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Establishment of the pineapple mealybug D ysmicoccus brevipes ( H emiptera: P seudococcidae) in I taly
Author(s) -
Suma P.,
Mazzeo G.,
La Pergola A.,
Nucifora S.,
Russo A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/epp.12206
Subject(s) - mealybug , phoenix dactylifera , horticulture , botany , hemiptera , biology , palm , physics , quantum mechanics
The establishment of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Italy is reported in this paper. The different instars of the mealybug found during winter in Sicily on the aerial roots of adult date palms ( Phoenix dactylifera L.), suggests that D. brevipes has a strong capability to survive and continue its development even under cold temperatures. The establishment of this mealybug in Sicily could represent a serious threat for vineyards, considering the damage observed in South America to the ‘Italia’ grape variety, one of the most widely cultivated table grapes in the island. The application of control strategies should probably be considered.