Andrea Sciarretta

Background: Recent studies indicated that frequent anthropogenic disturbances in tropical countries are primary drivers of the reduction in community diversity and local extinction of many insect taxa, including Lepidoptera. Biodiversity assessment provides information on the responses of different taxa to these anthropogenic changes, useful to develop evidence-based conservation strategies to reduce biodiversity loss. We assessed the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on lepidopteran assemblages across five different land uses (forest fragments, crop fields, Pasture land, rural settlement and undisturbed natural forest) in Choke Mountains, Ethiopia. Automatic light traps have been used in 16 sites, in 3 sites manual samplings have been performed. A total of 4,559 moths representing 14 families and 339 species were sampled. The highest diversity was obtained from the Natural Forest (269 species), followed by Forest Fragment (174), Pasture Land (148), Crop Fields (138), and Rural S...

Timely detection of an invasion event, or a pest outbreak, is an extremely challenging operation of major importance for implementing management action toward eradication and/or containment. Fruit flies—FF—(Diptera: Tephritidae) comprise important invasive and quarantine species that threaten the world fruit and vegetables production. The current manuscript introduces a recently developed McPhail-type electronic trap (e-trap) and provides data on its field performance to surveil three major invasive FF (Ceratitis capitata, Bactrocera dorsalis and B. zonata). Using FF male lures, the e-trap attracts the flies and retains them on a sticky surface placed in the internal part of the trap. The e-trap captures frames of the trapped adults and automatically uploads the images to the remote server for identification conducted on a novel algorithm involving deep learning. Both the e-trap and the developed code were tested in the field in Greece, Austria, Italy, South Africa and Israel. The F...

During the last decades, the economic importance of tephritid fruit flies (FF) has increased worldwide because of recurrent invasions and expansions into new areas, and reduced control capabilities of current control systems. Efficient monitoring systems, thus, are required to provide fast information to act promptly. With this aim in mind, we developed two electronic trap (e‐trap) versions for adult FF: one with specific volatiles for male and female adult Ceratitis capitata, and the second, based on the attraction of adult FF to yellow colour, targeting Dacus ciliatus, Rhagoletis cerasi and Bactrocera oleae. In the case of B. oleae, the female pheromone and ammonium bicarbonate were added as synergists. In the two versions, attracted FF were retained in the trap on glued surfaces. Real‐time images of the surfaces were automatically taken and transmitted to a server. We tested the two e‐trap versions in insect‐proof cages, where flies were released and recaptured, and in commercial...

Integrated Protection of Stored Products IOBC Bulletin Vol. 27 (9) 2004 pp. 59-68 59 Monitoring and spatial distribution of insect pests infesting a paddy rice storage facility Pasquale Trematerra 1*, Andrea Sciarretta 1, Maria Cristina De Paula 2 and Sonia Maria Lazzari 3 1 ...

Spatial heterogeneity in agricultural systems is recognised as an important source of variability to be investigated. In the evolution of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), patterns and processes that influence spatio-temporal dynamics in insect populations tend to assume more importance compared to the classical theory. Geostatistics represent a valuable tool to investigate the spatial pattern of insect populations and to support pest control. After an explanation of the geostatistical analysis, in the present paper we provided an overview of practical applications in managing pests, focusing on fruit orchards and vineyards. The utility of geostatistical tools is illustrated with examples taken from field studies, with attention to the analysis of spatial patterns, monitoring schemes, use of traps, scale issues, precision targeting, and risk assessment maps. Potential approaches in the context of IPM are discussed in relation to future perspectives.    

ABSTRACT Abstract The spatio-temporal dynamics of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was investigated to evaluate the effect of the landscape elements and host plants on pest distribution, in an agricultural landscape of 500 ha located in Central Italy. Two farms (farm 1 and farm 2) are located in the experimental area, composing mixed fruit orchards and surrounded by hedgerows, small woodlots, private gardens and cereal fields. Ceratitis capitata population fluctuation was monitored, from 2006 to 2008, using traps baited with trimedlure. Geostatistical methods such as Inverse distance squared weighted were used to obtain distributional maps of adults, mainly males. Results showed that the adult Mediterranean fruit flies were primarily distributed inside farm 1, with the maximum density found in the months of September and October. Away from the principal host plants, particularly in cereal fields, the number of trapped individuals was always low or zero. In both farms, flies were caught sequentially in traps located on host plants (i.e. peach, apple, pear, oriental persimmon and prickly pear) at varying times of maturation, especially when fruits remained on the trees. Distributional maps provided evidence that allowed to identify habitats in which the fly developed early in the season (mixed peach orchards) and afterwards during the periodic flights.

... Pasquale Trematerra, Andrea Sciarretta, Elisabetta Tamasi Department of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of Molise, Via De Sanctis ... with different densities of adult primary pests lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius), or rice weevil, Sitophilus ...

<i>Prasinocyma monikae</i> sp. n. (Figs 18, 59) <b>Holotype.</b> 1 ♂, S. Ethiopia [southern Oromia], Sidamo, 13 Km, W Yabello, Motel, 1960m, 4.90 °N 38.01 °E, 28 <b>–</b> 30.III. 2009, leg. R. Beck, M. Dietl (BC ZSM Lep 45504, gen.prp. ZSM G 19404). <b>Description.</b> Adult (Fig. 18). Wingspan. Male 30 mm. Ground colour leaf green, slightly irrorated with white scales. Forewing without spot at the inner termen. On fore- and hindwings, black discal dot present, terminal dots absent. Hindwing termen very slightly angled at M 3. Length of male palpi 1.2 times diameter of eye, tip and upperside pale brownish, underside white. Frons green, pale towards proboscis. Antennae long bipectinate in male, antennal branches pale ochre. Male frenulum well developed. Male hindtibia with large white pencil, four spurs and a terminal process covering half of the first tarsomere. Male genitalia (Fig. 59). Uncus stout, broad at base. Valva elongate, subapical membranous lobe well developed, ventral part strongly corrugated. Sacculus membranous, at tip rectangularly curved towards costa, ending in a round, strongly spinose sclerite. Aedeagus very broad, slightly curved, length 2.0 mm, with a small terminal lateral tooth. Sternum A 8 with paired short triangular projections. <b>Differential diagnosis.</b> In habitus clearly distinguished from all other species lacking discal dots and/or having spots at the inner forewing margin as well as from all species with clearly angled hindwings, with whitish encircled discal dots and/or with terminal (fringe) dots. In habitus almost indistinguishable from the somewhat larger <i>P. aquamarina</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, but the large genetic distance (see below) clearly contradicts conspecifity. Ground colour somewhat darker than in <i>P. tricolorifrons</i>. Male genitalia unique, not matching any of the types examined in NHM and ZSM. <b>Genetic data.</b> BIN: BOLD:AAW 4692. Nearest neighbours in Ethiopia: <i>P. leveneorum</i> <b>sp. n.</b> (2.5 %), <i>P. croca</i> (5.4 %) and <i>P. fusca</i> < [...]

The <i>aetheraea</i> species-group Five species in Ethiopia. This grouping seems genetically very 'robust' in different alignments, algorithms, and also when excluding the third codon position from analysis. In male genitalia this is a rather homogenous group, socii absent (or reduced to small, hardly visible, setose patches), sacculus strongly sclerotized, with long and narrow, dorsal projection forming a characteristic forceps-shaped structure, sternum A 8 usually with sclerotized bilobous projection at centre. <i>P. stictimargo</i> (Warren, 1902) from Kenya may also belong to this group, judging from the shape of dorsal projection of sacculus in male genitalia, but here the ventral part of sacculus is not sclerotized to tip. For possible relationships with <i>P. robusta</i> <b>sp. n.</b> and <i>P. amharensis</i> <b>sp. n.</b> see above under the <i>nereis</i> species-group.

<i>Prasinocyma aquamarina</i> sp. n. (Figs 25, 94) <b>Holotype.</b> 1 ♀, SE. Ethiopia [Oromia], Bale Mts. 10 km S Rira, 2450m, 6.8092 N 39.6386 E, 25.III. 2009, leg. R. Beck, M. Dietl (BC ZSM Lep 26135; gen.prp. ZSM G 19455). <b>Description.</b> Adult (Fig. 25). Wingspan. Female 38 mm. Ground colour pale bluish green, irrorated with white strigulae. Forewings without spot at the inner termen. Fore- and hindwings with blackish green discal dot, terminal dots absent. Hindwing termen slightly angled at M 3. Length of female palpi twice diameter of eye. Frons pale green. Female antennae filiform. Female genitalia (Fig. 94). Antrum sub-rectangular. Sterigma (lamella postvaginalis) wide, with the anterior margin irregularly shaped. Ductus bursae of medium lengh. Corpus bursae pyriform, with small signum, laterally tapered and anteriorly with short, paired, tapering projections. <b>Differential diagnosis.</b> Slightly larger than <i>P. beryllaria</i> <b>sp. n.</b> (so far available only in the opposite sex), otherwise almost indistinguishable in habitus. Although only one female is available, the DNA barcode clearly supports its description as a new species. <b>Genetic data.</b> BIN: BOLD:AAF 8222. Nearest neighbours in Ethiopia: <i>P. leveneorum</i> <b>sp. n.</b> (1.9 %), <i>P. croca</i> (5.4 %), distance from <i>P. pupillata</i> (South Africa) 5.3 %, from <i>P. b e r y l l ar i a</i> <b>sp. n.</b> 9.9 %. Grouping more closely with the preceding undescribed species when excluding the 3 rd codon position. The close genetic relationship with <i>P. leveneorum</i> <b>sp. n.</b> (perhaps biased by the short-fragement condition of the sequence of <i>P. leveneorum</i> <b>sp. n.</b>) suggests them to be a pair of sibling species. <b>Etymology.</b> The name refers to the green ground colour similar to that of the aquamarine gem.

<i>Prasinocyma germinaria</i> (Guenée, 1858) (Figs 22, 63, 93) <i>Prasinocyma germinaria</i> Guenée (1858): 360. Locus typicus: 'Ethiopia' (not specified in detail), (Holotype ♂ MNHN, Paris, type photograph and type genitalia drawing examined in NHM). <b>Material. Amhara:</b> 1 ♂, Lake Tana (no. 82; BC ZSM Lep 83222, gen.prp. ZSM G 19589). <b>Oromia:</b> 2 ♂, West Shoa (locality no. 28; BC ZSM Lep 10047, 10062; gen.prp. ZSM G 19400); 2 ♂, Agere Maryam (no. 48; gen.prp. ZSM G 19634); 1 ♂, Bale (no. 39; gen.prp. DAEF GS). <b>Southern Nations:</b> 1 ♀, Kaffa (no. 62); 2 ♀, Kaffa (no. 31). <b>Redescription.</b> Adult (Fig. 22). Wingspan. Male and female 24 <b>–</b> 30 mm. Ground colour bluish green, irrorated with white strigulae. Forewings without spot at the inner termen. On fore- and hindwings, black discal dot present but variable in intensity, terminal dots absent. Hindwing termen round. Length of male palpi 1.2 times diameter of eye, tip and upperside brown, underside white. In female palpi twice of diameter of eye. Frons brown. Antennae bipectinate in male, filiform in female. Antennal branches pale ochre. Male frenulum present. Male hindtibia with white pencil and four spurs. Male genitalia (Fig. 63). Uncus dilated at centre. Valva broad, ventral margin with round subapical lobe. Distal part of sacculus sclerotized, with a harpe directed to the base and rectangulary bent towards the costa at tip, densely covered by bristles. Aedeagus comparatively short, length 1.45 <b>–</b> 1.65 mm, sigmoid, with two lateral sclerites, one sclerite slightly dentate. Sternum A 8 poorly sclerotized, with two shallow, truncate projections. Female genitalia (Fig. 93, described from NHM specimen). Sterigma strongly furrowed transversely, curved around antrum. Lamella postvaginalis with transverse furrows. Ductus burrsae long and narrow, towards antrum sclerotized. corpus bursae small, globular. Signum conspicuous. <b>Genetic data.</b> BIN: BOLD: AAH 7602. Intraspe [...]

Results regarding the combination of light-traps and coloured glue-boards for the trap and control of the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), are reported. Monitoring was performed using as basic structure PRO 80S UV fluorescent fly traps in a confinement swine farm in the south of Italy. During the trials, neon traps with a combination of glue-boards (yellow vs black and yellow vs white) and neon vs LED traps with yellow glue-boards were evaluated. Results indicated that yellow and black glue-boards were equally attractive to flies, with no significant differences. Light-traps captured significantly more flies when a white glue-board was used rather than a yellow panel. The neon lamp attracted significantly more flies than the LED lamp. According to our results, light-traps with white panels have potential to be employed in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for monitoring and controlling house flies in livestock farms and in food processing, reducing risks in...