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Tick-borne encephalitis was limited to northeast portions of Italy. We report in Lombardy, a populous region in the northwest, a chamois displaying clinical signs of tickborne encephalitis virus that had multiple virus-positive ticks attached, as well as a symptomatic man. Further, we show serologic evidence of viral circulation in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent invasion of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in northern Italy offered the opportunity to explore the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) associated with the soil of hay meadows.A total of 61 sites were considered for nematode sampling, and from 17 of them (27.9%) EPNs were isolated and further characterized with molecular and morphological techniques as well as with laboratory bioassays.Two main species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) were recorded with the same frequency together with a few other species (Rhabditida: Oscheius sp. and Phasmarhabditis sp.).The newly isolated EPN populations were characterized for their activity (penetration rate) and infectivity to P. japonica grubs.EPNs occurrence was related to the time of beetle invasion at each sampling site and there was evidence of a density‐dependent response of the EPNs community to P. japonica density.The invasion of P. japonica apparently did not significantly affect the occurrence of native grubs, although a tendency to a decline was observed and should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese beetle (JB) Popillia japonica (Newman), has been detected for the first time in Northern Italy in 2014. This alien species is spreading fast Eastwards and Westwards, and this calls for mandatory restrictions within infested areas. To forecast spreading dynamics of P. japonica over years, an iterative spatially based model was conceived and developed. Five years of trapping data by the Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO) of Lombardy region were used to build up the model: 2015–2016 observations were used for model parametrization; 2017–2019 for validation. Model includes: a source dilution factor (SF) describing the rate of P. japonica moving away from a given position, based upon variograms; a value G, quantifying the increase in P. japonica population at the same location along years; a mortality factor (MF) based on literature data; three land cover classes quantifying the probability of colonization of new areas. The model proved to perform from fair to good; validation showed that determination coefficient (R²) ranged between 0.39 and 0.87. Variograms from both trapping data and model simulations, suggested a range of spatial autocorrelation of P. japonica ranging from 7.5 to 15 km. Prediction maps indicate a potential spread of P. japonica mainly Southwards and South-eastwards, matching the distribution of suitable land covers (e.g. meadows, croplands, woods). As a result, this model can be retained operationally useful to predict the spread of P. japonica year-per-year, although a periodic/continuous calibration with new field data is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus Longhorn Beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a highly polyphagous species native to eastern and south‐eastern Asia. In 2000, an outbreak of A. chinensis was detected in Lombardy Region (Italy). In 2017, an extensive trapping experiment was conducted at three infested sites in order to evaluate the effectiveness of three variables: trap model (Econex soft cross‐vane trap, Witasek cross‐vane trap and Witasek multi‐funnel trap), trap position (on a wooden pole in an open space or in the canopy of a host tree) and type of lure (ChemTica, Synergy and Glabriwit pheromones). Each combination of variables was replicated five times at each site, giving a total of 270 traps. At the end of the study, 162 adults had been caught, with catches gradually increasing during the month of June to peak in early July. The two cross‐vane traps outperformed the multi‐funnel traps and the Econex traps captured more females than the Witasek traps, probably due to the structure of the collecting funnel. The three lures had similar catch performance, although the best combination was the Econex trap with Synergy blend, due to the remarkable variability in catches observed with Glabriwit blend. Finally, traps set in the tree canopy outperformed traps set on wooden poles. In conclusion, the best protocol was the use of Econex cross‐vane traps baited with Synergy blend and deployed on the canopy of the host trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a mechanistic, stage-structured model simulating the phenology of Popillia japonica. The model simulates the influence of soil temperature on the larval diapause termination and on the development rate function of post-overwintering larvae and pupae. Model parameters are estimated based on literature evidence for pupae development and on a parameterisation process that allows estimating parameters for larval diapause termination and for the development rate function (and the related uncertainty) of post-overwintering larvae. Data used for model parameterisation and validation refer to time-series adult trap catches collected during the P. japonica monitoring programme performed by the Phytosanitary Service of Lombardy Region within the infested area in Lombardy (Italy) from 2015 to 2019. A total of 12 randomly selected locations are used to estimate biologically realistic model parameters (parameterisation dataset). We applied a Jackknife nonparametric resampling procedure on the parameterisation dataset to quantify uncertainty associated with parameters' estimates. Parameterised model is then validated on time-series adult trap catches data referring to a different set of 12 randomly selected locations (validation dataset) surveyed in Lombardy. The model successfully predicted the beginning of adult emergence and the overall curve of adult emergence in the validation dataset. The model presented can support the definition of the best timing for the implementation of monitoring and control activities for the local and the area-wide management of P. japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]