Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2016) 40: 286-289 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Short Communication doi:10.3906/zoo-1505-41

First record of the grape cane borer, Amphicerus bimaculatus (Olivier, 1790) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), on pomegranate in Greece

1, , 2, 3 Stefanos S. ANDREADIS * **, Emmanouel I. NAVROZIDIS *, Stylianos KATERINIS 1 Chemical Ecology Lab, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 2 Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece 3 Adamantiou Korai 8, Filyro, Greece

Received: 26.05.2015 Accepted/Published Online: 02.10.2015 Final Version: 05.02.2016

Abstract: Discoloration of the leaves of unhealthy pomegranate trees, caused by the Coleopteran species Amphicerus bimaculatus (Olivier, 1790), was found in a newly planted pomegranate orchard in April 2011 in northern Greece (Vrontou area). Identification of the species was based on morphological characteristics. This report is the first record of A. bimaculatus in Greece infesting pomegranate trees.

Key words: Amphicerus bimaculatus, pomegranate trees, damage, first record, Greece

Pomegranate, Punica granatum L., is a deciduous or carried to the laboratory within 2 h. In order to avoid fruit tree cultivated in Greece since ancient times for exposure to high temperatures, plastic bags were carried both nutritional and medicinal purposes. The main in a cooler (approximately 15 °C). A layer of newspaper regions where pomegranates are cultivated include the was used to prevent direct contact of the plastic bags with Aegean Islands, Crete, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, the ice packs at the bottom of the cooler. As soon as they and Central Macedonia (Pontikis, 1987). Traditionally, were transferred to the laboratory, they were placed into pomegranates were cultivated more for household use ventilated wooden cages (30 × 30 × 30 cm) at 25 ± 1 °C than commercial use. However, in recent years cultivation and 70 ± 10% relative humidity, with a photoperiod of 16:8 of pomegranates has gained more and more importance h (L:D). Examination of the branches under a microscope in terms of economic significance. In recent years, new revealed that the branches were infested by adults of an plantations have been established in several areas, mainly unrecognized beetle species forming galleries inside the in the regions of East and Central Macedonia, covering a bark. These specimens were subsequently identified, based total area of more than 1500 ha (Drogoudi et al., 2012). on morphological characteristics, as the grape cane borer, Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the pests of Amphicerus bimaculatus (Olivier, 1790). This is the first pomegranates in Greece (Tsagkarakis, 2012). record of A. bimaculatus attacking pomegranate trees in Within a pomegranate orchard in the area of Vrontou Greece. So far A. bimaculatus was reported only on grapes (42°11′N, 22°26′E) of Central Macedonia (northern in Greece (Navrozidis and Andreadis, 2012). Greece) (Figure 1), we observed in April 2011 several The grape cane borer is a univoltine species. Adults unhealthy trees with most of their branches having red are 1.1–1.8 cm long, cylindrical, and uniformly black discolored leaves. Moreover, round holes (about 0.3–0.4 or brownish black, with the antennae, palpi, and tarsi cm in diameter) and packed frass or bore dust were visible brownish or brownish yellow (Figures 2B and 2C) at the base of these branches near the buds (Figure 2A). (Navrozidis and Andreadis, 2012). The head is relatively Samples of these branches were collected and placed in small and completely covered by the large pronotum. The plastic bags (50 × 50 cm), which were afterwards shipped basal half of the pronotal lateral margins are covered with

* These authors contributed equally to this work. ** Correspondence: [email protected] 286 ANDREADIS et al. / Turk J Zool

Figure 1. Satellite photo of the study area. Red pin points to the Vrontou area, where the pomegranate orchard is situated (Copyright 2015 Google; Image Copyright 2015 CNES/Astrium). In the smaller map of Greece, the Pieria prefecture is marked in red color (Copyright Wikipedia). patterns of long, recumbent white hairs (Figure 2B). Pupae Tamarix sp., among others (Balachowsky, 1962; Akşit et. al., are ~0.9 cm long, uncovered, and whitish (Figures 2D and 2005; Öztürk and Ulusoy, 2009; Nardi and Mifsud, 2015). 2E). Larvae are typical for a bostrichid (Figure 2F). While it is usually feeding on dry, injured, or dying plant It is native to Europe, mainly distributed throughout material, causing substantial damage, adults will also attack the Mediterranean Basin (Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and living, healthy tissues by boring round holes near the buds. Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, As a result plants will begin to wilt, droop, and start to die, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Syria, classifying this insect as an economically significant pest. Tunisia, Turkey), but also reported in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Young and stressed trees are more susceptible than mature Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Romania, and healthy ones. Moreover, infested twigs and branches are Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and the less viable or more prone to mechanical injury. United States (Khalilov, 1972; Halperin and Damoiseau, Control of this species relies on application of 1980; Borowski and Wegrzynowicz, 2007; Löbl and preventive measures against the overwintering adults Smetana, 2007; Mason et al., 2010; Baena and Zuzarte, prior to mating and oviposition. This includes monitoring 2013; Nardi and Mifsud, 2015). of the species early in the season prior to the bud break The grape cane borer is a polyphagous insect. Host growth stage of the trees for detection and precise plants of this species are Acacia sp., Vitis vinifera, Ficus insecticide applications. Moreover, sanitation is highly carica, Malus domestica, Cerasus sp., Lycium sp., Prunus suggested by pruning and destroying infested, dried, amygdalus, Citrus sp., P. g ranatum , Delonix regia, and damaged, or pruned twigs/branches (Moleas, 1988) as

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A B # !

C D

E F

Figure 2. Amphicerus bimaculatus. A) Infested branch with a hole near a bud and extruded bore dust or frass; (B) male, dorsal view; (C) female, inside a branch; (D) uncovered pupa; (E) pupa, within a gallery; (F) “flat-heated” larva removed from its gallery. well as application of efficient exclusion measures such as healthy condition and properly irrigated and fertilized. the use of barriers for minimizing the movement of the A better understanding of the biology and habits of this pest from alternating hosts or neighboring pomegranate pest in the area of Central Macedonia is essential and will orchards. Furthermore, trees must be maintained in a contribute greatly to its efficient management.

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