Aphids of the family: Aphididae - Αφίδες της οικογένειας Αφιδίδες – Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Aphididae

The Aphididae are a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily (Aphidoidea), of the order Hemiptera. These insects suck the sap from plant leaves. Several thousand species are placed in this family, many of which are considered plant/crop pests. They are the family of insects containing most plant virus vectors (around 200 known) with the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) being one of the most prevalent and indiscriminate carriers.

Evolution

Aphids originated in the late Cretaceous about 100 million years ago (Mya), but the Aphidinae which comprises about half of the 4700 described species and genera of aphids alive today come from their most recent radiation which occurred in the late Tertiary less than 10 Mya.

Reproduction

Most aphid species can reproduce both asexually and sexually, with several parthenogenetic generations between each period of sexual reproduction. This is known as cyclical parthenogenesis and, in temperate regions, sexual reproduction occurs in autumn and results in the production of overwintering eggs, which hatch the following spring and initiate another cycle. Many pest aphids, however, do not overwinter as an egg but as nymphs or adults and others as both eggs and active stages (see Williams and Dixon 2007). For their size, the parthenogenetic individuals have very short developmental times and potentially prodigious rates of increase (de Réaumur 1737 Huxley 1858; Kindlmann and Dixon 1989; Dixon 1992). Thus, aphids show very complex and rapidly changing within-year dynamics, with each clone going through several generations during the vegetative season and being made up of many individuals, which can be widely scattered in space. The survival of the eggs and/or overwintering aphids determines the numbers of aphids present the following spring.

The within-year dynamics of aphids are largely determined by seasonal changes in host quality. Aphids do best when amino acids are actively translocated in the phloem. In spring, the leaves grow and import amino acids via the phloem; in summer leaves are mature and export mainly sugars. In autumn, the leaves senesce and export amino acids and other nutrients. Thus on trees the leaves are most suitable for aphids in spring and autumn. The differences in within-year population dynamics of aphids are due to differences in the effect these seasonal fluctuations in host plant quality have on the per capita rate of increase and intraspecific competition in each species. This annual cycle, consisting of two short periods when the host plant is very favourable and a long intervening period when it is less favourable, is well documented for tree dwelling aphids. This has greatly facilitated the modelling of their population dynamics. In general the aphid carrying capacity of annual crop plants tends to increase with the season until the plants mature after which it tends to decrease very rapidly. Thus, the aphid carrying capacity of trees tends to be high in spring and autumn and low in summer, whereas that particularly of short-season annual crops tends to be low early in a year, peaking mid year and then declining.

Characteristics

Members of the Aphididae are soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects called aphids, as are other members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Most of them have a pair of little tubes, called cornicles, projecting dorsally from the posterior of their abdomens. The cornicles have been variously interpreted as organs of excretion or for the production of honeydew, but their only confirmed function to date is that they produce fatty alarm pheromones when the insects are attacked by predators

When wings are present they occur only on particular morphs called "alates", and wingless morphs are said to be "apterous". The forewing (mesothoracic wing) of the alate in the Aphididae has four to six veins attached to a major vein-like structure that has been interpreted as the combined stems of all the other major wing veins. That structure ends in a stigma, a solid spot on the anterior margin of the forewing. The rear (metathoracic) wings have a similar scheme, but simpler in structure, with no stigma[5] The rear wing however, does bear a hamulus, a small hook that, when in flight, engages the claval fold of the forewing, keeping the wing beats in synchrony.

All aphids have very small eyes, sucking mouthparts in the form of a relatively long, segmented rostrum, and fairly long antennae.

These insects are so small (a few millimeters in length), that winds can transport them for fairly long distances. They are often green, but might be red or brown, as well. They move quite slowly and cannot jump or hop. Aphids excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, because the plant sap from which they feed contains excess carbohydrates relative to its low protein content. To satisfy their protein needs, they absorb large amounts of sap and excrete the excess carbohydrates. Honeydew is used as food by ants, honeybees, and many other insects.

Classification

There is considerable controversy in the classification of aphids, with conservative classifications recognizing as many as 24 subfamilies within a single family Aphididae and others elevating various subfamilies to establish as many as 9 other families within Aphidoidea in addition to Aphididae. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphididae

                                                      Photos by George Konstantinou

Baizongia pistaciae (Linnaeus) - Aphids 

Ventocoris trigonus (Krynicki, 1871) .- Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Pentatomidae

Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species.[1][2] As hemipterans, the pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops. However, some species, particularly in the subfamily Asopinae, are predatory and may be considered beneficial.

Photo Geri 2005 by George Konstantinou

Velia (Plesiovelia) affinis Kolenati, 1857 - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Veliidae

Veliidae is a family of gregarious predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera. They are commonly known as riffle bugs, small water striders, or broad-shouldered water striders because the segment immediately behind the head is wider than the rest of the abdomen. The genus Rhagovelia is also referred to as a ripple bug.

Veliidae have a specialized body plan that allows them to walk on water and are neuston. Gerridae is another closely related group that is also neuston and both are in the superfamily Gerroidea. Veliidae are smaller however, between 1.5 and 6 mm (0.059 and 0.236 in). They can be found on ponds, near lake shores, and in rivers worldwide. Some species can also be found on plants near water, in salt water or in mud flats.

Life cycle

Like all Heteroptera, the Veliidae go through an egg, nymph and adult stage. They have four or five nymphal instars. Both the adults and nymphs live together gregariously, in loose communities and can often be found in large groups. Eggs are usually laid underwater, attached to the stream bed, rocks or plant material and held together by a gelatinous substance. In most species females lay under 30 eggs. Nymphs are very similar to adults, but have one segmented tarsus on mid and hind leg as opposed to the adults' two. Some species prefer rapids or riffles in streams but many prefer calmer water.

Distribution

Veliidae is the largest gerromorphan family and has almost 1173 species and 66 genera. The present distribution of these species points to two centers of origin: one in the Indo-Malayan region and another on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. The geographical distance between these points is probably due to continental drift. And now they are present across all continents (except Antarctica).

Description

Veliidae are very similar to Gerridae. The most consistent characteristic used to separate these two families are internal genitalia differences, however external cues are usually sufficient to tell the families apart.

A general description is as follows: an oval to elongate body covered with hydrofuge hairs. Wings can be present or absent; when present the wings range from well devolved to vestigial. The four segmented antennae is longer than the head and readily visible. The antennae is non-aristate. The eyes are usually large, but there are no ocelli.

Males and females can be differentiated by the fore tibiae. Males have smaller tibiae with a grasping comb, as opposed to the larger plain female tibiae.

Water walking

Veliidae can walk on water because they take advantage of the high surface tension of water and have hydrophobic legs that distribute their weight across more water.

Although Gerridae typically have longer legs, Veliidae also have legs that spread out the weight over a relatively large area. Thousands of hydrofugal hairs also coat the entire body, mitigating potential problems incurred by water contact: air bubbles, trapped among the tiny hairs if the insect is submerged, lift the insect towards the surface again. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliidae

Photo by Michael Hadjiconstantis

Sunn pest or corn bug – Eurygaster integriceps Puton, 1881.- Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Scutelleridae

Eurygaster integriceps is a species of shield bug in the family Scutelleridae, commonly known as the sunn pest or corn bug. It is native to much of northern Africa, the Balkans and western and central Asia. It is a major pest of cereal crops especially wheat, barley and oats.

Morphology and biology

The colour of the sunn pest varies but it is usually light brown. The body is a broad oval about 12 millimetres (0.5 in) long. The scutellum is wide and chitinous and covers the wings and the whole abdomen. The insect lives for about a month during which time the females lay twenty eight to forty two eggs. These are laid in batches each having two neat rows of seven eggs, on the underside of leaves and on the stems of the host plant, or sometimes on weeds. The eggs take six to twenty eight days to hatch and the nymphs moult five times while they feed on the leaves, stems and ears of cereal crops for the next twenty to forty five days. They grow fastest at an air temperature of 20–24 °C (68–75 °F). The second and third instars have a pale abdomen and dark head and thorax. The fourth instar has the rudiments of fore wings and the fifth instar, the rudiments of hind wings as well.

Distribution

The sunn pest is found in Northern Africa, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria[1] and Romania. In Asia it occurs in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In Russia it has spread into the central and Volga Basin regions, the Northern Caucasus, the Chelyabinsk region and Bashkortostan.

Ecology

The adults mostly overwinter in leaf litter in woods but some find refuge among rough vegetation. When the temperature reaches about 13 °C (55 °F) they seek out cereal crops, start to feed on the stems, leaves and developing seed heads, mate and lay their eggs. There is only one generation each year so adults and nymphs can be found feeding together on the ripening grain. If the insects are not fully developed when the crop is harvested, some nymphs and young adults feed and mature on fallen grain and other crop residues before flying off to their winter quarters. In Syria, they spend about nine months in hibernation. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurygaster_integriceps

Photo 2005 by George Konstantinou

Seed Bugs – Lethaeus sp. - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Rhyparochromidae

Photo 2005 by George Konstantinou

Seed Bugs – Heterogaster sp. - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Heterogastridae

Heterogaster is a genus of seed bugs in the family Heterogastridae. There are about 11 species, nine of the Old World, and two of the New World

Photo 2005 by George Konstantinou

Planthoppers - Reptalus sp. - Cyprus

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Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Family Cixiidae (Cixiid Planthoppers)

A planthopper is any insect in the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, a group exceeding 12,500 described species worldwide. The name comes from their remarkable resemblance to leaves and other plants of their environment and that they often "hop" for quick transportation in a similar way to that of grasshoppers. However, planthoppers generally walk very slowly. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders, though few are considered pests. The infraorder contains only a single superfamily, Fulgoroidea. Fulgoroids are most reliably distinguished from the other Auchenorrhyncha by two features; the bifurcate ("Y"-shaped) anal vein in the forewing, and the thickened, three-segmented antennae, with a generally round or egg-shaped second segment (pedicel) that bears a fine filamentous arista

Photo 2005 by George Konstantinou

Odontotarsus sp.- Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Scutelleridae

Hemiptera (/hɛˈmɪptərə/; from Ancient Greek hemipterus 'half-winged') is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera

Photo 2005 by George Konstantinou

Plant bugs - Deraeocoris (Deraeocoris) rutilus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Miridae

Deraeocoris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae. There are at least 210 described species in Deraeocoris.

Photo Geri 2005 by George Konstantinou

Cotton seed bug - Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (A. Costa, 1843) - Cyprus

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Family: Lygaeidae

Oxycarenus hyalinipennis, common name cotton seed bug, is a species of plant bug belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Oxycareninae

Distribution

This widespread species can be found in Southern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, former Yugoslavia and Albania), in the Afrotropical realm, in the Neotropical realm, and in the Oriental realm.

While historically it has been documented as an important pest of cotton in the Mediterranean region and in coastal Africa, it is an invasive species whose range has expanded over the last three decades to include islands of the Caribbean region.

Oxycarenus hyalinipennis can reach a length of about 3.8 mm in males, of 4.3 mm in females. Therefore, males are slightly smaller than females. Body of these bugs is black with translucent wings. Head is black, with brownish-black antennae. The second antennal segment usually is partially pale yellow. Pronotum is blackish-brown. Corium is usually yellowish-whitish and hyaline. Femora are black, while tibiae are brown with a yellow-white band.

Nymphs have pink to red abdomen.

Biology

This species may have three to four generations per year. Females of these bugs lay about twenty eggs. This species goes through five nymphal stages. A generation lasts about twenty days.

It is a polyphagous insect, and it has been documented as a prominent pest upon the following genera within family Malvaceae: Abutilon, Cola, Eriodendron, Gossypium, Malva, Sphaeralcea, Hibiscus, Pavonia, Sida, Dombeya, Sterculia and Triumfetta. Of these, Gossypium appears to be the preferred host,[3][6] but significant pest presence on okra has also been reported. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycarenus_hyalinipennis

Photo Geri 2005 by George Konstantinou

Burrowing bugs or negro bugs - Canthophorus dubius (Scopoli, 1763) - Cyprus

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Family: Cydnidae

Canthophorus dubius is a species of burrowing bugs or negro bugs belonging to the family Cydnidae, subfamily Sehirinae.

This palearctic species is widespread in most of Europe, in Asia and in North Africa.

It was found in Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia (in the northwest of the Caucasus), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and former Yugoslavia.[3]

Habitat

These burrowing bugs inhabit grasslands and open dry-warm areas, in particular lime or sand-marshes. In the Alps you can find them up to over 1000 meters above sea level.

Canthophorus dubius can reach a length of 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in) and a width of 3.5–4.5 millimetres (0.14–0.18 in).

The body of these shieldbugs is oval, black or dark blue, sometimes metallic green or bright violet. The margins to the pronotum and corium of the hemielytra are white. Antennae are black with the second segment smaller than third. The legs are black. Membrane of the hemielytra is whitish and connexivum shows white bands.

This species is very similar to Canthophorus impressus. A certain identification requires dissection.

Biology

There is one generation per year. The overwintering occurs as an adult bug under foliage and in moss near the host plants. The mating takes place in May and June. The nymphs appear from June to August, the new generation of adults from July.

Adults and larvae are trophically associated with Thesium species (Thesium alpinum, Thesium linophyllon and Thesium pyrenaicum), more rarely with other plants: wormwood (Artemisia), mint (Salvia), thyme (Thymus) etc. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canthophorus_dubius

 Photo by George Konstantinou

Beosus quadripunctatus (Muller, 1766) - Cyprus

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Family: Rhyparochromidae

Beosus quadripunctatus is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, found in Europe, the Middle East, and western Asia

 Photo by George Konstantinou

Bay leafhopper - Synophropsis lauri (Horváth, 1897) - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family: Cicadellidae

Synophropsis lauri, sometimes called the bay leafhopper, is a species of leafhopper of the subfamily Deltocephalinae, tribe Fieberiellini. It is the only species in the genus Synophropsis.

Description

The hemelytra vary from greyish to brick-red (some sources say the males are grey, females re]) and are somewhat translucent with the veins showing up as whitish. The wings darken towards the tips. There are small dark marks along the suture and at the distal ends of some of the long veins. The head is yellowish and the vertex is sharply pointed. Antennae are filamentous and very long. Size: up to 6.5mm long, or even 7mm.

Nymphs are green, and over-winter. The species is normally said to be univoltine, but it is possible that the females hibernate and produce a second generation.

The species was first described, as Thamnotettix lauri, by Géza Horváth in 1897 from specimens taken in Fiume (Rijeka) and Buccari (Bakar) on the Adriatic coast of what is now Croatia. Nearly 30 years later, Hermann Haupt independently described a single male taken in Gravosa (Gruž), some 260 miles (420 km) further southeast. Haupt placed it in a new genus as Synophropsis wagneri. As these are now regarded as descriptions of the same species, Horvath's specific name has priority even though Haupt's new genus is accepted.

Throughout much of the 20th century it was regarded as a pontomediterranean species, i.e. inhabiting the area between the Black Sea (ho pontos to the ancient Greeks) and the Mediterranean. Since then it has expanded its range rapidly northwards and westwards. It has been known in France, initially Montpellier, since 1972, and in Switzerland since 2000. In 2008–09 it was discovered in Hamburg and Öhringen, two widely separated locations in Germany, and also at Liège in Belgium. It reached the London area in 2007, and has since been found elsewhere in the United Kingdom – the insect in the taxobox was seen in Cambridge in 2014.

Host plants

Synophropsis lauri is polyphagous on evergreen broad-leaved trees and shrubs. It was first described as frequenting, and takes its specific name from, the European bay laurel (Laurus nobilis). This tree, now cultivated far outside its natural Mediterranean range, is a favourite where available. In western Europe specimens of S. lauri have mostly been taken from ivy (Hedera helix). In Turkey S. lauri is listed as a minor pest of olive (Olea europea) groves. From  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synophropsis

 Photos , Potamia by George Konstantinou

A leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family Cicadellidae. These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or trees. Their hind legs are modified for jumping, and are covered with hairs that facilitate the spreading of a secretion over their bodies that acts as a water repellent and carrier of pheromones. They undergo a partial metamorphosis, and have various host associations, varying from very generalized to very specific. Some species have a cosmopolitan distribution, or occur throughout the temperate and tropical regions. Some are pests or vectors of plant viruses and phytoplasmas. The family is distributed all over the world, and constitutes the second-largest hemipteran family, with at least 20,000 described species.

They belong to a lineage traditionally treated as infraorder Cicadomorpha in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. This has sometimes been placed in its own suborder (Clypeorrhyncha), but more recent research retains it within Auchenorrhyncha.

Members of the tribe Proconiini of the subfamily Cicadellinae are commonly known as sharpshooters. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafhopper

Planthoppers - Agalmatium bilobum (Fieber 1877) - Cyprus

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Order: Hemiptera

Family:Issidae

Agalmatium is a genus of planthoppers belonging to the family Issidae, subfamily Issinae. These species are distributed in the Mediterranean, from Portugal, Morocco and Tunisia to Israel, the Crimea and the Caucasus. One species - Agalmatium bilobum – has been introduced in California (USA). 

These planthoppers are characterized by the first segment of hind legs (metatarsomere) with only two intermediate spines apically. In the upper part of the forehead the horizontal transverse carinae are missing. The shape of the body is compact, the head is short and wide. Wings are rather developed, elytra are quite short. Legs are short and strong.

A planthopper is any insect in the infraorder Fulgoromorpha, in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, a group exceeding 12,500 described species worldwide. The name comes from their remarkable resemblance to leaves and other plants of their environment and that they often "hop" for quick transportation in a similar way to that of grasshoppers. However, planthoppers generally walk very slowly. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders, though few are considered pests. The infraorder contains only a single superfamily, Fulgoroidea. Fulgoroids are most reliably distinguished from the other Auchenorrhyncha by two features; the bifurcate ("Y"-shaped) anal vein in the forewing, and the thickened, three-segmented antennae, with a generally round or egg-shaped second segment (pedicel) that bears a fine filamentous arista.

Overview

Planthoppers are laterally flattened and hold their broad wings vertically, in a tent-like fashion, concealing the sides of the body and part of the legs. Nymphs of many fulgoroids produce wax from special glands on the abdominal terga and other parts of the body. These are hydrophobic and help conceal the insects. Adult females of many families also produce wax which may be used to protect eggs.

Planthopper (Pterodictya reticularis) with abdominal filaments of ketoester wax

Fulgoroid nymphs also possess a biological gear mechanism at the base of the hind legs, which keeps the legs in synchrony when the insects jump. The gears, not present in the adults, were known for decades[5] before the recent description of their function.

Planthoppers are often vectors for plant diseases, especially phytoplasmas which live in the phloem of plants and can be transmitted by planthoppers when feeding.

A number of extinct members of Fulgoroidea are known from the fossil record, such as the Lutetian-age Emiliana from the Green River Formation (Eocene) in Colorado.

Both planthopper adults and nymphs feed by sucking sap from plants; in so doing, the nymphs produce copious quantities of honeydew, on which sooty mould often grows.[3] One species considered to be a pest is Haplaxius crudus, which is a vector for lethal yellowing, a palm disease that nearly killed off the Jamaican Tall coconut variety.From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planthopper

 Photos , Potamia by George Konstantinou

Giant water bug - Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) - Λιθόκερος - Cyprus

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Lethocerus patruelis is a giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae. It is native to southeastern Europe, through Southwest Asia, to Pakistan, India and Burma. It is the largest European true bug and aquatic insect. Adult females are typically 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in) long, while the adult males are 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in)

Giant water bugs are large insects, brown to green in color, which helps the bugs to better camouflage themselves in their environment. The shape of the body is elliptical to oblong, dorso-ventrally flattened. Some specimen reach a length of up to 8 centimeters, although some other species in this genus can reach a length of up to 12 centimeters. Like other representatives of the Cryptocerata suborder, the antennae are short and invisible. The first pair of legs is adapted for catching and holding prey. The hemelytra are large and cover almost the entire abdomen of the animal. Beneath the hemelytra is another pair of wings, which allows these large insects to fly and migrate from one water surface to another if conditions become unsatisfactory. At the end of the abdomen, there are two tubular spiracles that serve to absorb oxygen from the surface, while the animal is immersed with its whole body and is waiting for prey..

Lethocerus patruelis inhabits a large territory, from southeastern Europe and the south of the Balkan Peninsula through Asia Minor, Pakistan, India all the way to Myanmar. Due to the recent climate changes, the progress of this species in the direction of the north on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula has been noticed.

Like all other true bugs, the development cycle of Lentocerus is incomplete, i.e. hemimetabolic. Young nymphs hatch from the eggs morphologically similar to the adults and do not change their shape during growth, growing proportionally only. Both larvae and adults are obligatory predators and feed on other aquatic arthropods, tadpoles and small fish. Lentocerus is an ambush hunter that uses the stems of aquatic plants for support. When it catches prey, the giant water bug injects its saliva rich in digestive enzymes, and then sucks the dissolved tissue into the liquid with its rostrum. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos  Nicosia  by George Konstantinou.

Σπάνιο είδος για την Κύπρο

Ο λιθόκερος είναι ένα γένος της οικογένειας των ημιπτέρων Βελοστοματίδων, γνωστό στην καθομιλουμένη ως γιγάντια ζωύφια του νερού. Εντοπίζονται σε τροπικές, υποτροπικές και εύκρατες περιοχές του κόσμου Η μεγαλύτερη ποικιλία ειδών βρίσκεται στην Αμερική, με ένα μόνο είδος στην Ευρώπη, δύο στην Αφρική, δύο στην Αυστραλία και τρία στην Ασία.  Περιλαμβάνει τα μεγαλύτερα αληθινά ζωύφια με είδη ικανά να φτάσουν σε μήκος πάνω από 12 εκατοστόμετρα Τα νοτιοαμερικανικά L. grandis και L. maximus είναι τα μόνα είδη που συνήθως ξεπερνούν τα 9 εκατοστόμετρα, με πιο τυπικά μήκη για τα υπόλοιπα είδη μεταξύ 4,5 και 9 εκατοστόμετρων  Ο Lethocerus sp. διακρίνονται από τα άλλα γένη στα Lethocerinae ( Benacus και Kirkaldyia ) από δύο συμμετρικές αυλακώσεις στο εσωτερικό πέλμα των δοντιών στο πρόσθιο μηριαίο οστό, τα εξωτερικά όρια των παραστερνιτών ΙΙ και  στενά και σχεδόν ίσια, και με τα αυλάκια των ταρσομερών να ακολουθούν το γραμμή του κνημιαίου στήθους.

Σε αντίθεση με τα γιγάντια ζωύφια του νερού στην υποοικογένεια των Βελοστοματίδων, τα θηλυκά δεν γεννούν τα αυγά στην πλάτη των αρσενικών. Αντίθετα, μετά τη σύζευξη (συχνά πολλαπλές συνεδρίες ) τα αυγά τοποθετούνται σε αναδυόμενη βλάστηση (σπάνια σε ανθρωπογενείς κατασκευές) αρκετά ψηλά πάνω από την ίσαλο γραμμή ώστε τα αυγά να μην βυθίζονται μόνιμα. Στη συνέχεια, το αρσενικό προστατεύει τα αυγά από τα αρπακτικά και περιοδικά φέρνει νερό στα αυγά για να αποτρέψει την αποξήρανση τους. 

Όπως και άλλα μέλη της οικογένειας των γιγαντιαίων ζωυφίων, τα είδη των λιθόκερων είναι αρπακτικά που εξουδετερώνουν το θήραμα μαχαιρώνοντάς το με το ρύγχος του και εγχύοντας ένα σάλιο που περιλαμβάνει μια σειρά από ένζυμα που διασπούν τις πρωτεΐνες. Έως και 132 συστατικά έχουν βρεθεί στο σάλιο ή το δηλητήριό τους, αρκετά παρόμοια με αυτά που βρέθηκαν στα ζωύφια δολοφόνων  Στη συνέχεια, η προβοσκίδα χρησιμοποιείται για να ρουφήξει το υγρό και ημι-χωνεμένο σωματικό υγρό του θηράματος. Το βήμα μπορεί επίσης να χρησιμοποιηθεί για αυτοάμυνα και το δάγκωμα είναι πολύ επώδυνο για τον άνθρωπο, προκαλώντας πρήξιμο και παλμικό πόνο, αλλά συνήθως υποχωρεί μέσα σε περίπου πέντε ώρες το πολύ.

Οι ενήλικες λιθόκεροι έλκονται από τα φώτα (εξ ου και το όνομα ηλεκτρικό σφάλμα φωτός) και έλκονται σε μεγάλους αριθμούς καθώς διασκορπίζονται από το ένα υδάτινο σώμα στο άλλο κατά την περίοδο των βροχών. Ορισμένα είδη τρώγονται, ιδιαίτερα στη Νοτιοανατολική Ασία και μερικά είναι υπό εξαφάνιση..Από τη Βικιπαίδεια, την ελεύθερη εγκυκλοπαίδεια

Prickly pear cochineal - Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell, 1929) - Ψευδόκοκκος - Cyprus

     Photos  Nicosia (Agios Sozomenos) 19/10/2022 by George Konstantinou.

Κίνδυνος για παπουτσοσυκιες

Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell, 1929) - Ψευδόκοκκος ο μεγάλος καταστροφέας της φραγκοσυκιάς (Παπουτσοσυκίας)

family Dactylopiidae.

Το νέο έντομο για την Κύπρο  επεκτείνετε συνεχώς καταστρέφοντας στον δρόμο του ολοσχερώς τις Παπουτσοσυκιές. Αν δεν ληφθούν δραστικά μέτρα πολύ σύντομα δεν θα μείνει ούτε μια Παπουτσοσυκιά.

Υυτοπροστατευτική ανακοίνωση

Ο ψευδόκοκκος της φραγκοσυκιάς, Dactylopius opuntiae

Προς τους καλλιεργητές φραγκοσυκιάς,

Το Τμήμα Γεωργίας επιθυμεί να σας πληροφορήσει ότι έχουν εντοπιστεί προσβολές από το

έντομο Dactylopius opuntiae σε φραγκοσυκιές (παπουτσοσυκιές) στην Επαρχία Αμμοχώστου.

Το έντομο αυτό ανήκει στους ψευδόκοκκους και φέρει την ονομασία Dactylopius opuntiae. Το

έντομο αυτό προσβάλει αποκλειστικά φυτά της οικογένειας των κακτοειδών με ιδιαίτερη

προτίμηση στις φραγκοσυκιές και σε άλλους κάκτους του γένους Opuntia.

Το έντομο έχει τα γενικά χαρακτηριστικά των κοινών ψευδόκοκκων που προσβάλουν φυτά και

δέντρα. Έχει ωοειδές προς στρογγυλό σχήμα και καλύπτεται από λευκή κηρώδες ουσία, κοινώς

γνωστή ως «βαμβακάδα». Χαρακτηριστικό του εντόμου είναι το έντονο κόκκινο χρώμα που

φέρει το σώμα των ενήλικων θηλυκών και των ανηλίκων σταδίων (προνυμφών) του εντόμου.

Το έντομο έχει πολλές γενεές το έτος και η διάρκεια του βιολογικού του κύκλου καθώς και ο

αριθμός των γενεών εξαρτώνται από τις επικρατούσες καιρικές συνθήκες. Εναποθέτει μεγάλο

αριθμό αυγών, κόκκινου χρώματος, μέσα στη βαμβακάδα που δημιουργεί. Έρπουσες

προνύμφες εκκολάπτονται από τα αυγά και μετακινούνται σε όλα τα μέρη του φυτού.

Ο άνεμος και οι ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες (π.χ. καλλιεργητικές φροντίδες, εμπορία

προσβεβλημένων καρπών) συμβάλλουν σημαντικά στη μετακίνηση και διασπορά του εντόμου

σε νέα δέντρα και περιοχές, ενώ δύναται να μεταφερθεί και μέσω ζώων ή πτηνών.

Ενδεικτικό σύμπτωμα της παρουσίας του εντόμου στο προσβεβλημένο φυτό αποτελεί η

παρουσία βαβμακάδας που φέρει το ίδιο το έντομο. Τα προσβεβλημένα φυτά δύναται να

παρουσιάζουν χλωρώσεις και μαρασμό, ενώ σε έντονες προσβολές ενδέχεται να προκληθεί

ξήρανση και νέκρωση των φύλλων και φρούτων, τα οποία τελικά καταρρέουν. Το έντομο έχει

την ικανότητα να καταστρέφει ολόκληρο το φυτό σε σύντομο χρονικό διάστημα, μερικές φορές

εντός μερικών μηνών. Επιπρόσθετες πληροφορίες για το έντομο παρέχονται στην επίσημη

ιστοσελίδα του Τμήματος Γεωργίας.

Το Τμήμα Γεωργίας ενθαρρύνει τους καλλιεργητές όπως σε περίπτωση υποψίας ή εντοπισμού

του εντόμου σε φραγκοσυκιές επικοινωνήσουν με τα κατά τόπους Επαρχιακά Γεωργικά

Γραφεία.

ΣΜΗΜΑ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΑ΢

ΚΛΑΔΟ΢ ΠΡΟ΢ΣΑ΢ΙΑ΢ ΥΤΣΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΛΙ΢΢ΟΚΟΜΙΑ΢

ΤΠΟΤΡΓΕΙΟ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΑ΢, ΑΓΡΟΣΙΚΗ΢ ΑΝΑΠΣΤΞΗ΢ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝΣΟ΢

Δεκέμβριος, 2016 

Τμήμα Γεωργίας, του Υπουργείου Γεωργίας, Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Περιβάλλοντος - Μέτρα περιορισμού και αντιμετώπισης

1.  Ορθή γεωργική πρακτική: Τα φυτά φραγκοσυκιάς θα πρέπει να διατηρούνται σε καλή κατάσταση και να κλαδεύονται συχνά προκειμένου να περιορίζεται η υγρασία και να εξασφαλίζεται επαρκής φωτισμός. Τα προσβεβλημένα μέρη θα πρέπει να αφαιρούνται και να καταστρέφονται άμεσα. Η καταστροφή των προσβεβλημένων μερών συστήνεται να γίνει με βαθύ θάψιμο στο έδαφος.

2.  Ξέπλυμα (κατάβρεξη) των προσβεβλημένων φυτών με νερό υψηλής πίεσης: Η πρακτική αυτή έχει ως αποτέλεσμα την απομάκρυνση σημαντικού μέρους του πληθυσμού των εντόμων και θα πρέπει να επαναλαμβάνεται ανά τακτά χρονικά διαστήματα, ιδιαίτερα σε περιπτώσεις όπου παρατηρείται επανεμφάνιση του πληθυσμού σε υψηλό βαθμό.Συστήνεται όπως το ξέπλυμα (κατάβρεξη) γίνεται με προσθήκη σαπουνιού και ισοπροπυλικής αλκοόλης (ισοπροπανόλη) στο νερό.

3.  Εφαρμογή φυτοπροστατευτικών προϊόντων (γεωργικών φαρμάκων): Βάσει σχετικής άδειας (Ευρωπαϊκός Κανονισμός (ΕΚ) αριθ. 1107/2009, άρθρο 53), επιτρέπεται η χρήση των ακόλουθων φυτοπροστατευτικών προϊόντων μέχρι τις 30 Απριλίου 2019.Οι επεμβάσεις θα πρέπει να πραγματοποιούνται στις περιπτώσεις στις οποίες κατά την περσινή περίοδο παρατηρήθηκε έντονη προσβολή και με τις πρώτες εμφανίσεις των εντόμων στη φραγκοσυκιά (εμφάνιση βαμβακάδας), και να ολοκληρώνονται πριν από την ανθοφορία.

Υπογραμμίζεται ότι οι χρήστες είναι υποχρεωμένοι να λαμβάνουν όλα τα απαραίτητα μέτρα για περιορισμό του ψεκαστικού νέφους κατά τη διάρκεια του ψεκασμού, έτσι ώστε να αποφεύγεται η μεταφορά του σε παρακείμενες καλλιέργειες. Ιδιαίτερη προσοχή θα πρέπει να δίδεται στους ψεκασμούς κατά την περίοδο της άνθισης των ζιζανίων, έτσι ώστε να προστατεύονται οι φυσικοί επικονιαστές και οι μέλισσες από τυχόν έκθεσή τους στα εντομοκτόνα.

4.  Αποφυγή μεταφοράς φυτικού υλικού και φρούτων: Η εξάπλωση του εντόμου είναι πολύ εύκολη και ο ανθρώπινος παράγοντας μπορεί να συμβάλει τα μέγιστα στη μετακίνησή του σε μεγάλες αποστάσεις. Ως εκ τούτου, καλείται το κοινό (καταναλωτές και έμποροι) να αποφεύγει τη μεταφορά φυτικού υλικού (βλαστών και φρούτων) από τις περιοχές στις οποίες έχει εντοπιστεί το έντομο (επαρχία Αμμοχώστου και περιοχές της Ξυλοφάγου της επαρχίας Λάρνακας) στις υπόλοιπες περιοχές για αποφυγή εξάπλωσης του εντόμου.

Συστήνεται επίσης κατάβρεξη των προσβεβλημένων φυτών με νερό υψηλής πίεσης και  με προσθήκη σαπουνιού και ισοπροπυλικής αλκοόλης (ισοπροπανόλη) στο νερό.

Dactylopius opuntiae, also known as the prickly pear cochineal, is a species of scale insect in the family Dactylopiidae. Dactylopius opuntiae was first identified by Cockerell as Coccus cacti opuntiae after he collected it from cactus plants in Mexico in 1896. Later, it was considered a synonym of Dactylopius tomentosus, and workers often referred to the same species by different names or used the same name for different species. De Lotto notes that it became common practice to call Dactylopius opuntiae a distinct wild cochineal insect from Dactylopius tomentosus, even though their identity and status were never fully resolved. Eventually, in 1929, the species was classified as Dactylopius opuntiae by Cockerell.

All species of the family Dactylopiidae have females with an oval-shaped body that is purple-red in color and covered in a white, cotton-like wax. This wax protects the body of the cochineal from heat, cold, and predators. Adult females are sessile and form colonies of up to a few thousand individuals of mixed age, creating conspicuous clusters of white wax all over the plant. Adult females of Dactylopius opuntiae produce red glucosidal hydroxyanthrapurin (carminic acid), which occurs naturally within their body. Morphologically, all Dactylopius species have truncate dorsal setae and clusters of quinquelocular pores associated with tubular ducts on the body of females, and no microducts and cellular anal rings bearing setae. Large, truncate, and rounded setae longer than the width at the base and numerous narrow ventral pores on the last three body segments distinguish Dactylopius opuntiae from all its congeners

Dactylopius opuntiae follows a life cycle similar to that of other species in the genus, consisting of two nymphal instars before adult females and two nymphal instars, prepupa, and pupa before adult males. Its biology has been studied in various regions, both in the laboratory and the open field, with female and male cycles lasting 77 and 43 days, respectively, in lab observations, and an offspring sex ratio of 3.7:1 (females:males) in greenhouse conditions. Field studies have shown that the female life cycle lasts 40–180 days, while males usually complete their cycle in 35–52 days. The optimal temperature for development is 30 °C, but males cannot emerge from the cocoon or adult females lay eggs at 35 °C, while crawlers' survival is negatively affected. The species usually reproduces bisexually, but it can reproduce by parthenogenesis under particular circumstances, such as high temperatures, resulting in lower progeny production.

The ovoviviparous females lay eggs one at a time beneath their bodies, with hatching occurring within 0.25–6 hours. Male and female crawlers are similar in appearance, but males of the Dactylopius austrinus species have shorter and fewer filaments than females. After a period of active dispersal, the crawlers settle down on the cladodes, often near the mother, and colonies are established at the joints of the cladode-trunk, flower-cladode, or fruit-cladode. Various factors can hinder cochineal development, including temperature, rain, and resistance factors of host plants. High temperatures and mechanical action of rain can negatively affect younger instars' survival, resulting in high mortality. Studies have shown that the species produces 4-5 generations per year in the Americas and Australia, with five generations occurring in the warmest areas

Dactylopius opuntiae is native to Mexico and neighboring countries in Central America but has been introduced to several other areas, including Australia, Morocco, Israel, France, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United States (California and Texas).[2]

Host cacti

Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia fuliginosa

Opuntia humifusa

Opuntia hyptiacantha

Opuntia leucotricha

Opuntia littoralis

Opuntia engelmannii

Opuntia maxima

Opuntia ×occidentalis

Opuntia robusta

Opuntia streptacantha

Opuntia stricta

Opuntia tomentosa

Opuntia tuna

Tacinga palmadora

Like other members of Dactylopiidae, Dactylopius opuntiae is not affected by parasitoid wasps. In Mexico, its most commonly occurring predatory species have been found to be Leucopis bellula, Sympherobius barberi, and Laetilia coccidivora.

Use as a biological control agent

In South Africa, Dactylopius opuntiae was introduced in 1932 along with three other insect species to control the cactus. Dactylopius opuntiae cleaned 75% of the infested areas, including those with the highest levels of opuntia infestation. Subsequently, about 90% of the original 900,000 ha returned to sheep-rearing due to the success of the cochineal as a biological control agent. However, dense populations of prickly pear still exist in cold and rainy areas, which are less favorable to the development of Dactylopius opuntiae. Subsequent introductions of Dactylopius opuntiae inside the Kruger National Park in the mid-1990s failed to control Opuntia stricta, confirming the importance of matching particular biotypes of biocontrol agents and host plants for weed control. A new strain of the cochineal was introduced from Opuntia stricta collected in Australia in 1997 with encouraging results. The genotype of Dactylopius opuntiae which effectively controlled Opuntia stricta in South Africa was also introduced in Kenya, resulting in the reduction in flowering and fruiting, and leading to the death of the plants.

De Souza & Hoffmann (2015) assessed the performance of Dactylopius opuntiae in controlling Opuntia monacantha, showing that it was less efficient than the congeneric Dactylopius ceylonicus, which provides complete biological control of this cactus species. Rule & Hoffmann (2018) investigated the effectiveness of the "stricta" biotype of Dactylopius opuntiae as a biological control agent for both Opuntia humifusa and Opuntia stricta. After a semi-field experiment, Dactylopius opuntiae was able to develop equally on both host plants. The dispersal capability of Dactylopius opuntiae away from the first areas of inoculum was assessed to promote a quicker spread of the scale insect. The colonies needed to be inoculated at no more than 10 m in between, as the spread of cochineal is primarily anemophilous. The efficacy of Dactylopius opuntiae is often limited by predator coccinellids and to a greater extent by rain. In South Africa, the use of prickly pear for human consumption, for forage, and as a host plant for the rearing of Dactylopius coccus has increased due to the reduction in the role of the prickly pear as a weed and the success of Dactylopius opuntiae as a biological control agent.

Dactylopius opuntiae can also have a strong negative impact on both the production of prickly pear fruit for fresh consumption and on cladodes as fodder for livestock feed. The cochineal species tends to form variably sized colonies on cladodes, which in some cases are totally covered by the insect. As a consequence, the fruits drop and cladodes dry out and fall off.

Pest

Dactylopius opuntiae can have a devastating impact on the production of both prickly pear fruit and cladodes as livestock feed. The species has a tendency to form colonies of varying sizes on cladodes, often completely covering the plant. This leads to the dropping of fruit and the drying out and eventual falling off of the cladodes. The damage starts with yellowish areas and necrosis on the cladodes, which then leads to drying out of the entire plant within a year. The woody stems can survive for another six months after this, but the damage is already done. The high population level of Dactylopius opuntiae weakens the plants, which pathogens attack, in turn causing their death.

In northeastern Brazil, Dactylopius opuntiae was imported from Mexico to produce dye, but it has caused significant damage to forage cactus production. In other Brazilian states such as Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Ceará, Dactylopius opuntiae infested over 100,000 hectares, resulting in more than US$100 million in annual damage, with serious socioeconomic consequences for farming communities where milk production is linked to prickly pear cultivation. Since its first detection in Morocco in September 2014, Dactylopius opuntiae has spread rapidly and caused serious damage to Opuntia ficus-indica plants, leading local authorities to uproot and incinerate over 400 hectares of plantations in the Doukkala region. The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture implemented an emergency plan for Dactylopius opuntiae management in 2016, including a research program focusing on the most important components of cochineal management. Several insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, pyriproxyfen, acetamiprid, spirotetramat, and mineral oils have been authorized for use in Morocco to control the pest. However, chemical treatment of the cochineal colonies only provided temporary solutions against the pest. Several studies have observed that essential oils, botanical extracts, vegetable oils, detergents, and other bioactive chemicals have a strong insecticidal effect on the pest in cactus plantations. Bouharroud et al. (2018) evaluated the efficacy of D-Limonene, a widespread terpene, against Dactylopius opuntiae. The greatest female mortality rate was 99% at 150 ppm 6 days after treatment. Plant clones that are resistant to Dactylopius opuntiae can be an effective way to manage the pest. The thickness of the cactus plant's cuticle and epidermis, as well as the presence of calcium oxalate, play a crucial role in resistance to the pest. In Morocco, eight cultivars have shown immunity-type resistance to Dactylopius opuntiae, and more research is needed to develop resistant cultivars. Mechanical and physical methods, such as pruning and uprooting, can also be used to control the pest, but they are only effective when just a few plants are infested.

The extensive damage caused by Dactylopius opuntiae requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach.

In 2012, Dactylopius opuntiae was first discovered in southern Lebanon on Opuntia ficus-indica plants. By 2014, the species was found to be widespread in the south of the country and causing severe damage to the cactus plants, whose fruit is an important source of income for local farmers. In 2015, new infestations were observed in neighboring regions. Although the predator beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was found in association with the Dactylopius opuntiae colonies, their numbers were not high enough to control the pest population.

In 2013, the presence of Dactylopius opuntiae was reported for the first time in Israel. The insect was collected from Opuntia ficus-indica plants in the Hula Valley of the Upper Galilee.

The insect's natural predators help contain the damage they cause in Central American countries where Opuntia ficus-indica originates. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia