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One of the most harmful viruses to vegetable crops, especially in the Mediterranean Basin, is the family Geminiviridae known as the "geminivirus." A project on the prevention and control of new and invasive geminiviruses infecting vegetables in the Mediterranean was launched through an international 3-year collaboration federated by a PRIMA call (Partnership for research and innovation in the Mediterranean area). This project involved public and private institutions from Italy, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and France. Virusspecific PCR tests on DNA extracted from symptomatic tomato and cucurbit plants have been used to monitor the prevalence of geminiviruses previously described in this region, including tomato yellow leaf curl associated viruses, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus, chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus, squash leaf curl virus, and watermelon chlorotic stunt virus. Meanwhile, deep sequencing of DNA extracted from insects collected in the surveyed areas (mainly whiteflies, aphids, and leafhoppers) is being used to look into the possibility of novel geminiviruses circulating in the region. To compare results of viral incidence between countries, standardized procedures for collecting, preserving, and analyzing leaf and insect samples have been established. In different agroecosystems in the following countries in 2020-2021, more than a thousand leaf samples and about 200 insect samples were collected: Morocco, in the Berkane area in the North-East and Souss region in the South; Tunisia, in the Center, North, and Sahel regions; Italy, in Campania and Sicily; and the Northern area of Jordan. These surveys are being used to update data on geminivirus prevalence across the Mediterranean Basin.

Abstract The subgenus Liophloeus Weise, 1894 of Liophloeus Germar, 1817 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Polydrusini) consists of five morphologically similar species traditionally diagnosed based on the shape of the aedeagus. However, traits of the genital apparatus exhibit substantial and overlapping inter- and intraspecific variation. All five species have the same ecological requirements and occur in central and eastern Europe, mostly in montane areas. The focus of this work was to verify the taxonomic status and validity of Liophloeodes species using a combination of molecular and morphometric techniques. Specimens were collected from the entire distribution range and initially assigned to a species according to the aedeagal shape. Genetic diversity and phylogeny of the subgenus were studied using three molecular markers (two ribosomal, 28S-D2 and ITS2, and one mitochondrial, COI). Moreover, several morphological characters were used for multivariate morphometric analyses. Finally, presence and prevalence of bacterial endosymbionts among species were investigated. Phylogenies based on ribosomal markers suggest that traditional species are correctly delimited, whereas COI phylogeny suggests hybridization and introgression occurring between Liophloeodes species. Morphometric analyses confirmed low interspecific diversity. Two major bacterial endosymbionts, Rickettsia and Wolbachia, were detected in many populations. We argue that Liophloeodes consists of young lineages whose evolution and diversification was possibly mediated by cyclic climate change events.

The red-neck longhorn beetle Aromia bungii (Faldermann) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is a xylophagous pest of stone fruit trees native to East Asia. The species was accidentally introduced in Italy (Campania Region) before 2010, but its presence was formalized only in 2012 following the record of massive infestations on numerous Prunus sp. trees. A. bungii attacks healthy plants, where the larvae bore galleries under bark, in the sapwood and heartwood of trunk and main branches, weakening the whole plant due to the interruption of the lymphatic flows. Field samplings conducted in collaboration with the Regional Phytosanitary Service, soon highlighted that A. bungii may represent a serious threat to stone fruit crops, and therefore the alien pest was first added to the EPPO Alert list and in 2014 to the EPPO A1 list. Due to the lack of reliable data about A. bungii biology, since 2015 laboratory studies were carried out to improve knowledge on life history and to program its adequate IPM. Different biological parameters such as the longevity of both sexes at two different temperatures and food supplies, ovigeny index, daily oviposition, realized fecundity and fertility were investigated. A possible correlation between body size and fecundity of females was assessed. The maximum longevity was reached by fed males at 20°C while starved females at 25°C showed the shortest life span. A. bungii had an ovigeny index of 0.6 showing its pro-ovigenic status and the oviposition period lasted up to two months. Females laid in average 450 eggs with hatching rate above 70%. The largest amount of eggs was laid during the first week after mating. No correlation body size/fecundity was found. Obtained results suggest that the high biotic potential of A. bungii can explain the establishment in short time of a harmful population in the outbreak area of southern Italy.

Few Aphrophoridae, namelyPhilaenus spumarius,P. italosignusandNeophilaenus campestris,transmitXylella fastidiosa paucaST53 causing the Apulian OQDS (Olive Quick Decline Syndrome) episode. Vector control is the effective, least impacting and sustainable action to manage and contain insect-borne pathogens. One of us (Porcelli) presented the first draft of an Aphrophoridae vector control strategy during the Symposium in Gallipoli. The same author proposed a more elaborated scheme for EFSA in the POnTE H2020 project kick-off. The strategy targets juvenile spittlebugs for vector control also because they are out of the olives trees, unable to transmit and far in time from transmission risks, pretty delicate and susceptible to several meansforcontrol, relatively easy to countex-anteandex-postcontrol action, with a control window wide enough to allow a second chance in case of first control action failure. Vector population size is among the few key factors shaping a rational control strategy. Still, traditional adult sweeping net sampling or juvenile seeking by a looking glass does not gather the needed quantitative data.In 2016 we faced the need for novel sampling techniques focused on juvenile spittlebugs because naiades and nymphs are into the spittle and almost immotile, thus appearing as the best possible instars for population measure. The first flotation experiments consisted of collecting herbs in olive orchards, either managed or abandoned and in urban areas from within a transect and washing the plants in water untilcollecting all thejuveniles. Reducing the transect size from 0.25 to 0.04 m2and adding NaCl and Sucrose to increase the juvenile floating, we suggest a method simple and effective that recorded the highest Aphrophoridae juvenile population (about 10,470,000 per ha). Flotation demonstrated striking differences in population among managed, unmanaged groves and urban environments.

Red palm weevil (RPW) infestations menace palms with historical, economic, and landscape importance in many regions of the world. Despite human efforts, the pest is still undeterred by actual control actions. Seeking out symbiotic Bacteria repository associated with RPW female reproductive apparatus, we encountered two paired and possibly eversible cone-shaped pouches, which open on both sides of the membranes between the spiculum ventrale and vaginal base. Such structures, never observed previously, can be inflated and everted by injecting and pressuring the weevil with human physiological solution. The study by macrophotography, stereoscopy, bright field light microscopy, SEM, and Cryo- SEM showed that the ventral cuticle of the cones is membranous and decorated with minute seta-like processes (microtrichia) plus scarce setae. The dorsal cuticle is somewhat sclerotized, with the exposed side pitted by single or grouped (2-20) apparent duct openings. Such openings should correspond to gland outlets, are served either by a pore-channelled sieve or by a long ducted end-apparatus on the body side of the cuticle. Non-destructive investigations and high-resolution micro-computed tomography 3D observations (HR-μ-CT,-400 nm resolution) of resting vaginal base and its content allows the study of the organ interrelationship within the reproductive system, from the common oviduct to ovipositor tip. μ - CT provided very detailed anatomical micrographs of retracted pouches, common oviduct, copulatory pouch, cuticle and membranes. Muscles are also recognized. These evidence show complex gross anatomy and morphology of the region, persuading to further clarify the possible function of the structure.

Soikiella italica Viggiani sp. n. (Figs 1���6) Description. Female. Body length: 0.72��0.087 (SD) mm (n=15). Coloration: Body dark brown, head with eyes dark red and frons yellowish. Antenna with light brown flagellar segments. Mesosoma with longitudinal yellowish line medially extending from mesoscutum to propodeum. Legs dark brown except fore and middle tibiae and tarsi light brown, and apex of hind femur and hind tarsus light brown. Fore wing with light brown veins and basally with a pale infuscation. Antenna (Fig. 1) inserted just below the level of the lower margin of eyes; scape elongate, 3�� as long as wide, and with a very short radicle about 1/5 length of scape; pedicel subconical, about 1/2 scape length; anellus very small, about 1/5 length of radicle; funicular segment subglobular or cup-shaped, not subcylindrical, slightly wider than long, with one placoid sensillum (pls) on side; club compact, twice as long as wide or slightly longer, C1 cup-shaped, about twice as wide as long, C2 asymmetrical, as long as width of C1, C3 asymmetrical, about as long as C2, tapering at apex, with ventral surface strongly curved, dorsal surface straight and with a short terminal tubular projection, club segments respectively with 1, 2 and at least 2 pls. Mandible tridentate. Maxillary palpus 1-segmented, subcylindrical, twice as long as wide and with a terminal strong seta about twice the length of the palpus and with another shorter seta. Mesosoma half as long as metasoma; mesoscutum with reticulate sculpture, weakened on scutellum; mesoscutum and scutellum each with two pairs of setae, the anterior pair on scutellum slightly shorter than posterior pair (Fig. 2). Metanotum short, the same length as propodeum. Propodeum medially extended in a prominence and dorsal surface with some striations. Mesophragma not extended beyond second segment of gaster. Fore wing (Fig. 3) broad, with distal margin rounded, 1.8�� as long as wide, with short venation not reaching mid-length of wing; ratios of subcostal, premarginal, marginal and stigmal veins = 20:10:10:5. Subcostal vein with 1 seta, premarginal vein with 2 setae and broad marginal vein with 3 setae on front margin. Stigmal vein with a short neck. Discal ciliation arranged in distinct rows reaching distal margin; marginal fringe short, not longer than stigmal vein. Hind wing with three complete rows of small setae on disc. Legs with relative ratios of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tibial spur and (tarsal segments): front leg = 15:5:22:22:3:(7:8:7); middle leg = 10:5:22:30:5:(7:8:8); hind leg = 20:7:25:32:5:(8:8:8). Gaster rather parallel sided, pointed distally. Ovipositor (Fig. 4) very short, with base inserted at level of the fifth apparent segment of gaster and as long as the front tibia. Male. General features and coloration as for female, except antennae and the sexual structures. Body slightly smaller: 0.53��0.057 (SD) mm (n. 3). Antenna (Fig. 5) with two funicular segments distinctly differentiated from 3-segmented club. F1 and F2 subequal, both transverse, about twice as wide as long, with F2 having distal margin rather convex, not straight as in F1; club conical, longer than funicle (20:13), 2.4�� as long as wide, all segments slightly asymmetrical, subequal in length; funicle and club segments each bearing a whorl of strong, spiniform sensilla. Gaster less pointed distally than female. Genitalia (Fig. 6) short, ovoid, length (from the base to end of parameres) 0.1 mm, 0.6�� length of hind tibia, of same type as described for S. mongibelli and S. occidentalis (Kostadinov 1990; Velten & Pinto 1990), and apparently without specific characters. Remarks. Soikiella italica is distinguished from S. asiatica and S. mongibelli by the presence of a placoid sensillum on F1. This feature and length of the anterior pair of setae on the scutellum is shared with S. occidentalis, but it is distinguished from the latter species primarily by the following characters: F1 not subcylindrical, but cupshaped or subglobular, first club segment with one placoid sensillum, and male with second funicular segment not markedly tapering to apex. Molecular data (18S and 28S sequences) support separate species status for S. italica because while it is morphologically most similar to S. occidentalis its 28S and 18S fragments are identical to those of S. mongibelli. A single gap for 18S (position 361) and 5 different bases (position 334, 388, 520, 539 and 779) for 28S D2-D3 distinguish S. occidentalis from S. mongibelli and hence from S. italica. However, these two very-conserved regions (compared to COI and ITS2) are often invariant between closely related species that are instead well differentiated on the basis of other genes (Heraty et al. 2007; Sumer et al. 2009; Gebiola et al. 2010; 2012). Etymology. The species is named after the country where it was collected, Italy. Sample Locality Coordinates Collecting Gall maker Host plant Emergence of Number of Identified date species parasitoids specimens parasitoids and sex 10-9-13 Ascoli Piceno (Italy) 42��49��N 13��35��E 04/ix/2013 Artracris macrorhyncus Acer opalus obtusatus 10/ix/2013 2♀ Soikiella italica 31-10-13 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 31/x/2013 1♀ Trichogramma sp. 5-11-13 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 05/xi/2013 3♀ Trichogramma sp. 11-11-13 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 11/xi/2013 8♀ Trichogramma sp. 9-12-13 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 09/xii/2013 2♀ Soikiella italica 7-1-14 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 07/i/2014 1♀, 2�� Soikiella italica 16-1-14 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 16/i/2014 1�� Soikiella italica 13-5-14 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 13/v/2014 6♀, 6�� Soikiella italica 19-8-2014 Montegallo (Italy) 42��50��N 13��18��E 23/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 19/viii/2014 7♀, 1�� Soikiella italica COC 13-11-13 Acquasanta Terme 42��43��N 13��26��E 30/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 13/xi/2013 1♀ Trichogramma sp. (Italy) COC 26-11-13 Acquasanta Terme 42��50��N 13��18��E 30/x/2013 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 26/xi/2013 1♀ Trichogramma sp. (Italy) 1 Galluccio (Italy) 41��19��N 13��58��E 24/iii/2016 Dryocosmus kuriphilus Castanea sativa 13/v/2016 2♀ Soikiella italica Morphospecies Locality Country Gall maker species Host plant Sex Emergence GenBank accession numbers data 18S 28S D2-D3 ITS2 COI Type material. Holotype (♀), on slide, ITALY: Interprete, Montegallo, 23.x.2013, from galls of D. kuriphilus, laboratory emergence 13.v.2014, collector E. Verdolini. Allotype (♂): same data as holotype. Paratypes: same place, date, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 9.xii.2013 (1♀); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 13.v.2014 (4♀ and 3♂); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 19.viii.2014 (3♀). Additional material. San Pietro (AP), 04.ix.2013, from maple leaves with galls of Artracris macrorhyncus (Nalepa), laboratory emergence 10.ix.2013, E. Verdolini coll. (2♀); same place, date, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 09.xii.2013 (1♀); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 07.i.2014 (1♀ and 2♂); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 13.v.2014 (1♀ and 2♂); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 19.viii.2014 (4♀ and 1♂); same collecting date, place, host and collector as holotype except laboratory emergence 16.i.2014 (1♂); Galluccio (CE), 24.iii.2016, from galls of D. kuriphilus, laboratory emergence 13.v.2016, U. Bernardo coll. (2♀). The holotype, allotype, 5♀ paratypes and all additional material is deposited in the entomological collection of the Dipartimento di Agraria-Sezione Biologia e Protezione dei Sistemi Agrari e Forestali, Portici (NA), Italia; other paratypes (1♀ and 1♂ for each institution) will be deposited as follows: National History Museum, London; Entomology Research Museum, University of California, Riverside; and National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. Other material examined. For morphological comparison with congeneric species the following material was examined: Soikiella mongibelli: Italy, Camigliatello Silano, 23.vi.1988, J. D. Pinto coll. (1♀ and 1♂, on slide); Calabria (CS), La Sila, Lorica, 1300 m, 23.vi.1988, J- D. Pinto coll. (2♀); Calabria (CS), Piano di Campolungo, 23.vi.1988, J- D. Pinto coll. (1♀); Soikiella occidentalis: USA, Wa., Yakima Co., Yakima, 20.vii.1988, sweeping primarily Salix along river, R. K. Velten coll (2♀ paratypes, on slide). Additional material from USA on slide: 19♀ and 14♂. Host. The present study records the first host plant from which specimens of Soikiella emerged. It seems reasonable to exclude D. kuriphilus and other gall makers as hosts of the new species as the galls were collected when the eggs of cynipids were absent. Very probably the chestnut galls induced by D. kuriphilus are used by other insects (e.g. Diptera) as oviposition sites (Nakamura & Nakamura 1977; Bernardo et al. 2013). Their eggs are likely the actual host of Soikiella. The short ovipositor and antennae, the latter with a rather asymmetrical club, in Soikiella species suggest that the host eggs should be well exposed to the parasitoid. As reported by Velten & Pinto (1990) one female of S. mongibelli from Israel was recorded from eggs of M. negevensis. No other host record is known. Based on the emergence dates in the laboratory, it is supposed that the new species produces more than one generation per year., Published as part of Bernardo, Umberto, Gualtieri, Liberata, Nugnes, Francesco, Verdolini, Elisa, Riolo, Paola & Viggiani, Gennaro, 2017, A new species of Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from Italy, pp. 185-192 in Zootaxa 4242 (1) on pages 187-190, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4242.1.10, http://zenodo.org/record/376083, {"references":["Kostadinov, D. N. (1990) New genera and species of Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) for the fauna of Bulgaria and description of the male of Soikiella mongibelli Nowicki. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 39, 57 - 60.","Velten, R. & Pinto, J. D. (1990) Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae): occurrence in North America, description of a new species, and association of the male. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 66 (3), 246 - 250.","Sumer, F., Tuncbilek, A., Oztemiz, S., Pintureau, B., Rugman-Jones, P. & Stouthamer, R. (2009) A molecular key to the common species of Trichogramma of the Mediterranean region. BioControl, 54, 617 - 624. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10526 - 009 - 9219 - 8","Gebiola, M., Bernardo, U. & Burks, R. (2010) A reevaluation of the generic limits of Pnigalio Schrank (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) based on molecular and morphological evidence. Zootaxa, 2484, 35 - 44.","Gebiola, M., Gomez-Zurita, J., Monti, M. M., Navone, P. & Bernardo, U. (2012) Integration of molecular, ecological, morphological and endosymbiont data for species delimitation within the Pnigalio soemius complex (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Molecular Ecology, 21, 1190 - 1208.","Nakamura, M. & Nakamura, K. (1977) Population dynamics of the chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Oecologia, 27, 97 - 116.","Bernardo, U., Gebiola, M., Xiao, Z., Zhu, C. - D., Pujade-Villar, J. & Viggiani, G. (2013) Description of Synergus castaneus n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) associated with an unknown gall on Castanea spp. (Fagaceae) in China. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 106, 437 - 446."]}

Key to species of Soikiella Keys to the known species of Soikiella Nowicki in the world were provided by Velten & Pinto (1990) and He et al. (2009). The latter key, which does not take into account that provided by Velten & Pinto (1990), is based on characters that are very difficult to evaluate, such as basal infuscation of the fore wing, arrangement of setae on the fore wing, and lengths of the mesophragma and ovipositor. The following key, except for S. asiatica, which remains a questionable species near S. mongibelli, is based on examination of the original material. 1 Scutellum with anterior pair of setae at least two-thirds length of posterior setae (Fig. 2); female funicle with one placoid sen- sillum (Fig. 1)........................................................................................2 - Scutellum with anterior pair of setae not longer than half length of posterior setae (Fig. 7); female funicle without placoid sen- sillum...............................................................................................3 2 Female funicle subcylindrical; first club segment with two placoid sensilla (Fig. 8); male F2 subtrapezoidal, widest at basal third and tapering to apex (Fig. 9)................................................ S. occidentalis Velten and Pinto - Female funicle subglobular or cup-shaped; first club segment with one placoid sensillum (Fig. 1); male F2 1.2× wider than long, not tapering from basal third to apex (Fig. 5).............................................. S. italica Viggiani 3 Club 2× as long as wide................................................................ S. asiatica Lou et Yuan - Club 2.5× as long as wide.............................................................. S. mongibelli Nowicki

Negli ultimi anni si è assistito allo sviluppo ed all’applicazione dei metodi molecolari per la discriminazione specifica che ha permesso di caratterizzare molte specie di imenotteri laddove studi tassonomici classici avevano fallito. I dati molecolari, in particolare se integrati con dati di tipo morfologico, biologico ed ecologico, possono risultare decisivi nella discriminazione a livello specifico. A consolidare lo studio biosistematico, spesso a tali dati si accosta lo studio degli endosimbionti. Il genere Anagrus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) comprende ooparassitoidi di cicaline e altri omotteri, alcuni dei quali impiegati in programmi di controllo biologico in diversi agroecosistemi. Lo studio e la classificazione tradizionale, basata sui caratteri morfologici, delle specie di Anagrus appartenenti al gruppo atomus sono molto difficoltosi a causa della convergenza dei caratteri e la frequente riduzione o perdita di elementi discriminanti. Pertanto la revisione delle specie afferenti a tale genere è tuttora in atto su scala mondiale. Il presente lavoro dimostra l’efficacia dell’approccio integrato nella discriminazione delle specie del gruppo atomus. Sono stati indagati i rapporti intercorrenti tra 3 popolazioni di Anagrus del gruppo atomus appartenenti a differenti sistemi pianta - cicalina ospite - parassitoide : 1.Salvia sp. - Eupterix decemnotata - A. atomus; 2.Mentha sp. – E. zelleri – A. ustulatus e 3.Quercus ilex – Lindbergina aurovittata - A. ustulatus. L’approccio molecolare ha previsto l’individuazione di marcatori specifici tramite la tecnica dell’Intersimple Sequence Repeat (ISSR-PCR) e l’analisi di tratti di DNA ribosomale (28S-D2 e ITS2) e mitocondriale (COI). Dal sequenziamento di tali regioni e l’implementazione in programmi di filogenetica, la popolazione parassitoide di L. aurovittata è stata discriminata rispetto alle altre due popolazioni, risultate invece monofiletiche. Tali risultati sono stati confermati anche dall’analisi ISSR. Tramite la tecnica della DGGE e l’MLST System, si è proceduti all’identificazione e alla caratterizzazione di colonie batteriche endosimbionti associati alle specie di Anagrus indagate. Tali analisi hanno messo in evidenza la presenza dell’endosimbionte Wolbachia appartenente al supergruppo B nella popolazione del mimaride infeudata alla Lindbergina. Pertanto la presenza di soli individui femminili fa ipotizzare una probabile manipolazione della riproduzione ad opera di Wolbachia. dall’analisi morfometrica effettuata, il rapporto lunghezza ovopositore/lunghezza protibia, permette di distinguere la popolazione di Anagrus proveniente da Q. ilex rispetto alle altre due, le quali hanno mostrato una forte sovrapposizione nei caratteri morfologici considerati. Contrariamente a quanto emerso dagli studi morfo-molecolari, i crossing test, effettuati sulle popolazioni provenienti da Mentha e Salvia, ne hanno confermato l’isolamento riproduttivo in quanto non si sono verificati accoppiamenti incrociati tra individui di sesso opposto provenienti dai suddetti sistemi. Infine, i campionamenti e monitoraggi effettuati in lecceta, hanno evidenziato che la popolazione di Anagrus parassitoide di Lindbergina presenta una biologia particolare. Infatti durante il periodo estivo autunnale, quando la cicalina non è presente sulla pianta ospite, il parassitoide arresta il suo sviluppo allo stadio larvale intermedio, ritardando lo sfarfallamento degli adulti all’inizio dell’inverno in concomitanza con il ritorno dell’ospite. Quindi, sulla base dei dati morfometrici, biologici e molecolari, A. ustulatus vincolato alla cicalina L. aurovittata su Q. ilex è da ritenere una specie distinta dall’A. ustulatus sensu Chiappini (1989).

Aleurocanthus spiniferus also known as orange spiny whitefly (OSW), is a pest native to tropical Asia that in the last century has spread throughout Asia, reaching Africa, Australia, and Pacific islands. In 2008 the first European OSW population was recorded in Apulia region (South East Italy) and allowed EPPO to add the species as a quarantine threat to Europe now in the A2 list. In the following years OSW spread and invaded new territories of Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. Although OSW polyphagy is already well-known, new associations with autochthonous and allochthonous plants have been reported showing its host-shifting ability. To counteract an upcoming pan-Mediterranean invasion updated bio-ethological information of the pest and the role of possible natural enemies are essential to implement a correct IPM strategy. Field samplings have been aimed at the identification of natural enemies and the evaluation of their efficacy. Furthermore, through insect small-RNA sequencing and by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) technique coupled with 16S-rRNA gene sequencing, the primary symbiotic bacteria of OSW have been identified. Sampling on natural enemies highlighted the presence of predatory species belonging to the Coccinellidae family. Besides to the almost ineffective populations of Oenopia conglobata and Clithostetus arcuatus, new findings detected scattered Delphastus sp. populations along the western coast of Italy. Both adult and larvae of this ladybird species preyed OSW developmental stages. The evaluation of the role of Delphastus sp. as biocontrol agent is underway. The first study on OSW microbiota allowed to find symbiotic bacteria commonly associated with the genus Aleurocanthus: Portiera sp., Serratia sp., Wolbachia sp., Rickettsia sp. and, although sporadically, other species. Further studies will target the functional role of these symbionts to develop an effective IPM tailored for Countries at risk.

The orange spiny whitefly (OSW), Aleurocanthus spiniferus, is a worldwide known citrus pest native to tropical Asia. Since the beginning of the 20th century, OSW spread throughout Asia, the Pacific, central and Southern Africa and from 2008 it was intercepted many times in EPPO area (Italy, Croatia and Montenegro). OSW polyphagy is well known, being able to infest more than 90 host plants belonging to unrelated botanical families, although Citrus spp. are considered the primary hosts. Accurate samplings highlighted OSW new host associations extending the range of plant families potentially exploitable and confirming the existence of host-shift phenomena. Analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed that OSW Apulian population belongs solely to one of the two haplogroups present in China. Furthermore, the study of microbiota allowed us to identify the principal endosymbiotic bacteria in OSW. So far, field samplings confirmed the presence of predators belonging to Coccinellidae family able to prey on different evelopmental stages of A. spiniferus. These findings could be considered as an opportunity for biological control of OSW. Results laid solid foundations in the knowledge of European OSW populations now invading Italy and neighbouring countries to counteract a pan-Mediterranean invasion of this harmful whitefly. Further studies are essential for the assessment of an effective IPM strategy tailored either for organic or intensive agricultural context.