Marco Colacci

• University of Molise

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is a key pest for fruit production in the Mediterranean and other areas of the world. With the aim of contributing to knowledge on the management of this pest, the present study analyses the spatial distribution of medfly sterile males released during a pilot application of Sterile Insect Te...

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a globally invasive species and an economically significant pest of fruit crops. Understanding the evolutionary history and local climatic adaptation of this species is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies. We conducted a comprehensive investigation using whole genome sequen...

In this paper new data are reported on 30 tortricid species collected during several expeditions to African counties ranging from Morocco, Canary Islands, Cabo Verde Islands, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia, and Republic of South Africa. The present material extended the documented geographic distribution of many previously described species....

Simple Summary The house cricket, Acheta domesticus, is one of the species recently authorised for production and commercialisation as novel food by European legislation. Powder from this insect can be used to enrich bread, extruded snacks, and pasta. The aim of this work was to analyse the behavioural response of one of the main pests of alimentar...

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is considered one of the most destructive fruit pests worldwide. Female medflies prefer to lay eggs in ripening, ripe, or overripe fruits. In deciduous orchards of temperate regions, fruitlets (juvenile fruits) of early cultivars could represent the earliest spring resource with a potential...

Butterflies and plant species are widely used as model systems in biodiversity and conservation research. However, little is known about spatial patterns of butterfly diversity linked to plant communities across coastal dune ecotones. We explored the relation between butterfly and vegetation diversity in a Mediterranean protected dune system in Cen...

Simple Summary Several insects can infest alimentary pasta. Since the olfactory sense in insects plays an important role in locating food sources, the aim of this work was to investigate the responses of adult maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais, to five commercially available categories of macaroni pasta made from cereals and/or legumes in an olfact...

In the paper are reported few notes on four Lepidoptera Tortricidae, Phtheochroa apenninana, Epinotia cinereana and Cydia indivisa not yet listed in the Italian fauna, and Cnephasia kenneli new also to Europe. P. apenninana was collected on Gran Sasso, Abruzzo; E. cinereana and C. indivisa were collected in South Tyrol; C. kenneli was found along t...

Coastal dune landscapes are characterized by a steep environmental gradient, and many insects are associated with specific sectors of the dune zonation. We investigated communities of diurnal lepidopterans in two different zones (the shifting dune and the backdune) in the Natura 2000 site Foce Trigno-Marina di Petacciato (N2K IT7228221; Central Ad...

In the paper 89 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae collected in the Sila Massif and surrounding territory (Calabria, southern Italy) are listed. Acleris silana sp. n. Trematerra is described and 17 species were added to the Calabrian fauna. Notes related to tortricid fauna of the region with biogeographic study and chorological analysis are also re...

Notes on the presence of the Omnivorous Leafroller, Platynota stultana (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), in Italy and its presence and interception in other European countries are reported. Geographical distributions and principal morphological and biological characters are illustrated. Considering the wide host range of P. stultana, this pest has the pot...

Simple Summary The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is considered one of the world’s most damaging pests, able to infest the fruits of over 300 plant species and adapt to a wide range of climatic zones. It can attack commercially important fruits and losses caused by this pest can be enormous without appropriate control measures. To con...

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 m...

Pest infestation in any stage can lead to a quality reduction in the finished products. This study aimed to detect Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Staphylococcus aureus in Alphitobius diaperinus adults, and in samples from broiler swabs, administered water and feed collected in a single house from a broiler production fac...

A list of 155 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae collected in Sicily (Italy) is reported. The two most numerous tortricid subfamilies recorded are the Olethreutinae and Tortricinae, which have 84 species and 70 species, respectively; the subfamily Chlidanotinae is represented by 1 species. Species belonging to almost all the tribes cited in the Ita...

Simple Summary Pasta factories can be infested by insects. By following the odour of cereal-based pasta, insects can enter packages of commercial products. The aim of this work was to compare the bioactivity of volatiles produced by cereal- and legume-based macaroni pasta on adults of granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius, in multi-choice behavioura...

A list of 67 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae recorded during several expeditions realized in Gargano territory (Southern Italy) is reported. The two most numerous tortricidsubfamilies rec-orded are the Olethreutinae and Tortricinae, which have 37 species and 30 species, respectively. Species belonging to almost all the tribes cited in the Italia...

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 combinat...

We assessed the effectiveness of a pheromone auto-confusion method applied for a three-year study (Years 1–3) in a confectionery factory store infested by almond moths, Ephestia cautella (Walker), based on pheromone traps and the presence of spermatophores in females captured with water traps. The application of Exosect® SP Tab pheromone dispensers...

Forty species of Tortricidae from North-Western Ethiopia are recorded of which fifteen species are described as new (Eugnosta amharana Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n.; Procrica sinuata Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n.; Metamesia flava Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n.; Clepsis paragongyla Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n.; Epichoristodes fekensae Razowski & Tre...

Caterpillars of the pine processionary moths, Thaumetopoea complex, cause serious defoliation to Cedrus, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga trees. Thaumetopoea caterpillars also have fine hairs on their abdominal tergites that contain a protein that can severely irritate and cause dermatitis in humans and domestic animals. The control of the T. pityocampa pine...

We examined 638 Lepidoptera specimens on the territories of 13 European countries in our search for parasitoids. We collected eggs, larvae and pupae. In total, 251 Lepidoptera species were identified, belonging to 169 genera from 30 families. Of the total sample, approximately one-third (32.23%) were parasitized. In 168 samples (26.42%), we identif...

A Decision Support System (DSS) was developed and evaluated to control the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedermann), by incorporating a semi-automatic pest monitoring and a precision targeting approach in multi-varietal orchards. The DSS consists of three algorithms. DSS1, based on the degree days calculation, defines when...

Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller) is a severe defoliator of various species of Pinus and Cedrus, while the urticanting hairs produced by its larvae cause public health problems for humans and pets. In the present study, we report results of trials (from summer 2015 until winter 2017) of mating disruption for management of T. pityoc...

The cover image, by Pasquale Trematerra et al., is based on the Original Contribution Mass‐trapping trials for the control of pine processionary moth in a pine woodland recreational area DOI: 10.1111/jen.12578.

A list of 181 species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae recorded during several expeditions realized in Calabria (southern Italy) is reported. Fifty-nine species are mentioned for the first time in Calabria. Of particular interest are 23 species that have as a southern limit of their distribution area the Calabria territory. © 2018 CREA-DC, Research Centr...

Thaumetopoea hellenica and Thaumetopoea mediterranea were recently described from Central Greece and Pantelleria Island (Italy), respectively. In this paper, we reported some information on their morphology, biological cycle and ecology. T. hellenica and T. mediterranea are closely related to T. pityocampa differing mainly in genetic characters. Mo...

The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, causes serious defoliation to Cedrus, Pinus and Pseudotsuga trees, as well as health problems in humans, pets and farm animals due to their urticating hairs. Environmentally friendly strategies for the management of T. pityocampa include: removal of egg batches, removal of nests, trapping of mig...

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a key pest of fruit crops in many tropical, subtropical and mild temperate areas worldwide. The economic importance of this fruit fly is increasing due to its invasion of new geographical areas. Efficient control and eradication efforts require adequate information regarding C...

VasoTrap, baited with Biolure Unipack and positioned on a peach tree for adult medfly sampling in the peach orchard. (JPG)

Models and parameters calculated from the experimental semivariograms obtained in 2012 from monthly trap catches of Jackson trap males, VasoTrap males, unmated females and mated females. (DOCX)

Models and parameters calculated from the experimental semivariograms obtained in 2011 from monthly trap catches of Jackson trap males, VasoTrap males, unmated females and mated females. (DOCX)

Models and parameters calculated from the experimental semivariograms obtained in 2013 from monthly trap catches of VasoTrap males, unmated females and mated females. (DOCX)

Video showing sperm contained in the spermathecae of several mated females under a microscope. (MP4)

Twenty-two species are discussed, and five species are described as new (Parabactra addisalema Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n., Megaherpystis subae Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n., Megaherpystis oromiae Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n., Eucosmocydia zegieana Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n., Thaumatographa amarana Razowski & Trematerra, sp. n.). New combinat...

In urban and suburban areas larvae of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller), cause serious defoliation to Cedrus, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga trees and health problems to humans and domestic or farm animals by their urticating setae. In this study, we present the results of biennial trials (2015-2016) on the man...

The following contribution highlights an overview of the 50 species of Tortricidae captured on Pelion Mountain, in Central Greece, during several field trips by the authors. Eleven new species to the Greek fauna were recorded: Aethes margaritana, Eana incanana, Paramesia diffusana, Tosirips magyarus, Eudemis profundana, Ancylis badiana, Pelochrista...

The development of reliable monitoring techniques can offer valuable sources of knowledge on the control of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae). Nevertheless, there is a knowledge gap on the simultaneous large-scale monitoring of T. pityocampa male adult population by using novel trap devices. Thus, the...

Two new species of Lepidoptera of the genus Thaumetopoea Hübner, 1820, T. hellenica sp. n. Trematerra and Scalercio and T. mediterranea sp. n. Trematerra and Scalercio are described. The adults of T. hellenica were collected from two localities in Greece: Magnessia (Thessaly) and Kifissia, Ktima Syggrou (Athens). Adults of T. mediterranea were coll...

Two species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae Olethreutinae: Endothenia apotomisana sp. n. and Cydia pelionae sp. n., collected in Greece (Thessaly) on Pelion Mountain's, are described as new to science.

Lobesia andereggiana (Herrich-Schäffer), Ancylis rhenana (Müller- Rutz), Eucosma agnatana (Christoph) and Lathronympha balearici Diakonoff (Lepidoptera, Olethreutinae) are reported for first time from the Italian fauna. The four species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae were collected from the Tuscan-Romagnol Appennines in the upper Acerreta Valley.

The processionary pine moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa Denis and Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) infect species of the Pinaceae (Pinales) family in forests, but also in urban and suburban ecosystems and is dangerous for the public health, by causing allergies, dermatitis and asthma. This species is mostly located at the Mediterranean ba...

Preliminary results on impact of nitrogen fertilisation on the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) wheat-food preferences and progeny production are reported. The Italian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) variety “Svevo” was cultivated using three different fertiliser regimes, 0, 60, and 160 kg/ha of nitrogen. The kernel samples obtained...