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While studying Septobasidium interaction with Diaspididae off Laurus nobilis L., Phillyrea latifolia L. and angustifolia L. in Apulia we found small - 1 to 3 millimetre - brown/black particles on plant bark. Each particle embeds or lays one or more dead armoured scales belonging to Aonidia lauri (Bouche) or Lepidosaphes flava (Signoret), depending on the host plant. The brown-black bodies were irregularly hemispheric, lobated and dull in appearance. We report the results of observations by light microscopy, SEM and X-rays microanalysis of foamy black matters that constitute most of the particles and embed the scale. Findings of hyphae (?) inside the dead insect bodies in connection to Diaspidid scale phenology at the time of death suggest that the particles result from an entomopathogenic or saprophytic interaction. Acknowledgement: we recognise the help and competence of Pasquale Trotti, SELGE UR3. laboratory responsible, for the SEM pictures & microanalysis and Prof Claudio Ciccarone (SAFE-UNIFG) for the tentative identification of the hyphae found associated with Aonidia lauri. We also recognize the support of Applied Ecology. Aonidia lauri (Bouche) is a common Diaspididae often found on Laurel where it infests trunk and twigs but leaves also. Septobasidium grows to great epiphytic thalli on the plant bark and often infects the scale (Porcelli, 2013). On the same Septobasidium-inhabited Laurel as on Pistacia lentiscus L. or Phillyrea latifolia and angustifolia there are numerous black-dull masses embedding one or more A. lauri or Lepidosaphes flava and often sheltering several more individuals under the margin of the masses themselves. Not sheltered scales are comparatively less than those that, possibly following a tygmotactic stimulus, prefer to fix near or under the masses. Moreover, scrutinising the masses one can easily find several or many scales almost entirely embedded in the black matter or still partially exposed. Even those masses that do not show scales embedded reveal one or more individuals inside the matter once purposely dissected. SEM study reveals the presence of stromatic and possibly penetrative hyphae associate with moniliform Nostoc-like chains glued by a foamy gelatinous sheath. Hyphae, Nostoc-like chains and jelly strongly resemble a species of Collema (Fungi) often symbiotically associates with Nostoc (Cyanobacteria) to form Lichen that in the case fills the scale body. Chemical elementary semiquantitative microanalysis supports the organic origin of the black matter. Next studies will confirm the nature of the actors involved in this intriguing phenomenon., Entomologica, V. 47 (2016)

Τα κοκκοειδή έντομα εμφανίζονται συχνά ως εισβολείς σε νέες περιοχές. Το είδος Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink, 2007, γνωστό και ως ψευδόκοκκος της βουκαμβίλιας παρατηρήθηκε για πρώτη φορά στην Ευρώπη το 1999 στην Ισπανία (Αλμερία) και αργότερα το 2002 στην Ιταλία (Σικελία). Αρχικά το είδος είχε αναγνωριστεί ως Phenacoccus sp. Κατα- γραφές του είδους έγιναν συχνότερες και σε άλλες περιοχές της Ισπανίας (συμπεριλαμβανομέ- νων και των Βελεαρίδων νήσων), στη Μ. Βρετανία, τη Γαλλία (συμπεριλαμβανομένης και της Κορσικής), το Μονακό και την Πορτογαλία. Τα φυτά ξενιστές ήταν στις περισσότερες περι- πτώσεις του γένους Bougainvillea., Scale insects are frequent invaders of new territories. The Bougainvillea mealybug, Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink, 2007, was recorded in Europe for the first time in 1999 in Spain (Almeria) and later in 2002 in Italy (Sicily). Initially, this unknown species was identified provisionally as Phenacoccus sp. Records of this species became frequent later when it was found in other localities in Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Great Britain, France (including Corsica), Monaco, and Portugal. The host plants of this mealybug were in most cases species of Bougainvillea.

The occurrence of Clausenia purpurea Ishii and Chrysoplatycerus splendens (Howard) (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae) in Europe (Italy) is here reported for the first time. These species were reared from females of the Comstock mealybug, Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) (Hemiptera Pseudococcidae), a species accidentally introduced into Italy. The complex of P. comstocki antagonists in Italy includes two other encyrtid species, already reported from Italy, namely Acerophagus maculipennis (Mercet) and Anagyrus sp. near pseudococci (Girault).

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Evaluation of the performance of different HCV PCR detection systems for HCV RNA: A nested PCR, considered the reference assay, was compared with two single-step methods (ss-PCR): the first is based on the detection of PCR products by liquid hybridization with a 32P end-labelled probe (isotopic ss-PCR), while the second assay is a colorimetric method (colorimetric ss-PCR) using microwell plate hybridization with a specific nucleic acid probe (Amplicor HCV PCR, Roche Diagnostics Systems).Sera from 56 patients with suspected hepatitis C infection based on reactive serology or altered liver parameters, and sera from 15 blood donors were tested for HCV RNA: After RNA extraction, the synthesized HCV cDNA was amplified in parallel using isotopic ss-PCR, colorimetric ss-PCR and nested PCR. The products were detected by autoradiography, color development and ethidium bromide fluorescence, respectively.In order to assess the analytical sensitivity of ss-PCR versus that of nested of PCR, experiments included serial dilutions of positive control samples. Results showed that both methods had an extinction signal at the 1:512 dilution. A comparative analysis of 71 clinical sera samples was obtained using the three protocols and the results clearly documented 100% concordance.Single step PCR methods for HCV RNA have a sensitivity equal to that of nested PCR and appear more suitable for diagnostic applications. Ss-PCR is safer than nested PCR in terms of both specificity and contamination problems. In particular, the Roche Amplicor HCV PCR assay minimizes sample exposure and management problems.