It is reported that in 2015 an invasive powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe macleayae (Erysiphales, Ascomycota), formerly known in Ukraine only in its anamorph stage, began to form mature fruiting bodies on Chelidonium majus and Macleaya microcarpa (Papaveraceae). Morphologically, they are almost identical to the chasmothecia of Slovak specimens. Ukrainian materials are also similar to E. macleayae samples described from China although having slightly larger chasmothecia and slightly smaller asci and ascospores. Teleomorph of the fungus was found in three localities in the city of Kiev and Kiev Region. Another species of Macleaya, M. cordata, was infected only by the anamorph of E. macleayae. The specimens studied are stored in the National Herbarium of M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (KW). The authors assume that formation of fruiting bodies of E. macleayae may be caused by an extremely hot summer in 2015. Another possible explanation is that a new biotype of E. macleayae has migrated from South Asia into Ukraine and subsequently formed mature chasmothecia through the sexual process with the indigenous European populations of the fungus.
In the latitude of Kiev, 80% of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande 1895) population was caught on the colour traps from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in winter. Meanwhile, 10% of the population did not react to the colour traps at all (''passive'' individuals), whereas for 20% of the population it was impossible to determine the clear colour with attractive properties. The thrips attracted with blue and yellow color traps, had more massive and variable body parts to be connected with their flight. Their antennae and segment sizes were significantly smaller than compared to the control variant, which could be explained by eyesight domination over other organs of sensory orientation. The indices of heterogeneity of morphological features can be used as evaluation criteria for the adaptive variability and stability of the thrips population.
The spider mite Schizotetranychus spireafolia Garman, 1940 is found on plants of the genus Spiraea L. in A. V. Fomin Botanical Garden, Kyiv (Ukraine). Th is is the second record of the species in Ukraine. Th e species diagnosis with measurements of body, legs and dorsal setae for male and female mites was given. New data on distribution, ecology of mites is obtained, and damage to plants was described for the first time. Th e pest density was different on various species, forms and sorts of Spiraea L. plants, and did not depend on leaf pubescence.
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