This paper presents biological notes on two species of Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae that emerged from old spongy-woody galls of Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, 1951 collected in Sicily (Italy) in April 2015: Leptophyes sicula Kleukers, Od? et Fontana, 2010 (Phaneropterinae) and Cyrtaspis scutata (Charpentier, 1825) (Meconematinae). Between the end of April and the first few days of May a total of 30 neanids emerged from the galls, were reared and their life-cycle recorded. While L. sicula laid eggs in groups, C. scutata laid single eggs inside the galls; both species in a few years have adapted to exploiting this new shelter for egg laying. No interaction with the gall inducing insect was noted.

The sexual generation of Dryocosmus destefanii Cerasa & Melika, 2018 that emerges from galls on Q. suber L. in Italy is described for the first time, establishing its heterogonic life cycle. We provide observations on its distribution, illustration of adults and galls and information on its biology as supported by morphological and molecular data. An illustrated identification key to Western Palaearctic Dryocosmus species is also given.

The tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici, is a destructive pest of tomato crops worldwide. It poses a significant challenge to growers in both greenhouse and open-field conditions. Traditional chemical control methods are often ineffective, promote resistance, and have negative environmental impacts. This has prompted the search for alternative strategies, such as biological control and eco-friendly botanical pesticides. In this study, we evaluated the acaricidal effects of essential oils (EOs) extracted from three officinal plants, Origanum vulgare L., Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., and Salvia officinalis L., cultivated using precision aromatic crop (PAC) techniques. Their efficacy was evaluated against A. lycopersici under laboratory conditions. The chemical composition of the EOs was determined by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The dominant component of O. vulgare EO was carvacrol (83.42%), followed by ρ-cymene (3.06%), and γ-terpinene (2.93%). In S. rosmarinus, α-pinene (28.0%), 1,8-cineole (11.00%), and borneol (7.72%) were the major components. S. officinalis EO was characterized by high levels of 1,8-cineole (27.67%), camphor (21.91%), and crisantenone (12.87%). We tested multiple concentrations (320–5000 μL L−¹) and exposure times (1–4 days) to assess mite mortality. The results revealed both dose- and time-dependent toxic activity, with significant differences among EOs. O. vulgare EO was the most toxic, causing 90% mortality at 0.5% (w/v) concentration after 4 days. S. rosmatinus and S. officinalis EOs had more limited effects, with 46% and 42% mortality, respectively. Lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values were 2.23 mL L−¹ (95% CI: 1.74–3.05) for O. vulgare, 5.84 mL L−¹ (95% CI: 3.28–22.29) for S. rosmarinus, and 6.01 mL L−¹ (95% CI: 2.63–261.60) for S. officinalis. These results indicate that O. vulgare EO shows efficacy comparable to commercially available botanical pesticides. Our findings support the potential of O. vulgare EO as a viable alternative for the control of A. lycopersici, contributing to integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

A new species, Dryocosmus destefanii Cerasa & Melika n. sp. associated with a Cerris section oak, Quercus suber L., is described from Italy. Description, diagnosis, host associations and biology for the new species and an illustrated identification key to the Western Palaearctic Dryocosmus species are given. The description is supported by morphological and molecular data.

Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888) is redescribed and illustrated based on the holotype of Dendrosoter sicanus Marshall, 1888 and on recently collected material from its type locality (Sicily, Italy). Previous host records for this species are unreliable. Here, the host of H. sicanus, the rare ptinid beetle Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, 1875, is recorded for the first time, having been reared in a historic library in Palermo, Italy. Heterospilus sicanus is compared with the similar species Telebolus (= Heterospilus) corsicus Marshall, 1888, which was described in the same monograph from Corsica (France), and it is also redescribed and illustrated. Atoreuteus ceballosi Docavo Alberti, 1960, syn. nov. is synonymised under Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888), and Hormiopterus (= Rhaconotus) ollivieri Giraud var. flava Fahringer, 1931, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Heterospilus cephi Rohwer, 1925. A key for determination of the Western Palaearctic Heterospilus species with a striate vertex is provided and the distributions of H. sicanus and H. corsicus are discussed.