BioControl (2020) 65, 413-423

Dimitrios N. Avtzis, Umar K. Lubanga, Greg K. Lefoe, Raelene M. Kwong, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Anneliza Andreadi, Stephen Elms, Richard Shaw and Marc Kenis (2020)
Prospects for classical biological control of Marchalina hellenica in Australia
BioControl 65 (4), 413-423
Abstract: The giant pine scale, Marchalina hellenica Gennadius (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae), is a sap-sucking insect native to South-East Europe that was recently introduced in Australia where it threatens the pine forestry industry. To initiate a classical biological control programme, a literature review and field surveys were carried out in Greece to investigate the natural enemy complex of the scale. While no parasitoids were found, M. hellenica was attacked by several predators, most notably Neoleucopis kartliana Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae). N. kartliana was present at all sites investigated and is presumably specific to Marchalina. This highlights its potential as a biological control agent for M. hellenica. This predatory fly has already been used to control M. hellenica on the Italian island of Ischia. Interestingly, molecular analyses of Greek samples revealed other Chamaemyiidae predatory flies that can be potentially included in the Australian classical biological control programme of M. hellenica.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Dimitrios Avtzis, Umar K. Lubanga, Marc Kenis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Marchalina hellenica		Greece
	Marchalina hellenica		Australia (South+SE)
Neoleucopis kartliana (predator)	Marchalina hellenica		Greece