Gaetana Mazzeo | University of Catania (original) (raw)
Papers by Gaetana Mazzeo
A new record in Italy of the mealybug Phenacoccus solani Ferris (Homoptera Coccoidea) on Encephal... more A new record in Italy of the mealybug Phenacoccus solani Ferris (Homoptera Coccoidea) on Encephalartos sp. (Cycadaceae) in cold greenhouse is reported together with some morphological comments.
In surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in Sicily and Liguria the Authors recorded the Di... more In surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in Sicily and Liguria the Authors recorded the Diptera Agromyzidae Phytoliriomyza jacarandae Steyskal & Spencer, 1978. This species, of South American origin, is now present in Argentina, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where it lives as leafminer of Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. (Bignoniaceae). Leafmines with larvae and pupae of this species, that are here recorded for the first time in Italian and European fauna, have been observed on J. mimosifolia.
Le aree altomontane del Monte Etna, caratterizzate da peculiari condizioni termoigrometriche e da... more Le aree altomontane del Monte Etna, caratterizzate da peculiari condizioni termoigrometriche e dalla presenza di numerose piante endemiche, hanno un grande interesse naturalistico e alcune di esse sono state inserite fra gli habitat prioritari ai sensi della Direttiva CEE 92/43. Alla conservazione di tali ambienti l'Unione Europea dedica una specifica attenzione e, attraverso il sistema europeo "Siti Natura 2000", dà applicazione agli impegni assunti con la sottoscrizione della Convenzione inter-
Zootaxa
A new mealybug species, Paracoccus leucadendri sp. nov., is described from Portugal. This is the ... more A new mealybug species, Paracoccus leucadendri sp. nov., is described from Portugal. This is the first record of a Paracoccus species from Europe. It is suggested that its presence in Portugal is the result of a fortuitous introduction with its host plant, Leucadendron sp. (Proteaceae). An identification key is presented to distinguish this new Paracoccus species from other mealybug species reported on Proteaceae in the world.
In a project set up in 2005 by the University of Catania, with the support of the Etna Park, stud... more In a project set up in 2005 by the University of Catania, with the support of the Etna Park, studies were performed on the anthophilous entomofauna and the Apis mellifera L. foraging activity, in a mountainous Mediterranean environment, characterized by a supramediterranean bioclimate and peculiar pioneering vegetation. Trials were carried out between June - October 2005 on Mount Tanaurpi (zone C high mountain in the Etna Park); the plants were enumerated and, along a transect about 400 m long, the anthophilous insects were recorded. At the start of the observations an apiary was installed to evaluate A. mellifera foraging activity both directly on flowering plants and by analysing the pollen taken from the traps placed at the beehives entrance. Of the plants observed, Astragalus siculus Biv., Senecio squalidus L. var. aetnensis (Jan in DC.) Fiori and Rubus aetnicus Ten. were actively foraged by A. mellifera and combed by Hymenoptera Apoidea of the Halictus Latr. and Lasioglossum Cu...
The Authors report the results of a research performed if Sicily in 1997-'98, aimed to assess... more The Authors report the results of a research performed if Sicily in 1997-'98, aimed to assess biodiversity in two areas, natural and cultivated, by studying the insects visiting flowers. The protocol involved monthly observation of the insects present on flowers, in predefined 200-m areas, at three-hours intervals throughout the day. The following groups of insects were mainly present: Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Rhynchota, whereas the presence of other groups was modest. The biocenotic complexity was assessed by applying biodiversity indices to the numbers of insects of the various Apoidea species observed, comparing both the data obtained, in each year, in the two research locations, and the data obtained for each location over the two years. The indices, as concerns the comparison between the two locations in the same year, revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences. In terms of Apoidea species composition over the two years, it was observed ...
Lettura tenuta durante la Tavola Rotonda "Le cocciniglie delle piante coltivate: nuove acquisizio... more Lettura tenuta durante la Tavola Rotonda "Le cocciniglie delle piante coltivate: nuove acquisizioni e possibili strategie di controllo". Seduta pubblica dell'Accademia -Firenze, 7 giugno 2013.
Bruco di Papilio hospiton (foto Alessandro Caddia) Sono qui raccolti i poster presentati in occas... more Bruco di Papilio hospiton (foto Alessandro Caddia) Sono qui raccolti i poster presentati in occasione del XXIV Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia. La responsabilità dei testi e delle figure rimane totalmente a carico degli autori dei singoli elaborati, che sono qui riprodotti senza alcuna rilevante modifica editoriale. E-book curato da R. Mannu con la supervisione del Comitato Organizzatore.
EPPO Bulletin, 2015
ABSTRACT The establishment of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococci... more ABSTRACT 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.
ABSTRACT The correct identification of pests is a basic requirement in IPM strategies for crop pr... more ABSTRACT The correct identification of pests is a basic requirement in IPM strategies for crop protection. In the case of Planococcus species the discrimination between similar taxa using morphological features is sometimes difficult because it is based on few microscopic characteristics not easily detectable. This is the case of the polyphagous and cosmopolitan mealybug Pl. citri (Risso), closely related to the congeneric Pl. ficus (Signoret). In the last years, given the increasing interest of economic damage of these insects, new methods were developed to distinguish the two species, all based on molecular techniques as RAPD-PCR and multiplex-PCR. With the aim of discriminating the two mealybugs, in our research we used two alternative methods: analysis of the ITS1 region and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) amplified by PCR. Furthermore, ITS1 analysis adds information on genetic variability of populations, but it requires significant time and is expensive. The PCR-RFLP used in the present study is more reproducible than RAPD-PCR and it is easier to develop than multiplex-PCR. All these methods provide researchers with powerful alternative tools for the rapid, accurate and unequivocal identification of these mealybugs in different agricultural fields, especially for the correct choice of parasitoids in integrated pest management. Moreover these techniques offer a new approach in the knowledge of biology and relationships between mealybugs, their host plants and natural enemies.
entsoc.gr
Scale insects are frequent invaders of new territories. The Bougainvillea mealybug, Phenacoccus p... more Scale insects are frequent invaders of new territories. The Bougainvillea mealybug, Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink, 2007, was recorded in Europe for the first time in 1999 in Spain (Almeria) and later in 2002 in Italy (Sicily). Initially, this unknown species was identified provisionally as Phenacoccus sp. Records of this species became frequent later when it was found in other localities in Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Great Britain, France (including Corsica), Monaco, and Portugal. The host plants of this mealybug were in most cases species of Bougainvillea.
A new record in Italy of the mealybug Phenacoccus solani Ferris (Homoptera Coccoidea) on Encephal... more A new record in Italy of the mealybug Phenacoccus solani Ferris (Homoptera Coccoidea) on Encephalartos sp. (Cycadaceae) in cold greenhouse is reported together with some morphological comments.
In surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in Sicily and Liguria the Authors recorded the Di... more In surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in Sicily and Liguria the Authors recorded the Diptera Agromyzidae Phytoliriomyza jacarandae Steyskal & Spencer, 1978. This species, of South American origin, is now present in Argentina, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where it lives as leafminer of Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. (Bignoniaceae). Leafmines with larvae and pupae of this species, that are here recorded for the first time in Italian and European fauna, have been observed on J. mimosifolia.
Le aree altomontane del Monte Etna, caratterizzate da peculiari condizioni termoigrometriche e da... more Le aree altomontane del Monte Etna, caratterizzate da peculiari condizioni termoigrometriche e dalla presenza di numerose piante endemiche, hanno un grande interesse naturalistico e alcune di esse sono state inserite fra gli habitat prioritari ai sensi della Direttiva CEE 92/43. Alla conservazione di tali ambienti l'Unione Europea dedica una specifica attenzione e, attraverso il sistema europeo "Siti Natura 2000", dà applicazione agli impegni assunti con la sottoscrizione della Convenzione inter-
Zootaxa
A new mealybug species, Paracoccus leucadendri sp. nov., is described from Portugal. This is the ... more A new mealybug species, Paracoccus leucadendri sp. nov., is described from Portugal. This is the first record of a Paracoccus species from Europe. It is suggested that its presence in Portugal is the result of a fortuitous introduction with its host plant, Leucadendron sp. (Proteaceae). An identification key is presented to distinguish this new Paracoccus species from other mealybug species reported on Proteaceae in the world.
In a project set up in 2005 by the University of Catania, with the support of the Etna Park, stud... more In a project set up in 2005 by the University of Catania, with the support of the Etna Park, studies were performed on the anthophilous entomofauna and the Apis mellifera L. foraging activity, in a mountainous Mediterranean environment, characterized by a supramediterranean bioclimate and peculiar pioneering vegetation. Trials were carried out between June - October 2005 on Mount Tanaurpi (zone C high mountain in the Etna Park); the plants were enumerated and, along a transect about 400 m long, the anthophilous insects were recorded. At the start of the observations an apiary was installed to evaluate A. mellifera foraging activity both directly on flowering plants and by analysing the pollen taken from the traps placed at the beehives entrance. Of the plants observed, Astragalus siculus Biv., Senecio squalidus L. var. aetnensis (Jan in DC.) Fiori and Rubus aetnicus Ten. were actively foraged by A. mellifera and combed by Hymenoptera Apoidea of the Halictus Latr. and Lasioglossum Cu...
The Authors report the results of a research performed if Sicily in 1997-'98, aimed to assess... more The Authors report the results of a research performed if Sicily in 1997-'98, aimed to assess biodiversity in two areas, natural and cultivated, by studying the insects visiting flowers. The protocol involved monthly observation of the insects present on flowers, in predefined 200-m areas, at three-hours intervals throughout the day. The following groups of insects were mainly present: Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Rhynchota, whereas the presence of other groups was modest. The biocenotic complexity was assessed by applying biodiversity indices to the numbers of insects of the various Apoidea species observed, comparing both the data obtained, in each year, in the two research locations, and the data obtained for each location over the two years. The indices, as concerns the comparison between the two locations in the same year, revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences. In terms of Apoidea species composition over the two years, it was observed ...
Lettura tenuta durante la Tavola Rotonda "Le cocciniglie delle piante coltivate: nuove acquisizio... more Lettura tenuta durante la Tavola Rotonda "Le cocciniglie delle piante coltivate: nuove acquisizioni e possibili strategie di controllo". Seduta pubblica dell'Accademia -Firenze, 7 giugno 2013.
Bruco di Papilio hospiton (foto Alessandro Caddia) Sono qui raccolti i poster presentati in occas... more Bruco di Papilio hospiton (foto Alessandro Caddia) Sono qui raccolti i poster presentati in occasione del XXIV Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia. La responsabilità dei testi e delle figure rimane totalmente a carico degli autori dei singoli elaborati, che sono qui riprodotti senza alcuna rilevante modifica editoriale. E-book curato da R. Mannu con la supervisione del Comitato Organizzatore.
EPPO Bulletin, 2015
ABSTRACT The establishment of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococci... more ABSTRACT 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.
ABSTRACT The correct identification of pests is a basic requirement in IPM strategies for crop pr... more ABSTRACT The correct identification of pests is a basic requirement in IPM strategies for crop protection. In the case of Planococcus species the discrimination between similar taxa using morphological features is sometimes difficult because it is based on few microscopic characteristics not easily detectable. This is the case of the polyphagous and cosmopolitan mealybug Pl. citri (Risso), closely related to the congeneric Pl. ficus (Signoret). In the last years, given the increasing interest of economic damage of these insects, new methods were developed to distinguish the two species, all based on molecular techniques as RAPD-PCR and multiplex-PCR. With the aim of discriminating the two mealybugs, in our research we used two alternative methods: analysis of the ITS1 region and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) amplified by PCR. Furthermore, ITS1 analysis adds information on genetic variability of populations, but it requires significant time and is expensive. The PCR-RFLP used in the present study is more reproducible than RAPD-PCR and it is easier to develop than multiplex-PCR. All these methods provide researchers with powerful alternative tools for the rapid, accurate and unequivocal identification of these mealybugs in different agricultural fields, especially for the correct choice of parasitoids in integrated pest management. Moreover these techniques offer a new approach in the knowledge of biology and relationships between mealybugs, their host plants and natural enemies.
entsoc.gr
Scale insects are frequent invaders of new territories. The Bougainvillea mealybug, Phenacoccus p... more Scale insects are frequent invaders of new territories. The Bougainvillea mealybug, Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink, 2007, was recorded in Europe for the first time in 1999 in Spain (Almeria) and later in 2002 in Italy (Sicily). Initially, this unknown species was identified provisionally as Phenacoccus sp. Records of this species became frequent later when it was found in other localities in Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Great Britain, France (including Corsica), Monaco, and Portugal. The host plants of this mealybug were in most cases species of Bougainvillea.