Premium
Rhyzopertha dominica (F., 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): a stored grain pest on olive trees in Sicily
Author(s) -
Buonocore E.,
Lo Monaco D.,
Russo A.,
Aberlenc H. P.,
Tropea Garzia G.
Publication year - 2017
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.12383
Subject(s) - pest analysis , bostrichidae , biology , population , wilting , horticulture , outbreak , toxicology , botany , agronomy , demography , virology , sociology
In October 2014 samples were collected from olive trees growing in South‐Eastern Sicily (Italy) that were showing wilting symptoms. In the field, clear signs of flagging appeared on young twigs and lateral shoots, and many leaves had fallen to the ground. Initial laboratory examinations of attacked twigs revealed the presence of a large number of adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F., 1792). Sampling was repeated during the following 2 years, and while an outbreak of the pest did not occur, continuous damage was observed. In 2016, exclusively using pheromone‐baited traps in olive trees, a large number of adults were captured. The main local climatic parameters were monitored from 2014 to 2016 and compared with the population levels. The incidence of damage and survival of R. dominica in an environment different from its usual one (stored grain) deserves attention, especially considering that climate change could greatly affect pest demographics and put olive trees in this area and further afield at risk of increased damage.