Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) is one of the most controversial dicyphines because of the injuries it causes to tomato (Solanum es

Myzus persicae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Aphis gossypii and Aulacorthum solani (Homoptera: Aphididae) are principal pests of protected pepper crops in southeastern Spain. Our goal was to determine the incidence of aphids on pepper crops and the role of vegetation surrounding greenhouses as a source of aphids and their parasitoids. The population dynamics were followed in six commercial greenhouses during 3 years. Another 82 greenhouses and their surrounding vegetation were surveyed occasionally. Myzus persicae had the highest incidence in pepper greenhouses followed by M. euphorbiae and A. solani. Parasitism of all aphid species in greenhouses was low, Aphidius matricariae and Aphidius colemani being the most abundant parasitoids. Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae were the most abundant and polyphagous aphids, being present on 77 and 55% of the plants sampled outside greenhouses, respectively; species of Brassicaceae were the main hosts for both aphids. Aulacorthum solani was only present on Malva parviflora and at low numbers. Outside greenhouses, A. matricariae was the most common parasitoid of M. persicae, followed by Diaeretiella rapae and A. colemani. Aphidius matricariae was the most polyphagous, being present in 10 out of 22 aphid species. Macrosiphum euphorbiae and A. solani were both parasitised by A. ervi and Praon volucre. Aphelinus asychis was found on A. solani. Parasitoids were found in other aphids not attacking pepper. The role of natural vegetation as a reservoir of aphid pests of pepper and of parasitoids is discussed.

The intensification of agriculture has led to the reduction of the diversity of arthropods in agroecosystems, including that of ground-dwelling species. The aim of our work was to assess the effect of a sown cover crop on the diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, including key predators for pest control in pear orchards. The trial was carried out in a pear orchard divided in three blocks; two treatments (cover-cropping and control) were implemented in each block. A seed mixture of 10 plant species was used in the plots with the sown cover. The densities of ground-dwelling arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps. The ground cover had a significant impact on the diversity and abundance of arthropods. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was significantly higher for the cover than for the control plots. Several families of spiders (Linyphiidae, Lycosidae), beetles (Carabidae, Staphylinidae) and hymenopterans (Scelionidae) were significantly more abundant in the cover-sown plots. Ants and collembola had a significantly higher abundance in the control plots. Some of these groups arthropods (ants and spiders), are represented by species that may commute between ground and pear trees, having an impact on pest control. The use of cover crops is encouraged to enhance biodiversity in farmlands.

Species of Dicyphus (Dicyphus) (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae: Dicyphini) are routinely used as biocontrol agents of vegetable crop pests in the Northern Hemisphere. However, they are notoriously difficult to identify. In response, we employed an integrative approach, combining molecular, morphometrics and morphological data, for the delimitation of species. Sequences of three mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S and 12S) for 15 putative Dicyphus (Dicyphus) species were analysed using phylogenetic and genetic methods. Morphometric data were analysed using PCA and Ctree analyses to test their previous use in species differentiation. External and male genitalia morphology were re-examined as an additional partition for testing species boundaries. Twenty-one Dicyphus (Dicyphus) species, based on genetic distances >1%, external and male genitalic characters were determined. The subgenus and all of the included species are diagnosed, and previously recognized species that we determined as valid are redescribed. The following new synonyms are proposed: D. marocannus Wagner and D. bolivari altanticus Wagner are synonymized with D. bolivari Lindberg; D. umbertae Sanchez and Cassis is synonymized with D. cerastii Wagner; and, D. baezi Ribes is synonymized with D. rubicundus Blote. Two new species from Spain (D. argensis sp. nov.) and Turkey (D. caycumensis sp. nov.) are described.