Volume 4, Issue 2, July 2011 ISSN 1791-3691 Hellenic Plant Protection Journal A semiannual scientifi c publication of the BENAKIBEB PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL INSTITUTE The Hellenic Plant Protection Journal (ISSN 1791-3691) is the new scientifi c publication of the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI) replacing the Annals of the Benaki Phyto- pathological Institute (ISSN 1790-1480) which had been published since 1935. Starting from January 2008, the Benaki Phytopathological Institute is publishing the Hel- lenic Plant Protection Journal semiannually, in January and July each year, and accepts for publication any work related to plant protection in the Mediterranean region regardless of where it was conducted. All aspects of plant protection referring to plant pathogens, pests, weeds (identifi cation, biology, control), pesticides and relevant environmental is- sues are topics covered by the journal. Articles in the form of either a complete research paper or a short communication (in- cluding new records) may be submitted. Instructions on how to prepare the manuscript are available in BPI’s website (www.bpi.gr). Manuscripts should be submitted in electron- ic form either by e-mail at [email protected] or by post on a disk addressed to the Edito- rial Board, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta Str., GR-145 61 Kifi ssia (Athens), Greece. Only original articles are considered and published after successful completion Hellenic Plant Protection Journal Hellenic Plant of a review procedure by two competent referees. EDITORIAL BOARD Editor: Dr F. Karamaouna (Pesticides Control & Phytopharmacy Department, BPI) Associate Editors: Dr A.N. Michaelakis (Entomology & Agric. Zoology Department, BPI) Dr K.M. Kasiotis (Pesticides Control & Phytopharmacy Department, BPI) Dr N.I. Skandalis (Phytopathology Department, BPI) M. Kitsiou (Library Department, BPI) Technical Editor and Secretary: Asteria Karadima (Information Technology Service, BPI) For subscriptions, exchange agreements, back issues and other publications of the In- stitute contact the Library, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta Str., GR-145 61 Kifi ssia (Athens), Greece, e-mail: [email protected]. This Journal is indexed by: CAB Abstracts-Plant Protection Database, INIST (Institute for Scientifi c and Technical Information) and SCOPUS. The olive tree of Plato in Athens is the emblem of the Benaki Phytopathological Institute Hellenic Plant Protection Journal also available at www.bpi.gr © Benaki Phytopathological Institute Hellenic Plant Protection Journal 4: 31-34, 2011 SHORT COMMUNICATION Report of the Geranium Bronze Butterfl y, Cacyreus marshalli for mainland Greece A.F. Martinou1, D. Papachristos2 and P.G. Milonas1 Summary In July and September 2010, two samples of infested geranium plants (Pelargonium spp.), which were originally collected from Kifi ssia, Attica-Greece, were received at the Laboratory of Bio- logical Control at Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Greece. Larvae were taken from infested plants and kept under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 70±5% RH and under a photoperiod of 16L:8D h un- til adults emerged. Adults were identifi ed as the Geranium Bronze Butterfl y, Cacyreus marshalli But- ler (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). This species is recorded for the fi rst time for mainland Greece. Cacyreus marshalli is on the EPPO A2 List of pests recommended for the regulation as quarantine pests. Gera- nium Bronze Butterfl y has the potential to establish in Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean ba- sin as climatic conditions can allow this pest to overwinter outdoors and its host plants are common- ly propagated. Additional keywords: biodiversity, butterfl y, geranium, invasive, Pelargonium spp. The identifi cation of the species was based on two infested geranium plant samples re- ceived at the Laboratory of Biological Con- trol at Benaki Phytopathological Institute in July and September 2010. The plant samples (leaves and stems) were originally collected from Kifi ssia, Attica-Greece and were kept at 25±1°C and 70±5% RH until adult emer- gence. Based on the adult morphological characteristics, the species was identifi ed as the Geranium Bronze Butterfl y Cacyreus marshalli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) (Figures Figure 1. Adult of Cacyreus marshalli (upperside). 1, 2). Eggs of the Geranium Bronze are whit- ish to light-yellow or brown in colour (Figure 3); 0.5 mm in diameter x 0.3 mm in height (2). Eggs are laid near the fl ower buds or less frequently on the leaves. Caterpillars (Figu- re 4) are found within the fl ower buds or in- side the stem, where they bore through. En- trance holes in buds and stems are easy to detect. Once attacked, the stems turn black- Laboratories of Biological Control (1) and Agricultural Entomology (2), Department of Entomology and Agri- cultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta Str., GR-145 61 Kifi ssia (Athens), Greece. Corresponding author: [email protected] Figure 2. Adult of Cacyreus marshalli (underside). © Benaki Phytopathological Institute 32 Martinou et al. Figure 3. Egg of Cacyreus marshalli. Figure 4. Caterpillars of Cacyreus marshalli. ish. The fi rst- instar larvae have an average (7, 10). length of 1 mm which increases to 2 mm Pelargonium spp., commonly known as within 8 days. Second, third and fourth- in- geraniums, are the main host plants of this stars grow to 3, 6 and 13 mm, typically in 8, pest but the butterfl y also has the capacity 8 and 9 days, respectively. Their colour var- to infest native Geranium spp. (8). ies, with extremes of yellow and/or green- Cacyreus marshalli is on the EPPO A2 ish shades with or without pink markings List of pests recommended for regula- (2). Pupae are very hairy in shades of green, tion as quarantine pests. Although on the pale-yellow or brown, with brown mottling EPPO A2 List, C. marshalli has not been and an average length of 9 mm (2). Female regulated as a quarantine pest by Euro- adults have a wingspan of 18-27 mm while pean Regional Plant Protection Organiza- male adults have a wingspan of 15-23 mm. tions and it has managed to spread rapid- The two sexes are similar in appearance. ly in islands and mainland Spain and Italy Adults have a bronze-brown colouring at the (4, 9). The potential for natural spread of upper surface with white spots on the fringe this pest is very low as its fl ights are short and highly-patterned undersides. They also in duration with frequent rests (3). The bear substantial tails on their hindwings, most likely means of international disper- along with a nearby eye spot, which diverts sal is the movement of infested plant ma- attacks from birds and other predators away terial. The example of the rapid establish- from the critical body parts. ment of C. marshalli on Mallorca (Balearic The species is indigenous to Southern Islands) and its spread to the Spanish Africa (2). According to the EPPO distribu- mainland shows that the pest has the po- tion maps of quarantine pests, C. marshalli tential to establish in the Mediterranean is present (with no detailed records) in Bo- basin and could pose a threat for the Eu- tswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Afri- ropean mainland. Geraniums are exten- ca, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. To date it has sively grown as ornamental plants almost been observed in European countries such throughout Europe, but Spain, France, It- as Belgium and Italy with a few occurrences, aly and Greece, as well as North Africa, France and mainland Spain, where it is re- are at greater risk since their climatic con- corded as present with a restricted distribu- ditions would allow the pest to overwin- tion, and fi nally Germany, Portugal and the ter outdoors. Furthermore, breeding and Balearic and Canary islands, where it is re- propagation of geraniums play an impor- ported as present but with no detailed re- tant role in these regions. Elsewhere in cords. This is the fi rst record for mainland Europe, the pest could establish in glass- Greece while there are previous records for houses (1). the species from the Ionian island of Corfu Cacyreus marshalli has never been re- © Benaki Phytopathological Institute Geranium Bronze butterfl y report 33 ported as a pest species in its area of ori- We would like to thank Mr Timothy Cowles for gin, probably due to autochthonous para- providing with photos and Mr Rob Parker for sitoids and predators that manage to keep sharing with us his interest on butterfl ies, es- its population under the damage threshold. pecially regarding the Geranium Bronze But- The introduction of the Geranium Bronze terfl y. into Europe is having a great impact on the nursery sector, with a consequent decrease in the demand of geraniums, which are ever Literature cited more often replaced by customers with oth- 1. Baufeld, P. 1993. Pest risk analysis of Cacyreus er ornamental plants. Furthermore, the Ge- marshalli from a phytosanitary point of view. ranium Bronze could cause problems in the Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pfl anzenschutz- mountainous and hilly habitats where wild dienstes, 45: 257-262. Geranium spp. commonly exist. Adapta- 2. Clark, G.C. and Dickson, C.G.C. 1971. Life histories of the South African lycaenid butterfl ies, pp. 60- tion of C. marshalli in these habitats could 61. Purnell, Cape Town, South Africa. threaten the native fl ora and biodiversity 3. Eitschberger, U. and Stamer, P. 1990. Cacyreus through competition with other species marshalli, a new species of butterfl y for the fau- such as Eumedonia eumedon (Esper) (Lepi- na of Europe? Atalanta, 21: 101-108. doptera: Lycaenidae) and Aricia nicias (Mei- 4. Favilli, L. and Manganelli, G. 2006. Life history of gen) (Lepidoptera: Lycaneidae) (8). Aricia ni- Cacyreus marshalli, a South African species re- cently introduced into Italy. Bollettino della Soci- cias has been characterized as rare for Spain eta Entomologica Italiana, 138: 51–61.