Studies of the species composition, seasonal appearance, and abundance of Auchenorrhyncha in olive crops is of paramount importance to reduce the potential of Xylella fastidiosa to invade new areas. As similar investigations had not previously been conducted in Greece, extensive surveys were undertaken in olive orchards located in three of the most important regions for olive production in central Greece (Fthiotida), south-central Greece (Attica), and southern Greece (Chania). Surveys took place over a 13-mo period, using Malaise traps examined on a monthly basis. Results showed high levels of species richness in the olive orchards, and the Auchenorrhyncha diversity varied among the regions surveyed. Most of the species listed as potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in Europe were found in relatively low numbers. Furthermore, many insects of the Deltocephalinae subfamily were found, whose behavior as vectors should be further studied. The dominant and most frequent species found in the three regions were tested and found not to be associated with transmission of the bacterium. This study may serve as an alert, showing that the most commonly found species differ from those identified in similar studies in Italy, and thus other species should be examined as potential vectors. The results of the present study provide new insights into the seasonal abundance and dynamics of potential vectors of X. fastidosa in several regions of Greece, and also provide information that may prove valuable for the effective containment and eradication of this threat.

Eight species of the superfamily Pentatomoidea are recorded from Greece for the first time: Aelia germari Küster 1852, Eurygaster hottentotta (Fabricius 1775), Eysarcoris aeneus (Scopoli 1763), Neottiglossa lineolata (Herrich-Schaeffer 1830), Neottiglossa pusilla (Gallen 1789), Picromerus bidens (Linnaeus 1758), Podops (Podops) inunctus (Fabricius 1775) and Tarisa pallescens (Jakovlev 1871). A complete updated species checklist with distributional data notes for all the new species for Greece are provided.

Seventeen auchenorrhynchan species of the family Cicadellidae are recorded from Greece for the first time: Euscelidius variegatus (Kirschbaum 1858), Euscelis ohausi (Wagner 1939), Psammotettix notatus (Melichar 1896), Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus 1758), Psammotettix sabulicola (Curtis 1837), Anzygina honiloa (Kirkaldy 1906), Arboridia versuta (Melichar 1897), Edwardsiana ishidae (Matsumura 1932), Edwardsiana tersa (Edwards 1914), Eupteryx decemnotata (Rey 1891), Eupteryx curtisii (Flor 1861), Eupteryx rostrata (Ribaut 1936), Frutioidia sanguinosa (Rey 1891), Zygina rosea (Flor 1861), Zygina suavis (Rey 1891), Zygina tiliae (Fallen 1806), Anaceratagallia frisia (Wagner 1939). Faunistic and distributional data notes are given for each species and a complete, updated species checklist for Greece is provided.

Due to the potential role of Auchenorrhyncha in the transmission of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in a wide variety of cultivations, during recent years in Europe, many studies have focused on species composition, abundance and seasonal appearance of Auchenorrhyncha. However, females and nymphs are difficult to identify, as species-level identification relies primarily on male genitalia morphology. Sampling was conducted over four years in olive fields in Lesvos Island, in the Northeast Aegean, Greece, using sweep nets and Malaise traps. Both adults and nymphs were collected, with males identified to species level, while females and nymphs were separated on different morphotypes. Representatives from each morphotype and identified adults were sequenced using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Using a classical morphological approach, 58 species were identified to species level, and using DNA barcoding, nymph morphotypes and females were successfully identified within the families Cicadellidae, Aphrophoridae, Delphacidae and Issidae. A phylogenetic tree was generated, clustering nymphs together with the corresponding adults. Our results demonstrate the utility of combining morphological and molecular methods for accurate species identification and highlight the importance of enriching online databases with additional species records.

The study of Auchenorrhyncha species composition in Greek olive orchards is crucial due to the potential threat of Xylella fastidiosa invading the region. Recent studies have begun exploring agricultural landscapes, particularly olive and citrus orchards. From 2016 to 2022, biodiversity surveys were conducted in thirteen olive orchards across three regions of Greece: Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada, and the Northeast Aegean. Malaise traps were installed in each orchard and monitored monthly, supplemented by sweep net sampling in two orchards to capture less mobile species and assess their association with host plants. A total of 14,771 specimens were collected, representing 125 species predominantly feeding on weeds. The dominant species were the Typhlocybinae Hebata decipiens and Zyginidia pullula, while Euscelis lineolata was the most common Deltocephalinae. Aphrophoridae, including Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris, were more effectively collected with sweep nets, primarily from Avena sterilis L. This study offers a detailed overview of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in Greek olive orchards, providing essential insights for developing strategies to prevent the invasion of Xylella fastidiosa.