Carob pests in the Mediterranean region: bio-ecology, natural enemies and management options

Gugliuzzo, Antonio; Mazzeo, Gaetana; Mansour, Ramzi; Garzia, G. Tropea

doi:10.1007/s12600-019-00766-7

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Among these, Laurus nobilis L. [ 25 ] and carob tree ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) have been reported as preferred host plants [ 29 ]. Unusual heavy pest infestations on large branches and trunks, associated with serious decline and wilting, have been recently observed on carob trees in Sicily (Southern Italy) [ 29 – 31 ]. Carob is a thermophilous arboreal species characteristic of the olea-lentisc and carob groups (belonging to the Oleo sylvestris-Ceratonion siliquae alliance) [ 32 ] and it is a widespread and long-living tree in Mediterranean woodland vegetation [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in population structure of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and its associated fungi in a southern Mediterranean environment

et al. 2020

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Exotic ambrosia beetles are increasing in Europe due to global trade and global warming. Among these xylomycetophagous insects, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a serious threat for several Mediterranean host plants. Carob trees growing in Sicily (Italy) have been extensively attacked by beetles leading to rapid tree decline. Although X. compactus has been found in Europe for several years, most aspects of its ecology are still unknown. We thus studied the population structure and dynamics of X. compactus, together with its twig size preference during a sampling of infested carob trees in south east Sicily. In addition, fungi associated with insects or galleries were isolated and characterized. The results showed that, in this newly-colonized environment and host plant, adult X. compactus overwinters inside twigs and starts to fly and reproduce in mid spring, completing five generations before overwintering in late fall. The mean diameter of carob twigs infested by the beetle varied significantly over the seasons, with the insect tending to infest larger twigs as season progresses. The mean number of adults/gallery was 19.21, ranging from 6 to 28. The minimum temperature significantly affected the overwintering adult mortality. Ambrosiella xylebori and Fusarium solani were the main symbionts associated with the pest in this study. Acremonium sp. was instead recorded for the first time in Europe inside X. compactus galleries. Several other fungi species were also found for the first time in association with X. compactus. Our findings provide useful insights into the sustainable management of this noxious pest.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in population structure of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and its associated fungi in a southern Mediterranean environment

et al. 2020

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“…Anche siccità prolungate e ondate di calore possono essere all'origine delle pullulazioni dello scolitide. Gravi danni si registrano con crescente frequenza in Italia centro-meridionale, dove boschi di macchia mediterranea, vivai di piante forestali e ornamentali e verde urbano presente in parchi, giardini e viali vengono attaccati e devastati in poche settimane (Vannini et al 2017, Gugliuzzo et al 2019c, Contarini et al 2020. Danni economici importanti sono stati recentemente registrati anche in località turistiche della Lombardia (lago di Garda) e del Veneto (litorale veneziano) dove X. compactus ha colpito siepi e alberature.…”

Section: Dannosità E Sintomatologiaunclassified

Xylosandrus compactus, a new forest pest in Italy

Faccoli¹

2021

Forest@

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“…The beetle exhibits a cryptic life cycle because different biological stages develop, by feeding on mutualistic fungi, protected inside the plant xylem. Similar to other ambrosia beetles belonging to the tribe Xyleborini, only beetle females are able to fly, find susceptible hosts and cause damage to plant tissues 13,24,25 . Males are flightless and rarely leave infested maternal galleries where mating among siblings occurs 13,16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lethal and sublethal effects of synthetic and bioinsecticides toward the invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus

Gugliuzzo

Giuliano

Rizzo

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Exotic ambrosia beetles are emerging widespread pests of several wild and managed trees and shrubs. Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is one of the most invasive species causing damage to a broad range of host plants. Little information is available on its control, including the impact of insecticides. Bioassays were conducted to evaluate the potential of four bioinsecticides and seven synthetic insecticides in controlling X. compactus. Beetle mortality and sublethal effects on tunneling, cultivation of the mutualist fungus and reproduction were assessed.RESULTS: Concentration-mortality curves were determined for all tested insecticides. Lambda-cyhalothrin was the most toxic insecticide, showing the lowest estimated 90% and 50% lethal concentrations (LC 90 and LC 50 ), followed by deltamethrin and thiamethoxam. Acetamiprid caused the highest levels of mortality and brood size reduction under extended laboratory conditions. Moreover, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin caused the greatest mortality and, together with deltamethrin, strongly affected progeny occurrence inside infested galleries and beetle brood size. Among the bioinsecticides, pyrethrins significantly affected beetle survival under laboratory conditions, but not brood size in extended laboratory bioassays. Some of the tested insecticides had significant lethal and sublethal effects only when beetles were exposed to fresher residues, highlighting differences in toxicity persistence.CONCLUSION: This study provides first baseline toxicity data for synthetic insecticides and bioinsecticides with different modes of action and origin toward X. compactus, and the first evidence that several insecticides can cause multiple sublethal effects on this pest. These findings can help in building suitable integrated pest management packages against this pest.

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Carob pests in the Mediterranean region: bio-ecology, natural enemies and management options

Cited by 17 publications

References 95 publications

Seasonal changes in population structure of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and its associated fungi in a southern Mediterranean environment

Seasonal changes in population structure of the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus and its associated fungi in a southern Mediterranean environment

Xylosandrus compactus, a new forest pest in Italy

Lethal and sublethal effects of synthetic and bioinsecticides toward the invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus

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