Exochomus Quadripustulatus Research Articles

Population dynamics, feeding strategies, and coccinellid predators of the larch woolly adelgid exules on the European larch

The larch woolly adelgid Adelges laricis Vallot (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) infests spruce Picea spp. and larch Larix spp. in the Northern Hemisphere. The present field and laboratory research embraced the hitherto unknown aspects of the biology and ecology of A. laricis on its secondary host, the European larch Larix decidua Mill. in Poland. The study showed that the A. laricis population on L. decidua was represented by exulis sistens females at dwarf stem bases, exulis progrediens mobile 1st instar nymphs (crawlers) on needles, exulis progrediens sessile “woolly” nymphs and “woolly” adults on needles, and winged sexupara females. The maximum abundance of the A. laricis population occurred from the end of April until mid-May, which coincided with the predomination of crawlers in the age structure of the population. The most important limiting weather component was high rainfall, affecting mainly the crawlers. Eight species of Coccinellidae were recorded on adelgid-infested larch trees and Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.) was the dominant species. The main differences in food consumption strategies among adelgid developmental stages were related to the duration of phloem sap ingestion. While the total duration of sap consumption at a given time was similar in all adelgid instars studied, the individual bouts of sap ingestion were much shorter in crawlers than in the sessile forms. The specific probing behavior of the mobile nymphs probably reflects the crawlers’ strategy to evaluate plant sap quality in different phloem vessels. It is likely that such strategy is a behavioral preadaptation for finding abundant food sources for permanent settling before crawlers develop into sessile nymphs and adult females. The feeding strategy of crawlers promotes the rapid dispersal of the population. Therefore, the control of A. laricis on L. decidua should focus on the early stages of the population development, which would most effectively reduce the final damage.

Are the ladybugs Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) candidate predators of Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)?

Toumeyella parvicornis is an alien pest of recent introduction in Italy that infests stone pines (Pinus pinea L.), its main host plant in Europe. Infestations are currently controlled through endotherapic treatments, but the high costs and the long-term inefficacy highlight the need for alternative control strategies applicable in natural systems as well. An analysis of the effectiveness of autochthonous and naturalized predators is the first step to achieve this goal. This work focused on two candidate predators, Exochomus quadripustulatus and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), that may potentially control T. parvicornis. The analysis was carried out under laboratory-controlled and semi-field conditions. Laboratory tests were carried out to assess: (i) the predation rate of the ladybugs over different densities of pest preimaginal stages, and (ii) the effect of the presence of heterospecific and conspecific predators on the attractiveness of prey colonies. Semi-field experimentations were carried out by wrapping infested stone pine twigs with net sleeves and applying one of three treatments: (i) Exochomus quadripustulatus, (ii) Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, and (iii) control containing only the pest population. Both the ladybugs were attracted by T. parvicornis, offered as prey. Exochomus quadripustulatus was more attracted to conspecific and heterospecific ladybugs than Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and responded to prey more quickly. The results obtained could be useful for planning further experimentations to explore the potential use of these predators in biological control programs that may be applied in infested areas. Besides the use in an urban context, where pesticide use is strongly limited, the release of natural enemies may help safeguard stone pine forests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ladybird (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) communities on nonnative blue spruce in central Europe

Abstract Blue spruce (Picea pungens) has been planted in urban greenery as an ornamental tree in central Europe for more than 150 years. We investigated whether this nonnative spruce is a convenient habitat for ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). In 2021 and 2022, adults and larvae were sampled in four towns in Slovakia at monthly intervals throughout the growing season, from April to October. We recorded adults of 27 species and larvae of 11 ladybird species. Conifer specialist ladybird species predominated both in adult and larval communities (adults – 9 species, 85.2% of all individuals; larvae – 7 species, 92.1% of all individuals). Exochomus quadripustulatus and Aphidecta obliterata were the most common in adult (31.8% and 33.5% of all individuals, respectively) and larval (57.5% and 25.1% of all individuals, respectively) communities. The most abundant generalist species was nonnative invasive Harmonia axyridis (adults – 5.6%, larvae – 6.8% of all individuals). Adults and larvae of ladybirds were more abundant on solitary trees than on trees growing in groups. Our results confirmed that blue spruce hosts rich ladybird communities and provides them shelter and food resources.

Neopulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon, 1854), a new species of Coccidae in Serbia

In 2016, the species Neopulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon, 1854), belonging to the scale insect family Coccidae, was for the first time found in Serbia, in the location Radmilovac on Cornus sanguinea L. It reproduces by gamogenesis, develops one generation annually, and overwinters as a fertilized female on the trunk or branches of its host plant. During this research, the species was detected on five host plants at six locations in Serbia. It feeds by sucking sap from leaves, young shoots and branches of infested plants, causing desiccation of leaves and individual twigs. Four species of its natural enemies were collected and reared from colonies of N. innumerabilis. Two species of parasitoid wasps, Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Aphelinidae) and Metaphycus hageni Daane and Caltagirone (Encyrtidae), were found, while the ladybird Exochomus quadripustulatus L. (Coccinellidae) and the fly Leucopomyia silesiaca (Egger) (Chamaemyiidae) were identified as predators. The most abundant entomophagous species was L. silesiaca.

Bionomy of Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), a new species in the fauna of Serbia

Citricola scale, Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) was for the first time registered in Serbia in 2015 in the area of Belgrade on Celtis occidentalis L. C. pseudomagnoliarum develops one generation annually and overwinters as the second-instar nymph on host twigs. It forms numerous colonies on infested plants, and symptoms of its feeding appear in the form of drying leaves and twigs. In addition, large amounts of honeydew that this scale secretes reduce photosynthesis and transpiration in plants, which accelerates their decay. Citricola scale attracts many entomophagous insects which are able to reduce pest population. The parasitoid wasps Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker), Coccophagus piceae Erdos, Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman), Coccophagus shillongensis (Hayat and Singh) (Aphelinidae), Cheiloneurus claviger Thomson and Metaphycus stanleyi Compere (Encyrtidae) were reared. C. piceae and M. stanleyi are new species in the fauna of Serbia. C. pseudomagnoliarum is a new host for the species M. stanleyi. The predators Coccinella septempunctata L., Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.) (Coccinellidae) and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Chrysopidae) were found in scale colonies. The most efficient natural enemy of C. pseudomagnoliarum nymphs was C. lycimnia, reducing scale populations by 11-26%.

Sperm ultrastructure of three species of ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

The sperm of three coccinellid species belonging to the subfamilies Chilocorinae, Coccinellinae and Epilachninae were studied under light and transmission electron microscopy. The basic sperm structure of these ladybirds is common to that of the other previously studied species, especially the acrosome in front of the basal body and not the nucleus, with this latter running parallel with the flagellar components. In the Chilocorinae Platynaspis luteorubra (Platynaspidini) the sperm are of the type 1, as in Scymnini and Coccinellini, since they exhibited a cylindrical basal body with 9 + 0 and then 9 + 2, microtubules continuing further in an initial flagellar portion with the only axoneme devoid of accessory structures. The sperm exhibits a thin nucleus and mitochondrial derivatives. Such uniformity of sperm ultrastructure could be indicative of the occurrence of a close relationship between Platynaspidini and Scymnini as also proposed in the previous studies. Conversely, they differ markedly from the sperm of type 3 observed in the Chilocorini Exochomus quadripustulatus. In the Coccinellini Propylea quatuordecimpunctata the sperm are also of the type 1, but they can be easily differentiated from those of the other Coccinellinae studied so far, because of their very short acrosome without the posterior extension, the relatively thicker mitochondrial derivatives and the cylindrical nucleus. Epilachna clandestina sperm resemble those of E. quadripustulatus but differ from them, because they exhibit an elliptical nucleus which is anteriorly very thin, and the asymmetrical mitochondrial derivatives in the anterior extremity, with the greater one starting at the same level of the basal body, rather than at the nucleus level, as it occurs in E. quadripustulatus. Because of the differences observed in the sperm ultrastructure we propose a new sperm type (Type 4) for E. clandestina. This study on ladybird spermatozoon ultrastructure clearly indicates that the current classifications of coccinellids do not reflect the natural history of this well-known insect family.

Overwintering of ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Scots pine in Central Europe

We surveyed ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in 10 stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), all monoculture stands 5-100 years old, in western Slovakia, Central Europe, over two successive periods, October 2013 - March 2014 and October 2014 - March 2015. The winter in each period was exceptionally mild. Ladybirds were collected from the lower branches of pine trees using beating trays and were present in 61% of the 1040 samples (one sample containing ladybirds from 20 branches, 1 m long each). In total 3965 individuals of 20 species were recorded. Non-conifer dwelling species associated with broadleaved trees or herbaceous plants prevailed (45% of species), followed by conifer specialists (40%) and generalists (15%). Although 13 species were found at least in one winter month, December, January or February, only four of them, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis and Hippodamia variegata, were recorded continually during both winters. The number of species, the abundance of all ladybirds and the abundance of dominant species (E. quadripustulatus, C. septempunctata and H. axyridis) decreased from late autumn towards winter and remained lowest during this most adverse time of the year for ladybirds. Overwintering species assemblages of ladybirds changed over time and varied with age of pine stand. Our results suggest that Scots pine in Central Europe supports species rich assemblages of ladybirds from late autumn to early spring and, being widely distributed, it could be suited to winter surveying of ladybirds at large spatial scales to reveal behavioural and ecological responses of species to changing weather or different climates.

Determination of Sphaerolecanium prunastri Fonscolombe, 1834 (Hemiptera: Coccidae), and its parasitoids and predators in apricot areas of Malatya province, Turkey

This study, lasting 2 years, was carried out to determine the prevalence status, contamination level, parasitoids and predators of Sphaerolecanium prunastri in Malatya, the largest apricot-production area of Turkey. The contamination level and rate of S. prunastri were determined by a survey on trees selected by a systematic sampling method. Predators of S. prunastri were picked by a hitting method, and the parasitoids of the pest was gained by the use of culture cages. S. prunastri was seen at different rates in the province (few, medium, high) depending on the apricot orchard in the area, with an overall rate of about 23.5% prevalence in all apricot areas of Malatya province. Parasitoids of S. prunastri were determined as Cerapterocerus mirabilis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Pachyneuron muscarum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Coccophagus lycimna (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Metaphycus silvestri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Discodes coccophagus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Cybocephalus fodori (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) and Chrysopa sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were observed as predators of S. prunastri.

Diversity and abundance of coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on trees in parks and tree rows of Belgrade

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive coccinellid species that was first recorded in Serbia in 2008. In order to establish whether after its arrival it became the dominant coccinellid species, we investigated the diversity and abundance of coccinelids on trees in parks and tree rows of Belgrade during 2015 and 2016. Thirteen coccinellid species were recorded in these investigations. Frequently occurring among them were Adalia bipunctata, A. decempunctata, Coccinella septempunctata, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Harmonia axyridis, H. quadripunctata, Oenopia conglobata, and Popylea quatuordecimpunctata. All of them had different dynamics of appearance during the vegetation. As a result of this, the values of their dominance in the coccinellid community constantly changed. However, only in the cases of H. axyridis, O. conglobata, and C. septempunctata were those values high enough for us to be able to say that they were dominant in terms of abundance during a certain period. Although the amounts of summer precipitation in Serbia were very different during 2015 and 2016, the trends of changes in the diversity of coccinellids throughout the growing season in these two years were similar.

Bionomy of small spruce bud scale, Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Serbia

Small spruce bud scale, Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a Holarctic, oligophagous species developing on plants of the genera Picea and Abies (Pinaceae). It is a serious pest of Picea abies in Serbia, which causes drying and falling of needles, branches and even drying of entire plants. A study of the bionomy of Ph. hemicryphus was carried out at five locations in Serbia in 2016 and 2017. Ph. hemicryphus was found to develop one generation annually and to overwinter as second-instar larvae on spruce branches. Adults emerge at the beginning of April and oviposition takes place at the beginning of May. Larvae hatch in the second half of May; during summer they feed on spruce needles and moult into second-instar larvae in September. Scale populations are controlled by a number of natural enemies. Five species of parasitoid wasps were reared: Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Metaphycus unicolor Hoffer, Microterys lunatus (Dalman), Pseudorhopus testaceus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Pachyneuron muscarum (L.) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), as well as five predatory species: Anthribus nebulosus Forster (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), Exochomus quadripustulatus L., Scymnus abietis Paykull, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The most efficient parasitoid of Ph. hemicryphus was P. testaceus, reducing scale populations up to 28.97%, while the most efficient predator was A. nebulosus with an efficacy of up to 51.72%.

BIO-ECOLOGY OF CEDAR SCALE INSECT TOROSASPIS CEDRICOLA (BALACHOWSKY & ALKAN) (HEMIPTERA DIASPIDIDAE) IN ANKARA, TURKEY

Lebanon cedar, Cedrus libani A. Rich. (Pinaceae) is a significant tree from the historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific and economic perspectives. It is presently found primarily in the Taurus Mountains with extensive and magnificent forests. Also, it has been frequently used as ornamental tree in urban areas in Turkey and abroad. Cedar scale, Torosaspis cedricola , (Balachowsky & Alkan) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is one of the important pests of cedar trees particularly in urban ecosystem. The bio-ecology of T. cedricola on C. libani is examined four localities during the years 2008 and 2009 in Ankara. T. cedricola has two generations in a year and overwinters as mated females. The sex ratio of T. cedricola is changed 1.8:1-4.8:1 (♀:♂) all study areas in both generation and the sex ratio is strongly biased towards female that occur on cedar needles only. The first generation crawlers emerged in late May but the second brood L1 in late July. Adalia bipunctata (L.), Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), Harmonia quadripunctata (Pont) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Cybocephalus fodori minor (Endrody) (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) were determined as predator of the scale, while Diaspiniphagus moeris (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was only parasitioid species as natural enemy of T. cedricola . Natural enemies had a negligible effect on populations of T. cedricola in Ankara.

Bionomy of spruce bud scale, Physokermes piceae (schrank) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in the Belgrade area, Serbia

Spruce bud scale, Physokermes piceae, develops on the genus Picea. Large colonies of this species are constantly present on Picea abies in green areas in the Belgrade territory, causing the drying of needles, branches and whole plants. Therefore, Ph. piceae is a significant spruce pest. Spruce scales attract many entomophagous insects able to reduce pest population. Parasitoid wasps Coccophagus lycimnia (Walk) (Aphelinidae) and Microterys lunatus (Dalm.) (Encyrtidae) were reared. Predators Exochomus quadripustulatus L., Scymnus abietis Paykull (Coccinellidae) and Anthribus nebulosus Forster (Anthribidae) were determined. Both species of ladybird were confirmed as predators of Ph. piceae for the first time in Serbia, while S. abietis is a new species for the fauna of Serbia. The most effective natural enemy of Ph. piceae was A. nebulosus, reducing populations by 68-80%.

Ladybirds associated with pistachio trees in part of Kerman province, Iran (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The majority members of the family Coccinellidae are predators, so they have received considerable research attention because of their potential to act as biocontrol agents. The coccinellids complex of pistachio trees was monitored at both cultivated and wild pistachio plantations in Shahr-e Babak (Kerman, Iran) during 2009 - 2010. Sampling was carried out randomly in the cultivated pistachio plantations at elevations between 1590 - 1864 m and the wild pistachio growing areas at elevations between 2103-2364 m, using a white beating tray. Totally, 25 species belonging to 14 genera from six tribes and four subfamilies were collected. 21 and 15 species were identified on cultivated and wild pistachio plantations respectively, among which eight new species for Kerman province were recorded. Chilocorus bipustulatus, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Parexochomus nigripennis , Hyperaspis polita, Hyperaspis sp, Menochilus sexmaculatus, Nephus (Nephus) quadrimaculatus, Nephus (Sidis) elbursi, Scymnus (Scymnus) flavicollis, Pharoscymnus setulosus, were found in few experimental sites on planted pistachio trees only. In addition Exochomus octosignatus, Clitostethus arcuatus, Parexochomus melanocephalus and Scymnus (Pullus) auritus were only collected from wild pistachio trees.

What constitutes optical warning signals of ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) towards bird predators: colour, pattern or general look?

Most ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) possess chemical protection against predators and signal its presence by less or more conspicuous coloration, which can be considered as a warning. Most ladybirds possess a dotted pattern, althougn the number, shape, and size of the spots, as well as their colour, varies considerably. Almost all ladybirds have a characteristic general appearance (body shape). We considered these traits to be used in ladybird recognition by avian predators. In the present study, we compared the reactions of avian predators (Parus major) caught in the wild, to four differently coloured ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata, and Cynegetis impunctata) and two artificial modifications of C. septempunctata; the first was deprived of their elytral spotted pattern by painting it brown, the other had their elytra removed (i.e. altering their general ladybird appearance). Ladybirds with a spotted pattern were attacked less frequently than unspotted ones. Ladybirds with removed elytra were attacked much more often than any ladybird with a preserved general appearance. The results obtained in the present study suggest the high importance of the spotted pattern as well as general appearance in the ladybird recognition process. Additional experiments with naive birds (hand-reared P. major) demonstrated the innateness of the aversion to two differently spotted ladybird species (C. septempunctata and Scymnus frontalis). © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 234–242.

Malatya ili kayısı alanlarında zararlı Sphaerolecanium prunastri (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1834) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) (Erik koşnili)’nin yayılış alanları, bulaşma oranları ve doğal düşmanlarının belirlenmesi

Kayisi Turkiye icin onemli bir tarimsal urundur. Ozellikle Malatya ili kayisi uretiminin % 60’ini karsilamaktadir (Anonymous, 2008). Malatya hem yetistirilen miktar, hem de kalite itibariyla Turkiye’de kayisiyla on plâna cikan bir sehirdir. Kayisinin yas ve kuru tuketiminin yaninda bircok degisik kullanimi da bulunmaktadir. Kayisi cekirdeklerinin tatli olanlari cerez olarak tuketilmekte, aci olanlari ise kozmetik ve ilâc sanayinde hammadde olarak kullanilmaktadir. Ayrica kayisi cekirdeginin tohum ve kabugundan badem yagi, yemeklik yag, benzaldehit (aroma esansi), furfural, aktif karbon, amigdalin ve hidrosiyanik asit elde edilmektedir. Turkiye icin onemli bir tarimsal urun olan kayisinin problemleri icerisinde bitki koruma problemleri de buyuk onem tasimaktadir. Zararlilarda bu problemler icerisinde onemli yer tutmakta olup Ulusoy et al. (2001), Malatya ili kayisi alanlarinda 41 zararli tur tespit etmisler ve bu zararlilar icerisinde bulunan Sphaerolecanium prunastri (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1834) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) (Erik kosnili)’nin Malatya ilinde nadir gorulen kayisi zararlilari icerisinde bulundugunu bildirmislerdir

Biology of the Euonymus scale Unaspis euonymi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Urban Areas of Ankara, Turkey

Unaspis euonymi is an important pest of Euonymus plants in parks and gardens of Ankara. In this study, the biology of U. euonymi was investigated in 2002 and 2003. The euonymus scale overwintered as mated adult females and had two generations per year. Crawlers of the first generation were present from mid- May to mid-June and those of the second generation during July. The maximum number of eggs counted in a female body was 70,8; the greatest number laid in a day was 10,8. Adult females were more abundant on the branches than the leaves. In contrast, adult males were more abundant on leaves than on branches. The number of predator species (Coccinellidae: Adalia bipunctata (L.), Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.): Nitidulidae: Cybocephalus sp.; Neuroptera: Chrysoperla sp.) was low and inefficient.

Seasonal Population Fluctuations of <I>Serangium parcesetosum</I> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a Predator of Citrus Whitefly, <I>Dialeurodes citri</I> (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in Turkey’s Eastern Mediterranean Citrus Groves

We conducted investigations on seasonal population fluctuations of Serangium parcesetosum Sicard and citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead), in the East Mediterranean citrus orchards in Turkey from 1992 to 1995. Serangium parcesetosum and D. citri were sampled in two mandarin orchards at 2- to 3-wk intervals. Sooty-mold growth on honeydew excreted by the citrus whitefly on sampled trees also was evaluated as an indirect measure of the predator’s success. Serangium parcesetosum controlled D. citri populations effectively and prevented them from causing sooty-mold growth in the citrus groves in all 4 yr. It also fed and reproduced on brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum L., another citrus pest, as an alternate host when D. citri populations were lower, and contributed to biological control, along with two other predators of coccoids, Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) and Exochomus quadripustulatus L.

Biological and ecological aspects of Chinese wax scale, Ceroplastes sinensis Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Coccidae): a two‐year study from Central Greece

Abstract Biological and ecological aspects of the scale Ceroplastes sinensis are investigated on citrus in central Greece through regular samplings during 1999−2001 on Citrus sinensis (Sapindales: Rutaceae) in Attiki County. The scale was univoltine. Overwintering stages were the third‐instar nymph and the adult female. From the end of May until the end of June the population comprised preovipositing females. Oviposition occurred from mid‐June until mid‐July and hatching took place during July. First‐ and second‐instar nymphs were recorded from the end of July until the end of August, and from mid‐August until the end of September, respectively. Third‐instar nymphs appeared at the end of August and were present until the beginning of September. Some of the population of third‐instar nymphs reached the adult stage during October and November, whilst the remainder completed development in the following April. Small numbers of male nymphs were recorded during October and November. The mean fecundity of adult females was 3260 ± 770 eggs per female. The most abundant natural enemy of C. sinensis was Scutellista caerulea (Fonscolombe) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), whose eggs, larvae and pupae were found in up to 42% of the total live population of the scale. Two predators, Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) and Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were also observed.

The scale Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in Greece

AbstractThe phenology and natural enemies of Nemolecanium graniformis (Wunn) (Homoptera: Coccidae) in infesting Abies cephalonica, were studied in Greece during 1998 – 1999. This oviparous species develops one generation per year in Central Greece (Attica) and overwinters as 2nd instar nymph. Young adult females appear by the end of July, and the first instar nymphs by the middle of August. By the middle of October, the whole population of the scale is recorded as 2nd instar nymphs. The parasitoids Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker), Coccophagus Westwood sp., Aphycoides Mercet sp. and the predator Exochomus quadripustulatus L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were observed as natural enemies of the scale. The average fecundity of N. graniformis was 188.4 eggs.

Chilocorine C: a new "dimeric" alkaloid from a coccinellid beetle, Chilocorus cacti.

A new hexacyclic alkaloid, chilocorine C (4), has been isolated from Chilocorus cacti and characterized on the basis of its IR, UV, MS, and NMR data. Although its structure is closely related to that of exochomine (1) (isolated from Exochomus quadripustulatus) and to chilocorine A (2) and B (3) (obtained previously from C. cacti), the presence of a hydroxymethyl substituent on the saturated tricyclic moiety represents an unexpected structural variation on the dimeric alkaloid theme.