Bulletin of Insectology (2008) 61, 193-194

Chiara Ferracini and Alberto Alma (2008)
Arocatus melanocephalus a hemipteran pest on elm in the urban environment
Bulletin of Insectology 61 (1), 193-194
4th European Hemiptera Congress, Ivrea (Turin, Italy) - Sept. 10-14, 2007
Abstract: Following sudden outbreaks of Arocatus melanocephalus (F.) (Heteroptera Lygaeidae) in Turin (northwestern Italy), investigations have been carried out between 2006 and 2007. The population of the bug was assessed hanging yellow sticky traps on Ulmus spp. trees, according to the height of the foliage, and using beat trays. A white plastic tray was held under the main branches, which were struck 15 times, to dislodge the bugs onto the trays. In the laboratory all the traps were checked and the collected bugs were then counted. During both years chemical treatments were performed. Adults of A. melanocephalus began to move from the wintering sites to the host plants in March. Adults were always recorded during monitoring; but in 2007, despite the chemical treatments, a clear increase in the bug population was observed. All the bugs collected were 3,374, and 7,614 in 2006 and 2007, respectively, showing a poor effectiveness of the chemical measures applied. An effective method to contrast the arrival of the adults inside the houses may be pruning trees and thinning the foliage. The data collected show the need to carry out sprayings during May, in order to hit the young instars.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Alberto Alma

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Arocatus melanocephalus	Elm (Ulmus)	Italy