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Dr. Umberto Bernardo
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP)

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Journal article
Published: 22 May 2021 in Plants
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The walnut twig beetle Pityophthorus juglandis is a phloem-boring bark beetle responsible, in association with the ascomycete Geosmithia morbida, for the Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of walnut trees. The recent finding of TCD in Europe prompted the development of effective diagnostic protocols for the early detection of members of this insect/fungus complex. Here we report the development of a highly efficient, low-cost, and rapid method for detecting the beetle, or even just its biological traces, from environmental samples: the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. The method, designed on the 28S ribosomal RNA gene, showed high specificity and sensitivity, with no cross reactivity to other bark beetles and wood-boring insects. The test was successful even with very small amounts of the target insect’s nucleic acid, with limit values of 0.64 pg/µL and 3.2 pg/µL for WTB adults and frass, respectively. A comparison of the method (both in real time and visual) with conventional PCR did not display significant differences in terms of LoD. This LAMP protocol will enable quick, low-cost, and early detection of P. juglandis in areas with new infestations and for phytosanitary inspections at vulnerable sites (e.g., seaports, airports, loading stations, storage facilities, and wood processing companies).

ACS Style

Domenico Rizzo; Salvatore Moricca; Matteo Bracalini; Alessandra Benigno; Umberto Bernardo; Nicola Luchi; Daniele Da Lio; Francesco Nugnes; Giovanni Cappellini; Chiara Salemi; Santa Cacciola; Tiziana Panzavolta. Rapid Detection of Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method. Plants 2021, 10, 1048 .

AMA Style

Domenico Rizzo, Salvatore Moricca, Matteo Bracalini, Alessandra Benigno, Umberto Bernardo, Nicola Luchi, Daniele Da Lio, Francesco Nugnes, Giovanni Cappellini, Chiara Salemi, Santa Cacciola, Tiziana Panzavolta. Rapid Detection of Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method. Plants. 2021; 10 (6):1048.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Domenico Rizzo; Salvatore Moricca; Matteo Bracalini; Alessandra Benigno; Umberto Bernardo; Nicola Luchi; Daniele Da Lio; Francesco Nugnes; Giovanni Cappellini; Chiara Salemi; Santa Cacciola; Tiziana Panzavolta. 2021. "Rapid Detection of Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method." Plants 10, no. 6: 1048.

Journal article
Published: 28 November 2020 in Insects
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Temperature variation affects interactions involving plants, herbivores, and parasitoids, causing a mismatch between their phenological cycles. In the context of climate change, climatic factors can undergo profound and sudden changes, such as sudden hot or cold snaps. Herein, we show that the number of episodes of short but sustained low temperatures has increased, mainly during May, over the last two decades. We subjected galls induced by the Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) Dryocosmus kuriphilus to cold stress to assess whether and, if so, how it affected the pest and its parasitoids. Over the course of two years, we measured seasonal parasitism, parasitism rates, the relative abundance of each parasitoid species, and ACGW mortality. We found that the cold treatment affected both the pest and the parasitoids, resulting in a reduction in the emergence of ACGWs and differing ratios of species within the parasitoid community. The most striking example was the change in the relative frequency of three species of Eupelmus spp. and Mesopolobus tibialis, which doubled in cold-stressed galls in all chestnut fields. The effects of temperature on the development of the host and the direct effects of cold temperatures on the surface of galls (in terms of the humidity or hardness of the galls) warrant further research in this direction.

ACS Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Giusi Vizzari; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. Short-Term Cold Stress Affects Parasitism on the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus. Insects 2020, 11, 841 .

AMA Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore, Giusi Vizzari, Gregorio Vono, Umberto Bernardo. Short-Term Cold Stress Affects Parasitism on the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus. Insects. 2020; 11 (12):841.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Giusi Vizzari; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. 2020. "Short-Term Cold Stress Affects Parasitism on the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus." Insects 11, no. 12: 841.

Preprint
Published: 12 October 2020
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Thermal variations affect tri-trophic interactions involving plants, herbivores, and parasitoids, causing a mismatch between their phenological cycles. In the current environmental context of climate change, climatic factors can undergo profound and sudden changes, such as sudden hot or cold snaps. Here we show that episodes of short but sustained low temperatures have increased, mainly in the month of May, in the last two decades. We subjected galls induced by Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) Dryocosmus kuriphilus to cold stress to assess if and how the pest and its parasitoids were affected. Over the course of two years seasonal parasitism, parasitism rates, the relative abundance of each parasitoid species, and mortality of ACGW were calculated. We found that the cold treatment affected both pest and parasitoids, resulting in a reduction in emerging ACGWs and differing ratios of species within the parasitoid community. The striking example was the change in the relative frequency of three species of Eupelmus spp. and of Mesopolobus tibialis, which doubled in thermally-stressed galls in all chestnut fields. The thermal effects on the development of the host and the direct effects of cold temperatures on the surface of galls (i.e., humidity or hardness of the galls) warrant further research in this direction.

ACS Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Giusi Vizzari; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. Short-term Thermal Changes Affect Parasitism on Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore, Giusi Vizzari, Gregorio Vono, Umberto Bernardo. Short-term Thermal Changes Affect Parasitism on Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Giusi Vizzari; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. 2020. "Short-term Thermal Changes Affect Parasitism on Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 28 April 2020 in Scientific Reports
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The red-necked longhorn beetle (RLB) Aromia bungii (Fald.) is an emerging pest of stone fruit trees, native to East Asia, accidentally introduced in Europe (Germany and Italy) and Japan. Threatening seriously the stone fruit crops in Europe, RLB was added to both the EPPO A1 and priority pest lists of quarantine species. Molecular analyses highlighted that all specimens recovered in southern Italy share the same haplotype, different from the German one, supporting that the invasive process in Europe started from at least two independent introductions. To fill the existing gap of biological knowledge about A. bungii, several laboratory tests were carried out on specimens collected in the outbreak area of Naples (Italy). Results suggest a high biotic potential of the RLB Italian population. Females showed a short pre-oviposition period while the period of oviposition lasted about three weeks, with a rate of 24.2 eggs/day. Each female laid an average of 587.5 eggs and spawned the largest amount of eggs during the first week after emergence. Fed males live up to 62 days at 20 °C while fed females about 63 days at 25 °C. These results are crucial to draw up a multi-facet IPM approach against A. bungii in the outbreak areas.

ACS Style

Elia Russo; Francesco Nugnes; Francesco Vicinanza; Antonio P. Garonna; Umberto Bernardo. Biological and molecular characterization of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an emerging pest of stone fruits in Europe. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 1 -9.

AMA Style

Elia Russo, Francesco Nugnes, Francesco Vicinanza, Antonio P. Garonna, Umberto Bernardo. Biological and molecular characterization of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an emerging pest of stone fruits in Europe. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10 (1):1-9.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elia Russo; Francesco Nugnes; Francesco Vicinanza; Antonio P. Garonna; Umberto Bernardo. 2020. "Biological and molecular characterization of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an emerging pest of stone fruits in Europe." Scientific Reports 10, no. 1: 1-9.

Journal article
Published: 07 January 2020 in Insects
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After the first record in 2008 in Southeast Italy, the alien invasive and quarantine pest Aleurocanthus spiniferus (orange spiny whitefly—OSW) has gradually spread throughout Europe, infesting several new host plants in addition to the known hosts. Molecular characterization of some Italian populations and a newly found Albanian population highlighted two different haplotypes invading Europe, belonging to one of the haplogroups previously recorded in China. A predator was recorded for the first time in several fields in Italy in association with OSW and other whitefly species. It was successively identified through a morpho-molecular characterization as a Nearctic member of the tribe Serangiini, the ladybird beetle, Delphastus catalinae. This predator represents a promising biocontrol agent to manage A. spiniferus outbreaks in Italy and other invaded countries.

ACS Style

Francesco Nugnes; Stefania Laudonia; Giovanni Jesu; Maurice Gerardus Maria Jansen; Umberto Bernardo; Francesco Porcelli. Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Some European Countries: Diffusion, Hosts, Molecular Characterization, and Natural Enemies. Insects 2020, 11, 42 .

AMA Style

Francesco Nugnes, Stefania Laudonia, Giovanni Jesu, Maurice Gerardus Maria Jansen, Umberto Bernardo, Francesco Porcelli. Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Some European Countries: Diffusion, Hosts, Molecular Characterization, and Natural Enemies. Insects. 2020; 11 (1):42.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Nugnes; Stefania Laudonia; Giovanni Jesu; Maurice Gerardus Maria Jansen; Umberto Bernardo; Francesco Porcelli. 2020. "Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Some European Countries: Diffusion, Hosts, Molecular Characterization, and Natural Enemies." Insects 11, no. 1: 42.

Article
Published: 30 November 2019 in BioControl
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We have evaluated different rearing strategies of Baryscapus silvestrii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a parasitoid of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), including the use of a factitious host, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), and in the process acquired new knowledge of the parasitoid’s biology. We found that B. silvestrii: (1) parasitizes only puparia and exclusively if they are concealed, (2) is able to parasitize and complete its development on puparia of all ages, (3) prefers to oviposit on the medfly in choice tests, (4) completes development faster if reared on 2–3 day-old puparia, (5) exhibits sex allocation related to host puparium age. This study provides critical information on several biological traits of B. silvestrii, and the new rearing method can be used to establish a parasitoid rearing for augmentative releases.

ACS Style

R. Sasso; L. Gualtieri; E. Russo; F. Nugnes; M. Gebiola; U. Bernardo. The establishment of a rearing technique for the fruit fly parasitoid Baryscapus silvestrii increases knowledge of biological, ecological and behavioural traits. BioControl 2019, 65, 47 -57.

AMA Style

R. Sasso, L. Gualtieri, E. Russo, F. Nugnes, M. Gebiola, U. Bernardo. The establishment of a rearing technique for the fruit fly parasitoid Baryscapus silvestrii increases knowledge of biological, ecological and behavioural traits. BioControl. 2019; 65 (1):47-57.

Chicago/Turabian Style

R. Sasso; L. Gualtieri; E. Russo; F. Nugnes; M. Gebiola; U. Bernardo. 2019. "The establishment of a rearing technique for the fruit fly parasitoid Baryscapus silvestrii increases knowledge of biological, ecological and behavioural traits." BioControl 65, no. 1: 47-57.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2019 in Russian Entomological Journal
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ACS Style

V. E. Gokhman; F. Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo. A cytogenetic study of Baryscapus silvestrii Viggiani et Bernardo, 2007 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) using base-specific fluorochrome staining. Russian Entomological Journal 2019, 28, 180 -182.

AMA Style

V. E. Gokhman, F. Nugnes, Umberto Bernardo. A cytogenetic study of Baryscapus silvestrii Viggiani et Bernardo, 2007 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) using base-specific fluorochrome staining. Russian Entomological Journal. 2019; 28 (1):180-182.

Chicago/Turabian Style

V. E. Gokhman; F. Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo. 2019. "A cytogenetic study of Baryscapus silvestrii Viggiani et Bernardo, 2007 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) using base-specific fluorochrome staining." Russian Entomological Journal 28, no. 1: 180-182.

Journal article
Published: 30 August 2019 in Journal of Hymenoptera Research
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The karyotype ofEupristina verticillataWaterston, 1921 (Agaonidae) from Italy was studied for the first time using chromosome morphometrics. The present study showed that this species has n = 6 and 2n = 12, with five larger metacentrics and a smaller acrocentric chromosome in the haploid set. A brief overview of known karyotypes of chalcid wasps of the Agaonidae is given; certain features of karyotype evolution of this family are discussed.

ACS Style

Vladimir E. Gokhman; Francesco Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo. Chromosomes of Eupristina verticillata Waterston, 1921 and an overview of known karyotypes of chalcid wasps of the family Agaonidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2019, 71, 157 -161.

AMA Style

Vladimir E. Gokhman, Francesco Nugnes, Umberto Bernardo. Chromosomes of Eupristina verticillata Waterston, 1921 and an overview of known karyotypes of chalcid wasps of the family Agaonidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 2019; 71 ():157-161.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vladimir E. Gokhman; Francesco Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo. 2019. "Chromosomes of Eupristina verticillata Waterston, 1921 and an overview of known karyotypes of chalcid wasps of the family Agaonidae (Hymenoptera)." Journal of Hymenoptera Research 71, no. : 157-161.

Special issue article
Published: 18 February 2019 in Physiological Entomology
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Studies of thermal level‐related asynchrony in a host–parasitoid relationship are necessary to understand the effects of climate change on new host–parasitoid interactions. In the Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) and its Chalcidoidea parasitoids, phenological synchrony is assumed to be weather‐dependent in a new area of expansion. To evaluate the effects of environmental thermal regimes on the host, a phenology model for different cynipid stages (larvae, pupae, adults, and adult emergence) and a host–parasitoid phenological estimator are developed in three chestnut fields during two successive growth seasons and subsequently validated in areas with chestnut fields at two different altitudes. Comparisons of the timings of the juvenile and adult stages with those of the parasitoid complex demonstrate that the shortest period of occurrence for cynipids within galls has negative effects on the host–parasitoid relationships at higher temperature levels, thereby increasing phenological asynchrony for some parasitoids species. Reducing the development time of pupae and adults decreases the likelihood of success for some parasitoid species at higher temperature levels. We also record the extension of the gall wasp development time (approximately 15 days) at higher altitudes (linked to a lower mean temperature of approximately 1.5 °C). These results highlight how parasitization on the new hosts is dependent on the host phenology and, in the present study, is limited by the short duration of the presence of the host in galls, which could explain the considerable differences in cynipid gall wasp parasitization recorded at different altimeters.

ACS Style

Carmelo P. Bonsignore; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. Environmental thermal levels affect the phenological relationships between the chestnut gall wasp and its parasitoids. Physiological Entomology 2019, 44, 87 -98.

AMA Style

Carmelo P. Bonsignore, Gregorio Vono, Umberto Bernardo. Environmental thermal levels affect the phenological relationships between the chestnut gall wasp and its parasitoids. Physiological Entomology. 2019; 44 (2):87-98.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carmelo P. Bonsignore; Gregorio Vono; Umberto Bernardo. 2019. "Environmental thermal levels affect the phenological relationships between the chestnut gall wasp and its parasitoids." Physiological Entomology 44, no. 2: 87-98.

Journal article
Published: 15 December 2018 in Redia
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ACS Style

Antonio Pietro Garonna; Umberto Bernardo; Liberata Gualtieri; Stefania Laudonia; Francesco Nugnes. THE PRESENT PEST STATUS OF EUCALYPTUS SAP-SUCKERS AND GALL WASPS IN CAMPANIA (ITALY). Redia 2018, 73 -79.

AMA Style

Antonio Pietro Garonna, Umberto Bernardo, Liberata Gualtieri, Stefania Laudonia, Francesco Nugnes. THE PRESENT PEST STATUS OF EUCALYPTUS SAP-SUCKERS AND GALL WASPS IN CAMPANIA (ITALY). Redia. 2018; ():73-79.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonio Pietro Garonna; Umberto Bernardo; Liberata Gualtieri; Stefania Laudonia; Francesco Nugnes. 2018. "THE PRESENT PEST STATUS OF EUCALYPTUS SAP-SUCKERS AND GALL WASPS IN CAMPANIA (ITALY)." Redia , no. : 73-79.

Journal article
Published: 03 December 2018 in Insects
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Emerging pests are increasingly threatening fruit orchard health across the Mediterranean area. Tephritidae, representing serious threats for Europe, are numerous, and the fruit flies Bactrocera zonata and those belonging to Bactrocera dorsalis complex are among the most alarming species. These species are highly polyphagous and B. zonata has already spread to some Mediterranean countries. Due to these ongoing threats, in the Campania Region (southern Italy), a survey with traps and infested fruits analysis was performed with the aim of detecting the presence of species of Bactrocera dorsalis complex. In two mixed fruit-trees fields, some adults belonging to a species of Bactrocera were captured in traps baited with the highly attractive male lure (methyl eugenol). They were distinguished from similar-looking Bactrocera spp. by morphological and molecular comparative analyses. Considering the existing morphological keys, specimens were tentatively identified as B. dorsalis but molecular characterization with COI split them into two clades. Some specimens were grouped with B. dorsalis similar to B. kandiensis and B. kandiensis and others in a clade including B. dorsalis and B. invadens (syn. B. dorsalis). ITS1 sequences instead confirmed morphological identification. The integrative approach allowed identifying all the specimens collected as belonging to the B. dorsalis complex. This finding represents the first field interception in Europe of a member of one of the most dangerous groups of fruit flies.

ACS Style

Francesco Nugnes; Elia Russo; Gennaro Viggiani; Umberto Bernardo. First Record of an Invasive Fruit Fly Belonging to Bactrocera dorsalis Complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Europe. Insects 2018, 9, 182 .

AMA Style

Francesco Nugnes, Elia Russo, Gennaro Viggiani, Umberto Bernardo. First Record of an Invasive Fruit Fly Belonging to Bactrocera dorsalis Complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Europe. Insects. 2018; 9 (4):182.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Nugnes; Elia Russo; Gennaro Viggiani; Umberto Bernardo. 2018. "First Record of an Invasive Fruit Fly Belonging to Bactrocera dorsalis Complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Europe." Insects 9, no. 4: 182.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2018 in Biological Control
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The Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, is one of the most serious pests of Castanea spp. worldwide. Since local parasitoids did not effectively control this exotic pest, the Chinese parasitoid Torymus sinensis Kamijo was released in Japan and Europe resulting in a successful control of the invader. A survey of native parasitoids usually infesting oak gall wasps but associated with D. kuriphilus was carried out, sampling chestnut galls in Italy in 2013. The effect of predictive variables (years since T. sinensis release, oak occurrence, type of chestnut formation, latitude) on composition and density of native parasitoid populations was modelled with Generalized Linear Models. In total, 4,410 chalcid parasitoids were recorded, and the most abundant species were T. flavipes Walker, Eupelmus spp., and Bootanomyia (= Megastigmus) dorsalis (F.). Introduction of T. sinensis and oak occurrence influenced native parasitoid richness, conversely to the latitude of the study area. In particular, every additional year of presence of T. sinensis was proved to determine the loss of about 14% of native species, and 32% of their population density. A positive correlation between the oak density occurring in the infested chestnut forests and the richness and abundance of native parasitoid species was recorded as well, highlighting as generalist parasitoids may switch hosts easily. A positive effect of increasing densities of oak trees was recorded on most of the taxa, except for T. geranii (Walker), Eupelmus spp., and Eurytoma pistaciae Rondani. Our results provide insight that both T. sinensis and oak trees affect native parasitoids, shedding light on the possible implications related to the release of exotic biological control agents on the recruitment and accumulation of native natural enemies.

ACS Style

Chiara Ferracini; Sandro Bertolino; Umberto Bernardo; Carmelo P. Bonsignore; Massimo Faccoli; Ester Ferrari; Daniela Lupi; Stefano Maini; Luca Mazzon; Francesco Nugnes; Anna Rocco; Fabrizio Santi; Luciana Tavella. Do Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) and agroforestry system affect native parasitoids associated with the Asian chestnut gall wasp? Biological Control 2018, 121, 36 -43.

AMA Style

Chiara Ferracini, Sandro Bertolino, Umberto Bernardo, Carmelo P. Bonsignore, Massimo Faccoli, Ester Ferrari, Daniela Lupi, Stefano Maini, Luca Mazzon, Francesco Nugnes, Anna Rocco, Fabrizio Santi, Luciana Tavella. Do Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) and agroforestry system affect native parasitoids associated with the Asian chestnut gall wasp? Biological Control. 2018; 121 ():36-43.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiara Ferracini; Sandro Bertolino; Umberto Bernardo; Carmelo P. Bonsignore; Massimo Faccoli; Ester Ferrari; Daniela Lupi; Stefano Maini; Luca Mazzon; Francesco Nugnes; Anna Rocco; Fabrizio Santi; Luciana Tavella. 2018. "Do Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) and agroforestry system affect native parasitoids associated with the Asian chestnut gall wasp?" Biological Control 121, no. : 36-43.

Journal article
Published: 09 March 2018 in Environmental Entomology
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A new gall midge, Asphondylia nepetae sp. n. Viggiani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causing flower gall on Clinopodium nepeta (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), is described from Europe. The morphological characteristics of adult, larvae, and pupa are described and illustrated. Molecular approach (by sequencing 28S-D2, ITS2, and COI) confirmed that A. nepetae is a distinct species. The development of the gall is always associated with the presence of the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug.: Fr.) Ces. and De Not. (Botryosphaeriales: Botryosphaeriaceae). The new species can complete several generations per year, on the flowers of the same host plant and its adults emerge from late spring to autumn. Pupae overwinter inside peculiar flower galls in a state of quiescence. The impact of the pest is highly variable with a percentage of flowers infested that ranged between 3 and 57.5% in the sampled years. Insect mortality was, at least in part, due to parasitoids that attack the young stages of the midge. Among them, the dominant species was Sigmophora brevicornis (Panzer) (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae).

ACS Style

Umberto Bernardo; Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Rosario Nicoletti; Paola Varricchio; Raffaele Sasso; Gennaro Viggiani. A New Gall Midge Species of Asphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Inducing Flower Galls on Clinopodium nepeta (Lamiaceae) From Europe, Its Phenology, and Associated Fungi. Environmental Entomology 2018, 47, 609 -622.

AMA Style

Umberto Bernardo, Francesco Nugnes, Liberata Gualtieri, Rosario Nicoletti, Paola Varricchio, Raffaele Sasso, Gennaro Viggiani. A New Gall Midge Species of Asphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Inducing Flower Galls on Clinopodium nepeta (Lamiaceae) From Europe, Its Phenology, and Associated Fungi. Environmental Entomology. 2018; 47 (3):609-622.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Umberto Bernardo; Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Rosario Nicoletti; Paola Varricchio; Raffaele Sasso; Gennaro Viggiani. 2018. "A New Gall Midge Species of Asphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Inducing Flower Galls on Clinopodium nepeta (Lamiaceae) From Europe, Its Phenology, and Associated Fungi." Environmental Entomology 47, no. 3: 609-622.

Original paper
Published: 02 March 2018 in Die Naturwissenschaften
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The chestnut gall wasp (CGW), Dryocosmus kuriphilus, an invasive pest native to China, has caused severe yield and economic losses to chestnut production in Europe since its arrival in 2002. In Southern Italy, the complex of indigenous parasitoids colonizing CGW was monitored between 2013 and 2015, with the aim of estimating the composition of the indigenous parasitoid complex, its ability to control CGW populations, and the interactions of both factors with several measured environmental parameters. We compared results among three differently managed field types. Results showed an increase in the rate of parasitism both when the host population density was lower and in unmanaged chestnut stands with more natural conditions. The percentage of parasitism in galls was related to morphological traits of the galls and to higher seasonal temperatures, which reduced the parasitism intensity because CGW develops earlier under such conditions. The host–parasitoid mortality inside galls varied among sites and was associated mostly with rot fungi during wet spring and summer months. Parasitoid species richness was similar among the study sites, but the proportion of parasitoid species differed between orchards and unmanaged coppice stands. The timing of attack by parasitoids followed a species-specific successional sequence throughout the larva-to-adult life cycle of the CGW. These interactions should be considered in future research on trophic relationships and when modeling invasive scenarios for new pest species.

ACS Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Umberto Bernardo. Effects of environmental parameters on the chestnut gall wasp and its complex of indigenous parasitoids. Die Naturwissenschaften 2018, 105, 20 .

AMA Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore, Umberto Bernardo. Effects of environmental parameters on the chestnut gall wasp and its complex of indigenous parasitoids. Die Naturwissenschaften. 2018; 105 (3-4):20.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Umberto Bernardo. 2018. "Effects of environmental parameters on the chestnut gall wasp and its complex of indigenous parasitoids." Die Naturwissenschaften 105, no. 3-4: 20.

Journal article
Published: 16 February 2018 in Forests
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The cynipid Dryocosmus kuriphilus is the most impactful invasive pest of Castanea sativa copse woods and orchards currently reported from many European countries. A low impact solution for the containment of this pest could be the use of resistant trees. We examined the resistance of the red salernitan ecotype (RSE) of C. sativa to D. kuriphilus and carried out a morphological characterization of this ecotype’s plants and fruits. From November 2015 to May 2017 we observed and recorded the percentage of infested buds, healthy leaves and shoots on about 50 chestnut trees, together with the number, size, and position of galls, and the number of eggs laid by the gall wasps into the buds and the number of larvae inside the galls. We showed a progressive mortality of cynipid larvae up to the starting point of galls development when almost total larval mortality was recorded. This suggests that RSE trees have a moderate resistance to D. kuriphilus; however, resistance acts at different levels, resulting in fewer eggs being deposited, a low number of larvae reaching the complete development, and a low number of galls on the branches. Moreover, the galls on resistant trees are smaller than the susceptible ones, so the larvae are more exposed to parasitization.

ACS Style

Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Rita Parillo; Regina Annarumma; Raffaele Griffo; Umberto Bernardo. Resistance of a Local Ecotype of Castanea sativa to Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Southern Italy. Forests 2018, 9, 94 .

AMA Style

Francesco Nugnes, Liberata Gualtieri, Carmelo Peter Bonsignore, Rita Parillo, Regina Annarumma, Raffaele Griffo, Umberto Bernardo. Resistance of a Local Ecotype of Castanea sativa to Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Southern Italy. Forests. 2018; 9 (2):94.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Carmelo Peter Bonsignore; Rita Parillo; Regina Annarumma; Raffaele Griffo; Umberto Bernardo. 2018. "Resistance of a Local Ecotype of Castanea sativa to Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Southern Italy." Forests 9, no. 2: 94.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2017 in FEMS Microbiology Ecology
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The incidence of horizontal transmission as a route for spreading symbiont infections is still being debated, but a common view is that horizontal transfers require intimate between-species relationships. Here we study a system that meets ideal requirements for horizontal transmission: the gall wasp Leptocybe invasa and its parasitoid Quadrastichus mendeli (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). These wasps belong to the same subfamily, spend most of their lives inside the same minute gall and are both infected by Rickettsia, a maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria that infects several arthropods, sometimes manipulating their reproduction, like inducing thelytokous parthenogenesis in L. invasa. Despite intimate contact, close phylogenetic relationship and the parasitoid's host specificity, we show that host and parasitoid do not share the same Rickettsia. We provide indirect evidence that Rickettsia infecting Q. mendeli may be inducing thelytokous parthenogenesis, as the symbiont is densely present in the reproductive apparatus and is vertically transmitted. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S and gltA placed this symbiont in the leech group. The confirmed and presumed parthenogenesis-inducing Rickettsia discovered so far only infect eulophid wasps, and belong to three different groups, suggesting multiple independent evolution of the parthenogenesis inducing phenotype. We also show some degree of cospeciation between Rickettsia and their eulophid hosts.

ACS Style

Liberata Gualtieri; Francesco Nugnes; Anna G. Nappo; Marco Gebiola; Umberto Bernardo. Life inside a gall: closeness does not favour horizontal transmission of Rickettsia between a gall wasp and its parasitoid. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 2017, 93, 1 .

AMA Style

Liberata Gualtieri, Francesco Nugnes, Anna G. Nappo, Marco Gebiola, Umberto Bernardo. Life inside a gall: closeness does not favour horizontal transmission of Rickettsia between a gall wasp and its parasitoid. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 2017; 93 (7):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liberata Gualtieri; Francesco Nugnes; Anna G. Nappo; Marco Gebiola; Umberto Bernardo. 2017. "Life inside a gall: closeness does not favour horizontal transmission of Rickettsia between a gall wasp and its parasitoid." FEMS Microbiology Ecology 93, no. 7: 1.

Research articles
Published: 31 March 2017 in Systematics and Biodiversity
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Egg parasitoids of the genus Anagrus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) are natural enemies of many pests around the world. We used an integrative approach to characterize some species belonging to the Anagrus atomus group, using specimens reared from leafhoppers infesting some Lamiaceae. Starting from morphological identifications based on available keys, we carried out a multi-locus genetic characterization using phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses, and integrated it with biological and morphometric evidence. This approach revealed the existence of a new species, A. nepetellae sp. nov., here described along with its phenological traits. The approach also allowed us to characterize the expected taxonomic stability of other putative species within the group. We propose two new species groups called the atomus group sensu stricto and the vilis group, with the goal of streamlining the taxonomy of the atomus group. We also present a key for the identification of females of the European species of the atomus group sensu stricto. Some specimens show heterozygosity in 28S-D2 sequences, suggesting hybridization between A. atomus and A. nepetellae, which, if it is common between other species as well, could partly explain the taxonomic problems in the genus Anagrus. DNA sequencing of specimens reared by the same biofactory at different times suggests involuntary contamination leading to the displacement of a laboratory strain of A. atomus by A. nepetellae, which may have resulted from undetected partial reproductive compatibility.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DFCD7654-5AA5-4E4F-AE48-24377BAACEFE

ACS Style

Francesco Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo; Gennaro Viggiani. An integrative approach to species discrimination in the Anagrus atomus group sensu stricto (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with a description of a new species. Systematics and Biodiversity 2017, 15, 582 -599.

AMA Style

Francesco Nugnes, Umberto Bernardo, Gennaro Viggiani. An integrative approach to species discrimination in the Anagrus atomus group sensu stricto (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with a description of a new species. Systematics and Biodiversity. 2017; 15 (6):582-599.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Nugnes; Umberto Bernardo; Gennaro Viggiani. 2017. "An integrative approach to species discrimination in the Anagrus atomus group sensu stricto (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with a description of a new species." Systematics and Biodiversity 15, no. 6: 582-599.

Journal article
Published: 09 March 2017 in Zootaxa
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A new species of Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) that emerged mostly from galls induced by Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on chestnut is described from Italy. The characterization of the new taxon, Soikiella italica Viggiani sp. n., was performed through a morpho-molecular approach. A key to the species of Soikiella is given. Emerging from the same samples were a few females of an unidentified species of Trichogramma Westwood that likely emerged from eggs of Lepidoptera associated with the galls. The true host of S. italica is also indicated to be the eggs of some insect other than D. kuriphilus that uses their galls as oviposition sites.

ACS Style

Umberto Bernardo; Liberata Gualtieri; Francesco Nugnes; Elisa Verdolini; Paola Riolo; Gennaro Viggiani. A new species of Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from Italy. Zootaxa 2017, 4242, 185 -192.

AMA Style

Umberto Bernardo, Liberata Gualtieri, Francesco Nugnes, Elisa Verdolini, Paola Riolo, Gennaro Viggiani. A new species of Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from Italy. Zootaxa. 2017; 4242 (1):185-192.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Umberto Bernardo; Liberata Gualtieri; Francesco Nugnes; Elisa Verdolini; Paola Riolo; Gennaro Viggiani. 2017. "A new species of Soikiella Nowicki (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from Italy." Zootaxa 4242, no. 1: 185-192.

Journal article
Published: 09 August 2016 in Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
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All Hymenoptera have a haplodiploid mode of sex determination. Although most species reproduce by arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, there are many thelytokous species, in which unfertilized eggs develop into diploid females. Thelytoky can be genetic or due to microbial infection. In the large Chalcidoidea superfamily, thelytokous parthenogenesis is almost always associated with infection of endosymbionts of the genera Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Rickettsia. Thripoctenus javae (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a larval parasitoid of the greenhouse thrips Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an important worldwide pest. Both the host and its parasitoid reproduce by thelytokous parthenogenesis. The main goal of this study was to test whether endosymbiotic bacteria, either those known to induce thelytokous parthenogenesis or other sex-manipulators, are responsible for thelytoky of two geographically distinct populations of T. javae. We used sequencing of ribosomal ITS2 and 28S-D2 and mitochondrial COI genes to molecularly characterize the two populations, antibiotic and heat treatments, and FISH of ovaries, for thelytoky studies. It was impossible to revert thelytokous individuals back to sexual reproduction and no evidence of bacterial infection was found in parthenogenetic T. javae females. This makes T. javae the second chalcidoid in which thelytokous reproduction appears not to be associated with the presence of bacterial endosymbionts.

ACS Style

Maurilia M. Monti; Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Marco Gebiola; Umberto Bernardo. No evidence of parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria involved in Thripoctenus javae thelytoky: an unusual finding in Chalcidoidea. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 2016, 160, 292 -301.

AMA Style

Maurilia M. Monti, Francesco Nugnes, Liberata Gualtieri, Marco Gebiola, Umberto Bernardo. No evidence of parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria involved in Thripoctenus javae thelytoky: an unusual finding in Chalcidoidea. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 2016; 160 (3):292-301.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maurilia M. Monti; Francesco Nugnes; Liberata Gualtieri; Marco Gebiola; Umberto Bernardo. 2016. "No evidence of parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria involved in Thripoctenus javae thelytoky: an unusual finding in Chalcidoidea." Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 160, no. 3: 292-301.

Research article
Published: 13 May 2015 in PLOS ONE
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The blue-gum chalcid Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a gall wasp pest of Eucalyptus species, likely native to Australia. Over the past 15 years it has invaded 39 countries on all continents where eucalypts are grown. The worldwide invasion of the blue gum chalcid was attributed to a single thelytokous morphospecies formally described in 2004. Subsequently, however, males have been recorded in several countries and the sex ratio of field populations has been found to be highly variable in different areas. In order to find an explanation for such sex ratio differences, populations of L. invasa from a broad geographical area were screened for the symbionts currently known as reproductive manipulators, and both wasps and symbionts were genetically characterized using multiple genes. Molecular analyses suggested that L. invasa is in fact a complex of two cryptic species involved in the rapid and efficient spread of the wasp, the first recovered from the Mediterranean region and South America, the latter from China. All screened specimens were infected by endosymbiotic bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia. Two closely related Rickettsia strains were found, each infecting one of the two putative cryptic species of L. invasa and associated with different average sex ratios. Rickettsia were found to be localized in the female reproductive tissues and transovarially transmitted, suggesting a possible role of Rickettsia as the causal agent of thelytokous parthenogenesis in L. invasa. Implications for the variation of sex ratio and for the management of L. invasa are discussed.

ACS Style

Francesco Nugnes; Marco Gebiola; Maurilia Maria Monti; Liberata Gualtieri; Massimo Giorgini; Jianguo Wang; Umberto Bernardo. Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Gall Wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and of its Rickettsia Endosymbiont, and Associated Sex-Ratio Differences. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0124660 -e0124660.

AMA Style

Francesco Nugnes, Marco Gebiola, Maurilia Maria Monti, Liberata Gualtieri, Massimo Giorgini, Jianguo Wang, Umberto Bernardo. Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Gall Wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and of its Rickettsia Endosymbiont, and Associated Sex-Ratio Differences. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (5):e0124660-e0124660.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francesco Nugnes; Marco Gebiola; Maurilia Maria Monti; Liberata Gualtieri; Massimo Giorgini; Jianguo Wang; Umberto Bernardo. 2015. "Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Gall Wasp Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and of its Rickettsia Endosymbiont, and Associated Sex-Ratio Differences." PLOS ONE 10, no. 5: e0124660-e0124660.