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

See also

All about Cyprus - Όλα για την Κύπρο

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

Underwing moths or Underwings - Catocala nymphaea (Esper, 1787). - Cyprus

 See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Catocala nymphaea is a species of moth of the family Erebidae. It was described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1787. It is found in southern France, Austria, Albania, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Corsica, Sicily, Crete, North Africa, Anatolia, Afghanistan and Kashmir.

The wingspan is 54–62 millimetres (2.1–2.4 in). Adults are on wing from July to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Quercus ilex

Catocala is a generally Holarctic genus of moths in the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by Franz von Paula Schrank in 1802. The moths are commonly known as underwing moths or simply underwings. These terms are sometimes used for a few related moths, but usually – especially when used in plural, not as part of a species name – they are used to refer to Catocala only.

Of the more than 250 known species, slightly less than half are found in North America – mostly in the United States – while the rest occur in Eurasia. About one-fifth (almost 30) of these species are native to Europe. A few species occur in the northern Neotropics and Indomalaya

There are over 250 species in this genus. The species of Catocala are here divided into a Eurasian group, and another one which is found in North America. This does not imply actual relationships; it is mainly done to more conveniently deal with the large number of species. Still, it is not unlikely at all that the groups consist at least to some extent of closely related species..

There are several cryptic species complexes in Catocala, e.g. the group around the Delilah underwing (C. delilah); these and other hitherto unknown species are still being discovered and described in some numbers. Thus, resolving the phylogeny and taxonomy of the underwing moths is an ongoing effort, which has made (as of 2011) little progress. In the scientific literature, smaller subdivisions into putatively related species are sometimes applied, but there is no consistent and widely accepted taxonomic treatment for the genus as a whole. .From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos  Milikouri 17/6/2021 by George Konstantinou.

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

Leaf hopper assassin bug - Zelus renardii Kolenati, 1856 - Cyprus

Demetris Kolokotronis and Eddie John  report (30/11/22) the discovery of non-native Zelus renardii Kolenati, 1857, (Leafhopper Assassin Bug) new to Cyprus, and discuss the species’ known presence in the eastern Mediterranean. As reported elsewhere, arrival is considered to have been human assisted, the early stages passively carried on imported nursery stock.

Photos  Nicosia 30/11/2022 by George Konstantinou.

Zelus renardii Nymph.

Family:  Reduviidae

Zelus renardii, commonly known as the leaf hopper assassin bug, is a predacious insect contained within tribe Harpactorini. Diurnal and found on both wild and crop plants, Z. renardii has spread from its native habitats in western North and Central America into three other biogeographic regions across the globe. Zelus renardii is considered a sister species to Z. cervicalis, as they share two unique characters: the lateral margins of dorsal phallothecal sclerite are recurved, and the medial process is strongly hooked apically

The native range of Z. renardii extends over various climatic zones throughout mainland North and Central America at altitudes between 8m to 2000m above sea level. Native ranges include tropical, dry, semi-arid, arid, and Mediterranean climates.Additionally, Z. renardii also appears well suited to urban and disturbed areas, as it has been observed in suburban areas on both native and non-native herbaceous and woody plants, as well as common garden plants. Egg masses can frequently be found on vegetable plants. Z. renardii is also sympatric with Z. tetracantus over a large part of its range in western USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, and other parts of Central America

The adaptability to multiple habitat conditions may have facilitated its spread in non-native regions as they have preadaptations to diverse climatic condition. To date, Z. renardii has expanded to Hawaii, where they preyed mainly on invasive sugarcane leafhopper (Perkinsiella saccharicida) and other tropical areas within the Pacific, such as Johnston Atoll, Samoa, and the Philippines. Z. renardii has also been reported in Mediterranean-type environments within Chile and Argentina.

Expansion of Z. renardii throughout Europe began in Mediterranean regions, namely Greece and Spain. However, expansion has continued and Z. renardii is now known in multiple countries in the Mediterranean basin, such as Italy, Turkey and Albania. The majority of these observations have been from urban areas. Eight years post-introduction in Spain, Z. renardii had a limited expansion in Mediterranean-type habitats, and was mainly limited to coastal regions of the Iberian east and south from the city of Valencia to Malaga. Additionally, Z. renardii has been observed as far southeast as the Kfar Masaryk region of northern Israel.

Given the abundance of Z. renardii in anthropogenic environments, humans are likely the main vectors of transport into non-native habitats. Since eggs, which are typically glued to plants, take 8–12 days to hatch and both the 1st and 2nd instars typically remain in the areas around their hatching site, shipping of nursery plants or plant products is thought to be a major avenue of distribution into non-native locations. Disturbed and agricultural areas are suitable for Z. renardii and may also contribute to its spread throughout native and non-native regions once established. .From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Black rat - Rattus rattus - Ποντίκα - Μαύρος αρουραίος - Cyprus.

Sawfly orchid - Ophrys tenthredinifera Willd. - Cyprus

See also - LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Ophrys tenthredinifera, the sawfly orchid, is a terrestrial species of orchid native to the Mediterranean region from Portugal and Morocco to Turkey. The common name refers to a purported resemblance between the flower and the sawfly, a wasp-like insect.

Many subspecies, varieties and forms have been proposed, but as of May 2014, none are recognized

Photos  Vasa koilaniou 13/3/2021 by George Konstantinou

Ophrys umbilicata subsp. lapethica (Gölz & H. R. Reinhard) Faurh. ≡Ophrys lapethica Gölz & H. R. Reinhard - Οφρύς η λαπηθική της λαπήθου Μελισσάκι - Endemic to Cyprus

See also 

LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

Endemic to Cyprus

Altitudinal range 50–600 mD

Flowering Period Feb–Apr

Photos Akamas 25/3/2021 by George Konstantinou

Orchis anatolica var. troodi Renz - Orchis troodi (Renz) P. Delforge - Όρχις η τροόδια - ENDEMIC TO CYPRUS

 See also 

LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

ENDEMIC TO CYPRUS

Photos Akamas 25/3/2021 by George Konstantinou

Ophrys alasiatica Kreutz, Segers & H.Walraven ≡Ophrys sphegodes subsp. alasiatica (Kreutz & al.) H. Baumann & R. Lorenz. - ENDEMIC TO CYPRUS

  See also -

LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Λίστα Ενδημικών Φυτών της Κύπρου - List of Endemics plants of Cyprus

ENDEMIC TO CYPRUS

Photos Souni 25/3/2021 by George Konstantinou

Monkey orchid - Orchis simia Lam.- Cyprus

 See also - LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Orchis simia, commonly known as the monkey orchid, is a greyish pink to reddish species of the genus Orchis. It gets its common name from its lobed lip which mimics the general shape of a monkey's body.

The range of the species is central and southern Europe, including southern England, the Mediterranean, Russia, Asia Minor, Caucasus, northern Iraq, Iran to Turkmenistan and northern Africa where it occurs in grassland, garrigue, scrub and open woodland, chiefly on limestone soils. It is absent from the Balearic Islands, Corsica and Sardinia. On Cyprus the species can be categorized as threatened, and it became a protected species in the UK in 1975 under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act.. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 Photos (Gerasa) Γεράσα 7/4/2019 by George Konstantinou

Altitudinal range 300–600 mB

Flowering Period Mar–Apr

Orchis quadripunctata subsp. sezikiana (B. Baumann & H. Baumann) H. Baumann & R. Lorenz ≡Orchis sezikiana B. Baumann & H. Baumann - Cyprus

  See also - LIST OF CYPRUS ORCHIDS - ΛΙΣΤΑ ΟΡΧΙΔΕΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΟΥ

Photos (Gerasa) Γεράσα 7/4/2019 by George Konstantinou