Preliminary Results on the Spatio-Temporal Variability of Glycaspis Brimblecombei (Hemiptera Psyllidae) Populations From a Three-Year Monitoring Program in Sardinia (Italy)

Abstract

I.-Preliminary results on the spatio-temporal variability of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera Psyllidae) populations from a three-year monitoring program in Sardinia (Italy). The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei is an invasive insect species worldwide. Prolonged attacks by this psyllid may cause both direct and indirect damages to Eucalyptus trees, such as plant weakening, developmental reductions and phylloptosis, resulting in death within 2-3 years. After the first report in Campania (Italy) in 2010 on Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees, it quickly spread to all surrounding central-southern regions of Italy. In Sardinia, G. brimblecombei was first recorded in 2011, and is currently found throughout the island. From 2013 to 2015 a monitoring program was carried out in 11 locations throughout Sardinia in order to estimate the density pattern of both its adults and preimaginal stages, as well as the general population trend of G. brimblecombei over the years. An analysis of G. brimblecombei population abundance showed an almost stable level of infestation over the years, and a seasonal pattern with a population peak in the summer. However, an earlier peak of population abundance was detected in 2015 compared to the previous years. A spatial heterogeneity of the level of infestation was observed throughout the island, highlighting the potential effects of environmental conditions in regulating the populations of both G. brimblecombei and its natural enemies.

Insect Pests of Eucalyptus Plantations in Sardinia (Italy)

“…Adults and preimaginal stages were monitored by yellow sticky traps and leaf samples, respectively, in order to estimate the pest population density and natural mortality. Adult captures increased steeply from May-June and reached the highest values in late June-mid July, depending on the year, decreasing significantly from September onwards (MANNU et al, 2018). Egg and nymph dynamics showed a similar pattern (Fig.…”

“…In March 2012, a monitoring program was started in Sardinia in 12 sites located in the main areas of Eucalyptus cultivation (BUFFA, 2015;DEIDDA et al, 2016;MANNU et al, 2018). Adults and preimaginal stages were monitored by yellow sticky traps and leaf samples, respectively, in order to estimate the pest population density and natural mortality.…”

Infestation of Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on three Eucalyptus species in selected ecological zones in Malawi

“…Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), also known as red gum lerp psyllid, belongs to a genus of jumping plant lice called Glycaspis Taylor (Mannu et al, ; Tsagkarakis, Kalaitzaki, & Balotis, ; Wylie & Speight, ). It is native of Australia and feeds on different Eucalyptus species (Frasconi, Rossi, Antonelli, & Loni, ; Mannu et al, ).…”

“…Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), also known as red gum lerp psyllid, belongs to a genus of jumping plant lice called Glycaspis Taylor (Mannu et al, ; Tsagkarakis, Kalaitzaki, & Balotis, ; Wylie & Speight, ). It is native of Australia and feeds on different Eucalyptus species (Frasconi, Rossi, Antonelli, & Loni, ; Mannu et al, ). Glycaspis brimblecombei was detected outside Australia for the first time in 1998 in California, USA (Dhahri, Ben Jamaa, Garcia, Boavida, & Branco, ), and has since been introduced in several continents, including Central and South America, Europe and Africa (Frasconi et al, ).…”

“…The honeydew which is secreted by the nymphs causes development of black fungi (sooty mould), which reduces leaf photosynthesis (Huerta et al, ; Wylie & Speight, ). Although red gum lerp psyllid attacks a wide range of Eucalyptus species, it prefers members of the red gum species group: Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus tereticornis (Huerta et al, ; Mannu et al, ; Wylie & Speight, ). In southern California, red gum lerp psyllid infestation resulted in the death of thousands of mature E. camaldulensis trees and the removal costs of the dead trees were estimated at millions of dollars (Wylie & Speight, ).…”