Volume 1, Issue 2, July 2008 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 replacing the Annals of the Benaki Phytopathologi- cal 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 provided in the fi rst issue of the year. Manuscripts should be submitted in electronic form either by e-mail at [email protected] or by post on a disk addressed to the Editorial 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 C.N. Giannopolitis (Weed Science Department, B.P.I.) Associate editors: Dr K. Elena (Phytopathology Department, B.P.I.) Dr K. Machera (Pesticides Control & Phytopharmacy Department, BPI) Dr A.N. Michaelakis (Entomology & Agric. Zoology Department, B.P.I.) V. Papaconstantinou (Library Department, B.P.I.) Technical editor: Asteria Karadima (Information Technology Service, B.P.I.) Secretary: Emilia Pantazi (Information Technology Service, B.P.I.) 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]. 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 1: 55-78, 2008 REVIEW ARTICLE New records of plant pests and weeds in Greece, 1990-2007 M. Anagnou–Veroniki1, P. Papaioannou–Souliotis2, E. Karanastasi3 and C.N. Giannopolitis4 Summary More than 70 new insect records have been reported from Greece during the peri- od 1990-2007. The woolly whitefl y Aleurothrixus fl occosus Maskell and the citrus leaf-miner Phyl- locnistis citrella Stainton, which are among the most important new records, have already spread throughout the country but severe damage has been avoided with the introduction of eff ective exotic parasitoids. Other species of the newly reported pests that are considered important are: the thrips Pezothrips kellyanus (Bagnall) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), the gall inducing wasps Ophelimus maskeli (Ashmead) and Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle and the asparagus pests Parahypopta caestrum (Hübner) and Hexomyza simplex (Loew). Nine new records of phytophagous mites have been reported from Greece during the period 1990-2007. Of these species, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) and Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritch- ard are quarantine mites. Especially T. evansi although not yet widespread in the country may have a serious economic impact since it can cause damage by reducing market value of the aff ected crops. A total of 30 plant parasitic nematode species have been reported from Greece, during the period 1990-2007, most of which are known to be important pests worldwide. From these, only one spe- cies, Globodera pallida Stone on potato, appears to be of special interest. Three weed species known to be very troublesome and widespread in the United States have re- cently appeared in Greece and are causing serious problems in irrigated summer crops, particu- larly in maize. They include Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacquin (Convolvulaceae) which has already spread in the western part of the country, Sicyos angulatus L. (Cucurbitaceae) which is spreading in the northern part and Panicum dichotomifl orum Michaux (Gramineae) which is currently restricted in a small area in the central part of the country. The appearance of these weeds in Greece demon- strates the need for measures to prevent invasion and spread of aggressive alien species. Introduction to elaborate on data published in nation- al and international literature and sum- An attempt has been initiated by scientists marize new records reported for Greece at the Benaki Phytopathological Institute during the period 1990-2007. This will pro- vide a reliable update of existing up to Laboratories of Microbiology & Insect Pathology (1), 1990 national checklists for plant patho- Acarology & Agricultural Zoology (2) and Nematolo- gy (3), Department of Entomology & Agricultural Zo- gens, pests and weed species occurring in ology. Laboratory of Chemical Weed Management (4), Greece. Department of Weed Science. Benaki Phytopathologi- The plant pest records, including in- cal Institute, 8 St. Delta str., GR-145 61 Kifi ssia (Athens), Greece. sects, mites and nematodes as well as the Corresponding author: [email protected] weed species records for the period 1990- 56 Anagnou-Veroniki et al. 2007 are summarized in this article. The as) (Aphididae) on cotton (Lycouressis, plant pathogen records, including fungi, 1990b). We should mention, however, that bacteria, viruses and viroids, for the same in Greece there are many species of aphids period, were recently published by Elena that can be important pests. All these spe- et al. (2008). cies have already been presented by oth- er authors (Katsoyannos, 1994, Kavalliera- tos et al., 2001, 2004b, 2004c). 1. Insect pests The grapevine aphid Aphis illinoisen- sis Shimer (Aphididae), a native to Amer- The data presented here are mostly based ica, was reported for the fi rst time from on records reported in the literature and Greece (and generally from Europe) in only a small number comes from sam- 2005 to feed on grapevine plants in Crete ples examined at this laboratory and reg- (Aggelakis et al., 2005). The aphid is al- istered either in the Annual Reports or ready widespread in Crete. It has been the Archive material of the Benaki Phyto- found on almost all grapevine varieties pathological Institute. New aphid species, grown in the area and seems to prefer the coccids and Agromyzidae are not includ- vigorous ones. ed here as they have been recently record- The soft scale Parthenolecanium per- ed and summarized (Katsoyannos, 1994; sicae (Fabricius) (Coccidae) was found on Kozár et al., 1994, Kavallieratos et al., 2001, grapevines in Messinia (Peloponnese) in 2004b, 2004c, Souliotis & Süss, 2004). October 2000 and on Viburnum tinus in The species are discussed in the text Central Greece in June of the same year arranged by the order and the family and (Stathas, 2003c). The insect was fi rst re- listed in Table 1 alphabetically. corded in Greece (July 1983) on Morus sp. in Northern Greece (Epanomi) (Kozár, 1.1. Hemiptera - Homoptera 1985). The woolly whitefl y Aleurothrixus fl oc- Nemolecanium graniformis (Wünn) cosus Maskell (Aleyrodidae), one of the (Coccidae) is a pest of Grecian fi r (Abies ce- most important pests of citrus, was fi rst phalonica) that was found in 1996 in the recorded in Attica by Κatsoyannos, (1991). mountain of Parnitha. The insect produc- Currently it is present in all citrus grow- es honeydew on which sooty mould de- ing areas of Greece and causes econom- velops (Stathas, 1997). ic damage when at high population den- The pyriform scale insect, Protopulv- sities. The introduced parasitoid Cales inaria pyriformis (Cockerell) (Coccidae) noacki Howard has managed to con- was found on bay plants (Laurus nobilis) in trol the whitefl y where insecticide spray- Kalamata (Peloponesse) in October 2003. ing against other citrus pests was avoid- The insect was also found in many other ed. The present pest status of the woolly countries on more than 100 plant species whitefl y is considered to be “under con- (Ben-Dov et al., 2003). trol” as it shows periodic increases at cer- The elm bark scale Ritsemia pupifera tain areas that are however controlled by Lichtenstein (Pseudococcidae) was found the parasitoid. on elm trees (Ulmus sp.). It develops on the Two aphid species are included here as bark of the tree and is covered with dense they have become very important recent- white waxy secretions (Savopoulou et al., ly, namely Aphis citricola van der Goot 1997) (Aphididae) on citrus (Lycouressis, 1990a) Lepidosaphes pistaciae Archangels- and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom- kaya (Diaspididae) was observed in 1990 New plant pests and weeds in Greece 57 on pistachio and terebinth (Pistacia tere- Α. pistaciae was recorded in West Korin- binthus). (Katsoyannos & Stathas, 1995). It thia and is the dominant species in the ar- establishes on young stems, on the fruit eas of Fthiotis, Boeotia, Euboea and Attica. and the leaves of the trees and can cause A. targionii was found in Halkidiki in loca- deformities and drying of the plants. tions where pistachio is one of the main In June 2001 the