INSECTS AND FUNGI ON THE RELICT ZELKOVA SICULA (ROSALES, ULMACEAE) IN SICILY (ITALY): NEW RECORDS AND KNOWN SPECIES IN A SHORT REVIEW

Abstract

The Authors report the results of a study conducted with the purpose of increasing the knowledge about theinsects and fungi living on Zelkova siculaDi Pasquale, Garfi & Quezel, 1992 (Rosales, Ulmaceae). The plant is a veryrare relict of the Tertiary period, belonging to a genus of trees extinct in continental Europe. Only two small populationsare known living in a restricted woodland in the province of Syracuse, Sicily. The results concern both the insectspicked up during surveys that were carried out in 2014 and 2015, and the species of fungi and insects already known onZelkova siculafrom literature. As a result of surveys, two species of Buprestidae, two species of Cerambycidae, andtwo of Lepidoptera have been recognized. From literature, seven species of phytophagous insects are reported onZelkova sicula, they belong to Hemiptera: Aphididae (1 sp.), Diaspididae (1 sp.), Coccidae (1 sp.); Coleoptera:Buprestidae (1 sp.), Cerambycidae (2 spp.); and Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae (1 sp.). Five species of fungi are knownfrom literature and they belong to: Botryosphaeriales (3 spp.), Pleosporales (1 sp.), and Diaporthales (1 sp.).