Salvatore Bella

Council for Agricultural Research and Economys

After two yeras of field researches in Pantano Longarini (South-Eastern Sicily), the results concerning the Crambinae (Lepidoptera) are reported. Eight species are listed, two of them, Thopeutis galleriella (Ragonot, 1892) and Calamotropha fuscilineatella (Daniel Lucas, 1938) are new to Sicily and another one, Agriphila indivisella (Rurati & Zanon,...

After the first record in 2018 in southern Italy and in Sicily, the Neotropical ladybird Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Sticholotidinae) has been rediscovered and monitored in Sicily. The population of this non-indegenous species was observed in an experimental citrus orchard with organic management in eastern Sicily....

The present study analyses the ecological connectivity of four bee communities in fragmented areas in the foothills of Volcano Etna (Catania province, Sicily, Italy). The surveys were carried out in four sites under different land management regimes from 2007 to 2010. The selected areas include two different urban parks in the city of Catania (Parc...

During recent surveys of tropical fruit plants in Southern Italy, severe infestations were observed on young vegetation of Feijoa, Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret inflicted by the leaf beetle Macrolenes dentipes (Olivier, 1808) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) which occurs in the Mediterranean area. Feijoa is a species that belongs to...

islands). Field and bibliographical research carried out have allowed us to identify 40 taxa, between species and subspecies, belonging to five families: Colletidae (3 species), Andrenidae (9 spp.), Halictidae (4 spp.), Megachilidae (15 spp.), and Apidae (9 spp.). Twenty-seven species are reported here for the first time for the Egadi Archipelago,...

During recent surveys on leafhoppers in urban and agroecosystem areas in Europe the Oriental Hishimonus diffractus Dai, Fletcher & Zhang, 2013 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) has been found. This species, described from China and Thailand, is recorded here for the first time from Europe in the following countries: France, Portugal (Madeira), Spain, Gibra...

Conservation agriculture (i.e., minimized soil disturbance and permanent soil covering) and living mulches represent two agroecological practices that can improve soil fertility, spontaneous flora, and beneficial insect communities. This research studied the effect of these practices in a young olive orchard in the Mediterranean area. Two Sicilian...

The present three-year study traces the diversity of four bee communities in fragmented pedemontane areas of Volcano Etna (Catania province, Sicily) near the Metropolitan City of Catania, under different land management regimes. The selected areas comprise two different urban parks within Catania (Parco Gioeni and Parco degli Ulivi), a Nature Reser...

In this paper, an update of the species of the genus Eucera Scopoli, 1770, subgenus Tetralonia Spinola, 1838 from Sardinia is reported, based on data collection as well as on recent survey carried out at Gennargentu Massif. Seven species are recorded, four of which are newly added: Eucera fulvescens (Giraud, 1863), E. gennargentui sp. nov. Nobile,...

A list of 155 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae collected in Sicily (Italy) is reported. The two most numerous tortricid subfamilies recorded are the Olethreutinae and Tortricinae, which have 84 species and 70 species, respectively; the subfamily Chlidanotinae is represented by 1 species. Species belonging to almost all the tribes cited in the Ita...

During a recent survey of ladybirds in a citrus orchard in Sicily, a specimen of the genus Serangium (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) was found. This genus is recorded here for the first time from Italy. Species of this genus was used as an agent of biological control against aleyrodids, and stable populations were previously reported from Europe (Franc...

In Sardinia, the second largest Mediterranean island, 316 species of bees are known. Here, for the first time, the following 20 taxa are reported: Colletes cunicularius (Linnaeus, 1761), and C. eous Morice, 1904 (Colletidae); Andrena humilis Imhoff, 1832, A. granulosa Pérez, 1902, A. cineraria (Linnaeus, 1758), A. pallitarsis Pérez, 1903, A. rugulo...

In this study, the results of recent surveys on non-native insect pests from the Madeira Archipelago are reported. Overall, 13 non-native species were recorded: Tessellana tessellata (Charpentier) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae), Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal) (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera, Coreidae),...

The presence of Zelus renardii (Kolenati, 1856) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae), is documented for the first time in northern Italy (Liguria region) and in Sicily. This invasive species of nearctic origin was recorded for the first time in Europe in 2010 and in Italy in 2013. It is in rapid expansion in different areas of the world, especial...

The authors report newly recorded species of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) on the Volcan Etna (Sicily). A total of ten species belonging to three families are recorded: Halictidae (8 species), Megachilidae (1 species), and Apidae (1 species). Pseudapis valga (Gerstaecker), Lasioglossum convexiusculum (Schenck) (Halictidae), Hoplitis laevifrons (Moraw...

The authors give the results from more than a decade of studies on Apidae (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in eastern Sicily, carried out in natural and cultivated ecosystems at different altitudes in the Mediterranean Basal (0-1450 m a.s.l.), and Mountain-Mediterranean plans (1450-2100 m a.s.l.). Seven species are reported for the Mountain-Mediterranean pla...

During a recent survey on insect pests of ornamental plants in Spain, the leafhoppers Chloropelix canariensis Lindberg 1936 and Balclutha brevis Lindberg 1954 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) were found. These species, described from Canary Island, are recorded here for the first time from Spain and continental Europe. Adults and immature stages of C. can...

Rapisarda C.-Environmental factors impact and incidence of parasitism of Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae) on populations of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera Aphalaridae) in Mediterranean climatic areas. The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera, Aphalaridae), is an Australian native sap-sucking in...

Heat treatments (HTs) for pest control represent a promising, fast, and non-chemical method to disinfest commodities and structures with a significantly reduced environmental impact compared with the chemical approach. An entomological and economic study has been conducted to determine the technical efficacy and economic feasibility of HT in mills...

Estimated seasonal abundance of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera, Culicidae) in the municipality of Catania (eastern Sicily, Italy) is provided and discussed. A monitoring campaign was carried out in urban and suburban sectors of the city during the autumn of 2007 and all of 2008 and 2013. Populations of the mosquit...

Este estudio resume los registros conocidos de los Macrolepidoptera del “Bosco Palazzi” área cercana de la municipalidad de Putignano (región de Apulia) en las montañas de Murgia en el sur de Italia. La lista de especies está basada en los datos bibliográficos históricos, al mismo tiempo con el nuevo material colectado por otros entomólogos en las...

The Authors report the results of a study conducted with the purpose of increasing the knowledge about the insects and fungi living on Zelkova sicula Di Pasquale, Garfì & Quézel, 1992 (Rosales, Ulmaceae). The plant is a very rare relict of the Tertiary period, belonging to a genus of trees extinct in continental Europe. Only two small populations a...

A review is reported in the present paper on invasive alien insects introduced in Sicily on Eucalyptus trees, together with unpublished results from recent surveys. As to the latter ones, observations were conducted especially on Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Carpintero & Dellapé) (Hemiptera, Thaumastocoridae), the most recently introduced species. Ov...

Heat treatments (HT) for pest control represents a promising non-chemical method to control stored grain arthropods with a significant reduction of environmental impact compared to other chemical methods. For mills, pest control in post-harvest workspaces is considered as one of the activities that might highly affect the environment due to the che...

This study provide information on the first occurrence in Italy of the Coleoptera Cerambycidae Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius, 1787). It is a species naturally and widely distributed in Asia and in oriental tropical and subtropical areas. This cerambyx is a post-harvest pest of bamboo belonging to several genera as Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Phyllo...

In this contribution, we report information on the severe alterations caused by the stem boring moth Denticera divisella (Duponchel, 1842) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) on the cultivated Euphorbia x lomi Rauh (Euphorbiaceae). This plant is an ornamental hybrid of recent origin, much appreciated for the attractive inflorescences, used both as an apartmen...

This book contains 16 chapters focusing on the major arthropod, insect and nematode pests of tropical cereals, legumes, root and tuber crops, sugarcane, cotton, vegetables, bananas, citrus, oil palms, tea, cocoa and coffee and forest trees. The benefits of the integration of various control methods in the management of these arthropod, insect and n...

The aim of this study was the development of a method to improve the effectiveness of heat treatment (HT) for insect pest control in flour mills by thermal analyses and temperature trend models. Specific attention was paid to surface temperatures of thermal bridges (TBs), which represent HT weakness points because they provide refuge to insects and...

In this study, we have summarised the known records of Brachodidae and Sesiidae from Sicily. One Brachodidae and 30 Sesiidae species have been recognised. New faunistic data are provided for 21 Sesiidae based on recently collected material. Three species, Paranthrene diaphana Dalla Torre & Strand, 1925; Synanthedon loranthi (Králíček, 1966), and S....

The composition of two different Origanum vulgare essential oils (EOs) was analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); their repellent and antimicrobial effects were evaluated against adults and late-instar larvae of Tribolium confusum and adults of Sitophilus oryzae (Insecta:...

This paper compiles an updated checklist of Sicilian (including the circumsicilian islets) species of Cerambycidae based on historical bibliographical data along with new Sicilian material collected by the authors and other entomologists in the last few decades. A total of 133 species are reported, including new data for many taxa often rare in Sic...

Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an invasive psyllid introduced into the Mediterranean area, where it affects several species of Eucalyptus. Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a specialized parasitoid of this psyllid that was accidentally introduced into Italy in 2011. We developed a model of this host–...

Here we review the arthropod pests most damaging to pomegranate cultivation in the main production regions of the Circum-Mediterranean area, and discuss the eventual phytosanitary risks linked to some newly introduced species in this geographical area. The arthropod species mentioned here are based on their occurrence and economic importance. These...

The results of a ten-years study on bumblebee species of Mount Etna in eastern Sicily are given. The observations were carried out in natural and anthropized ecosystems at different altitudes in the Mediterranean Basal plan (0-1450 m a.s.l.) and Mountain-Mediterranean plan (1450-2100 m a.s.l.). Twelve species belonging to Bombus (2 spp.), Melanobom...

A new species of Oligosita Walker (Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae), O. balcluthae Viggiani et Laudonia n. sp., is described as a parasitoid of the eggs of Balclutha brevis Lindberg (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) associated with crimson fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum (Poaceae) in Italy. Morphological features and biology of the new species are disc...

The authors report the results of field research on Gelechiidae from the “Pantano Longarini” salt marsh (southeastern Sicily). The area is located inland to the “Pantani della Sicilia Sud-Orientale” regional nature reserve. A total of twenty-four species are recognized; among the recorded taxa Scrobipalpa peterseni (Povolný, 1965) is new to Europe,...

Revised distributional data on Pogonosoma maroccanum (F.) (Diptera Asilidae) in Europe, with notes on its bio-ecology. New distributional data on Pogonosoma maroccanum (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera, Asilidae) are provided and discussed. The new records regard Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece. Moreover, some biological and ecological...

The distribution in Italy is updated and new regional collecting data are reported of the exotic psyllids Macrohomotoma gladiata Kuwayama (Psylloidea, Homotomidae), Acizzia jamatonica (Kuwayama) and Cacopsylla fulguralis (Kuwayama) (Psylloidea, Psyllidae), all of them native to Asia and recorded in Italy during recent times. In particular, M. gladi...

The presence of the bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé (Heteroptera; Thaumastocoridae), a serious invasive pest of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations, was recently reported for the first time in Europe in the Italian region of Latium. This study provides information on its occurrence in Sicily from Eucalyptus camaldulensis...

The spread of invasive pests is an important topic in pest control and early detection is crucial for containment of invasive aliens. In this study the results of recent surveys on alien insects of ornamental urban plants in Portugal are reported. Overall, 13 alien species associated with allochthonous ornamental plants were recorded. Seven of thes...

In this study the results of recent surveys on alien insect pests of ornamental urban plants on the island of Corfu are reported. Overall seven alien species associated with allochthonous ornamental plants were recorded: Acizzia jamatonica (Kuwayama 1908), Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore 1964 (Hemiptera, Psyllidae), Corythucha ciliata (Say 1832) (Hem...

The cultivation of wheat in Sicily (Italy) has its origins in ancient times and today it turns out to be the one that invests the largest areas in the island. Connected to this cultivation, a flourishing industry of primary and secondary processing has been developed and is particularly competitive in the global market thanks to the qualitative...

The Box Tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) is an invasive alien species whose original range is in eastern Asia on Buxus species. In Europe, it was first reported in 2006 in Germany, rapidly becoming widespread across the European Union. The danger they present is that larvae develop on commonly planted ornamental bushes Buxus sempervir...

The occurrence of the invasive pest red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), infesting Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae), is reported for the first time from mainland Greece and the Ionian island of Corfu. This species, native to Australia, has been first reported for the Palaearctic Region in 2008, when...

During a recent survey on the insect pests of ornamental plants in some Sicilian cities the authors found Balclutha brevis Lindberg (Rhynchota Cicadellidae). This species, probably native to Macaronesia, is recorded here for the first time to the Italian fauna in the Mediterranean basin. In Sicily, adults and immature stages of B. brevis have been...

Gli autori riportano l’elenco delle specie di lepidotteri catturate con le trappole luminose normalmente utilizzate dalle industrie alimentari della filiera cerealicola nell’ambito dei programmi di monitoraggio. Tali specie sono state raccolte in un molino a grano duro, in uno a grano tenero, all’interno di un panificio industriale con annesso moli...

Vengono riportate osservazioni sulle risposte olfattive saggiate con olfattometro z a due vie in condizioni di laboratorio, di Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera Pteromalidae) e Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera Braconidae) ad alcuni dei feromoni di sintesi reperibili in commercio per il monitoraggio delle rispettive specie ospiti...

On the presence in Sicily of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera Psyllidae) on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Authors record the occurrence in Sicily of the red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera Psyllidae) attacking Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae). This species, native to Australia, has been first reported...

In recent years, several species of aphids of tropical or subtropical origins are being found outside their native range. The reasons for the accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of these aphids in new territories remain obscure. In most cases the accidental introduction of these rather small and cryptic species are often linked to...

The results of a long-term faunistic survey carried out on Lepidoptera in the salt marsh of the Regional Nature Reserve of Vendìcari (South-eastern Sicily) are reported. The Nature Reserve is situated in the province of Syracuse, between Noto and Pachino. In this contribution are included the faunistic data of previous specific researchs of the aut...

Caryocolum siculum sp. n. from Central and South-Eastern Sicily (Italy) is described. Its larva feeds inside the internode of stems of Gypsophila arrostii Guss. (Caryophyllaceae). Morphological and bioethological data on adult, larva and pupa are provided.

In surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in Sicily and Liguria the Authors recorded the Diptera Agromyzidae Phytoliriomyza jacarandae Steyskal & Spencer, 1978. This species, of South American origin, is now present in Argentina, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where it lives as leafminer of Jacaranda mimosi...

In a project set up in 2005 by the University of Catania, with the support of the Etna Park, studies were performed on the anthophilous entomofauna and the Apis mellifera L. foraging activity, in a mountainous Mediterranean environment, characterized by a supramediterranean bioclimate and peculiar pioneering vegetation. Trials were carried out betw...

The study of entomofauna of ornamental plants in various cities of Sicily and Calabria led to the discovery of the microlepidoptera Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962). This North American species is presently distributed in different biogeographical world regions, where it feeds on numerous hosts (cones of conifers infested by fungal agents or othe...

Despite its circum-tropical distribution, we report, for the first time in Italy and Sicily, the presence of Megalorhipida leucodactyla (Fabricius 1974), a species recorded only once before in Europe. Several adults, pupae and larvae of different instars were found on Boerhavia repens L. ssp. viscosa (Choisy) Maire (Nyctaginaceae), recorded for the...

Nel presente volume vengono prese in considerazione le attuali conoscenze sullo status dei Testudinati presenti in Sicilia, distinguendoli in specie indigene: Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789 e Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) e in specie alloctone: Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792) e Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758....

Si segnala la recente comparsa in Italia di un afide a distribuzione preminentemente orientale, sinora sconosciuto nel continente europeo. L’insetto ha evidenziato ultimamente tendenza ad espandere il proprio areale biogeografico originale, essendo stato segnalato anche in territori africani (Burundi) e nord-americani (Florida).

Sette specie di Lepidotteri (Lycaenidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae) nuove per la fauna di Sicilia * (Contributi alla conoscenza della lepidotterofauna siciliana. X) ABSTRACT SEVEN SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA (LYCAENIDAE, GEOMETRIDAE, NOCTUIDAE) NEW FOR THE FAUNA OF SICILY. (Contributions to the knowledge of the Sicilian Lepidopterofauna. X) Cupido alcetas...

ACANTHOCINUS AEDILIS (LINNAEUS, 1758) NUOVO PER LA FAUNA SICILIANA (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) RIASSUNTO Viene riportata, per la prima volta, la presenza in Sicilia del Coleottero Cerambicide Acantho-cinus aedilis (Linnaeus, 1758) sulla base di materiale recentemente raccolto sul Monte Etna. Viene evidenziata inoltre l'importanza biogeografica riguar...

The diversity of the Italian bee fauna was investigated over a four-year period at 52 sites in 8 Italian regions of Italy (Piedmont, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Molise, Sicily, and Sardinia). A previously agreed sampling method- ology was used, and the bee collection protocol was based upon the transept method. The sampl...

Gli Autori illustrano brevemente le alterazioni procurate da alcune specie di Imenotteri Sinfiti su piante del genere Rosa in ambienti urbani della Sicilia. Nel corso delle indagini sul campo sono state rinvenute tre specie: Arge ochropus (Gmelin) (Argidae), Allantus viennensis (Schrank) ed Emphytus cinctus (Linnaeus) (Tenthredinidae). In base alle...

The Authors report the results of a research performed if Sicily in 1997-'98, aimed to assess biodiversity in two areas, natural and cultivated, by studying the insects visiting flowers. The protocol involved monthly observation of the insects present on flowers, in predefined 200-m areas, at three-hours intervals throughout the day. The following...

Gli Autori, sulla base di un’esperienza sul campo, acquisita durante lo svolgimento dell’indagine sul territorio di Cava Randello, espongono alcune linee direttrici relative al “management” dell’area, fortemente improntate alla conservazione. In particolare, essi toccano argomenti quali il rimboschimento, il mantenimento degli attuali mosaici veget...

Viene riportata, per la prima volta in Sicilia e in Calabria, la presenza su Eucalyptus spp. degli Hymenoptera Eulophidae galligeni Ophelimus prope eucalypti e Aprostocetus sp.; quest'ultimo è stato rinvenuto anche in Lazio, su alberature stradali della città di Roma. Entrambe le specie provengono dalla regione australiana e sono state recentemente...

La presenza di Chrysobothris dorsata (Fabricius, 1787), Coleottero Buprestide ampiamente diffuso nell'Africa intertropicale, Madagascar e Spagna, viene segnalata per la prima volta in Italia.

Published on Boll. Acc. Gioenia Sci. Nat., in Italian: Contributi alla conoscenza della Microlepidoptterofauna di Sicilia, III. I Tortricidae del Pantano Longarini con segnalazione di Cydia multistriana (Chrétien, 1915), nuova per la fauna europea (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The occurrence of Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1857) in Italy is reported on the basis of two male specimens collected on Mt. Etna (Sicily).

During a lepidopterological survey of the Volcano Etna (Sicily), several larvae of different instars, pupae and adults of Orectis proboscidata (Herrich-Schaffer, 1851) were regularly observed inside a 25 m long lava tube. The caterpillars were feeding on dead on dead oak roots (Quercus gr. robur) which had penetrated through the upper wall of the t...

Gli autori rendono noti i risultati di due anni di ricerche sui Lepidotteri Coleophoridae del Pantano Longarini (Sicilia sud-orientale). Vengono citate 11 specie, di cui 4, Goniodoma limoniella (Stainton, 1884), Coleophora micronotella Toll, 1956, Coleophora glaucicolella Wood, 1892, Coleophora maritimella Newman, 1873, sono nuove per la Sicilia e...

The survey was carried out in the humid environment of Longarini (Siracusa) in south-eastern Sicily. 121 species of Lepidoptera Heterocera were identified; among them five (Scopula decolor (Staudinger), Rhizedra lutosa (Hübner), Archanara neurica (Hübner), Lacanobia blenna (Hübner), Aletia languida (Walker)) are reported for the first time in Sicil...

The authors examine the faunistic situation of the family Orussidae in Sicily which includes three species: Orussus abietinus (Scopoli, 1763), O. taorminensis (Trautmann, 1922) and O. unicolor (Latreille, 1811). The previously unknown male of O. taorminensis is described.

Idaea completa (Staudinger, 1892) was collected during the survey carried out in the swamps of Longarini and Vendicari (Siracusa, South-eastern Sicily); this is the first record for Sicily and italian fauna.