First record of Anatrachyntis badia in Italy
In 2006 during surveys on insect pests of ornamental plants in parks and gardens, the presence of a new microlepidoptera, Anatrachyntis badia (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) was recorded for the first time in Italy. A. badia was found in several cities in Sicilia (Catania, Messina, Palermo) and Calabria (Tarsia and Altomonte, near Cosenza) feeding on leaves of Cycas revoluta and C. circinalis. Affected plants presented yellowing leaves followed by necrosis and suberification, as well as perforation of the leaf and erosion of the underside. Preliminary observations made in Sicilia showed that the highest numbers of larvae were detected near colonies of the mealybug Pseudococcus longispinus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) which probably render plant tissues more susceptible to A. badia infestations. A. badia originates from North America where it feeds on various host plants (cones of Pinus, citrus fruits, banana, cabbage, sorghum). Its currently known geographical distribution is as follows:
North America: USA (California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland).
EPPO region: France, Malta, Netherlands, Spain (including Islas Canarias), United Kingdom.
Sources
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Bella S, Mazzeo G (2006) First record of Anatrachyntis badia (Hodges, 1962) (Lepidoptera Cosmopterigidae) in Italy. Bolletino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura Serie II 38(3), 255-260.
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