In the Mediterranean Basin, two species of true seed bugs in the genus Orsillus Dallas, O. maculatus Fieber and O. depressus Mulsant et Rey, share the exploitation of seed cones of Cupressaceae for feeding and reproduction and may carry spores of the pathogenic fungus Seiridium cardinale Sutton & Gibson, responsible for the cypress bark canker disease. We compared the life history of the two species. A total of 89 cone collections carried out in 10 Mediterranean countries confirmed that O. maculatus is most closely associated with Cupressus sempervirens L., although it may also infest some other Cupressus L. species and, more rarely, species of Chamaecyparis Spach. Orsillus depressus appears to be less host-specific, being capable of feeding and ovipositing on most of the native and exotic species of Juniperus L., Cupressus, and Chamaecyparis. On C. sempervirens, the abundance of each Orsillus species follows an inverted longitudinal gradient along the Mediterranean Basin, probably corresponding to the pathway of introduction of this tree species from its native eastern range towards western Europe. The dominance of O. maculatus progressively decreases from east to west, whereas O. depressus becomes dominant in the Iberian Peninsula. By contrast, O. depressus is the dominant seed bug on other Cupressaceae all over Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. In the area in which C. sempervirens has been introducted, both Orsillus species may live on the same tree, but morphological variability of both adults and nymphs often hinders accurate identification of the species. Based on frequency distribution, the relative length of the rostrum compared with that of the body seems to be a diagnostic character for specific identification of nymphs of the last two instars.

-Five half-sib families in an 18-year old family test of Cupressus sempervirens in Italy were compared for cone crop size, cone serotiny, and seed damage. The mean number of serotinous cones per tree was significantly different among families although families did not differ by the total number of cones produced during tree's lifetime. More than 60% of the cones were colonised either by a seed chalcid, Megastigmus wachtli, or by a seed bug, Orsillus maculatus, whereas pathogenic fungi (Seiridium cardinale, Pestalotiopsis funerea) were observed in less than 25% of these cones. The quantity and quality of seeds varied significantly among families and age of cones. Seed loss due to predators and pathogens was very important in serotinous cones, varying from 75.3% up to 90.8%. However, the remaining sound seeds showed a germination rate higher than 70% and cone serotiny seemed to play an important role in cypress reproductive biology.Cupressus sempervirens / cone / serotiny / seed predation / pathogenic fungi Résumé -Les cônes sérotineux de Cupressus sempervirens portent des graines viables même si les dégâts des ravageurs sont très importants. La production de cônes, la sérotinie et les dégâts causés aux graines ont été comparés entre cinq familles de demi-frères au sein d'un test de familles de Cupressus sempervirens de 18 ans d'âge en Italie. Des différences significatives entre familles ont été observées pour le nombre moyen de cônes sérotineux par arbre mais pas pour le nombre total de cônes produits par l'arbre au cours de sa vie. Plus de 60 % des cônes ont été attaqués par un chalcidien des graines, Megastigmus wachtli, ou par une punaise des graines, Orsillus maculatus, mais des champignons pathogènes (Seiridium cardinale, Pestalotiopsis funerea) n'ont été observés que dans moins de 25 % de ces cônes. La qualité et la quantité de graines a varié significativement entre familles et selon l'âge des cônes. La perte de graines due aux prédateurs et pathogènes a été plus importante dans les cônes sérotineux, s'élevant de 75,3 % à 90,8 % du potentiel de départ. Cependant, les graines restées saines étaient susceptibles de germer à plus de 70 %. Il semble que la sérotinie joue un rôle important dans la biologie reproductive du cyprès.Cupressus sempervirens / cône / serotinie / prédation des graines / champignons pathogènes

1 In the Mediterranean region, the eriophyoid mite Trisetacus juniperinus causes considerable damage to the evergreen cypress, Cupressus sempervirens L., particularly in nurseries and young stands, disturbing the apical growth of the tree. 2 The impact of mites on survival and apical growth of two commercial clones of cypress (Agrimed and Bolgheri), as well as the results of differently timed pesticide applications to suppress mite population on newly grafted trees, were evaluated. 3 Mites easily infested clonal scions from rootstocks that were previously infested in the nursery, inducing tip deformation and disturbance of the growth. Apical growth was significantly lower in infested than in control trees 2 years following the graft. 4 Deformed apical buds were left early by mites, which dispersed in the crown and may have incurred high mortality. This is interpreted as a defensive reaction of the cypress to the mite attack, which involves costs resulting in reduced apical growth in both clones. However, mites partly overcame tree defences in the Bolgheri clone. 5 Healthy rootstock and graft material should be used to limit damage and maintain plant growth because natural infestations rarely occur. In case of attack, a pesticide should be applied as soon as possible because precocious mite infestation has a log-lasting effect on tree growth, with considerable economic damage.

The green cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is of great interest for ornamental, reforestation and windbreak use in the whole Mediterranean basin. In Italy, seed material selected for resistance to the fungus Seiridium cardinale is produced in seed orchards by controlled crosses of parent trees. The insect pest showing the highest impact on seed cone production is Pseudococcyx tessulatana (Lep.; Tortricidae), which attacks cones during the initial growth period as well as full‐grown cones. The impact on the seed cone crop of the tortricid was estimated on a clone patented for its resistance to cypress canker (Agrimed 1). The attack was inversely related to the cone crop, as it concerned 36.7 % of cones in 1999 (high crop year) and the 66 % in 2000 (low crop year). In both years, about 90 % of the surveyed branches revealed cones attacked by P. tessulatana by the 1st life‐cycle larvae, whereas only 40 % of branches were also attacked by the larvae of the 2nd life cycle. The highest attack rate per branch was always observed on branches bearing a low number of cones. The potential of two control methods against P. tessulatana to protect cones which result from crossing a mother tree “Agrimed 1” with selected father trees was also evaluated in 2000. The protection given by a sleeve surrounding the branch was almost complete (0.4 % cone mortality), whereas a cone mortality of 24.3 % was observed on branches treated by the insecticide diflubenzuron. Sleeves appear to be useful to protect branches on which special crosses were done, but are expensive and time‐consuming and may favour the attack of the mealybug Planococcus vovae inside the sleeve. The insecticide application may represent a valid alternative, especially when protection should be directed toward a high number of branches.