorded from Kos Island (Dodecanese, Greece). This is the first record for Greece and Europe.