New arthropods identified in Israel
The NPPO of Israel recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the presence of three new arthropods in Israel.
- Derelomus piriformis
The presence of Derelomus piriformis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was recently confirmed in Israel (Friedman, 2006). D. piriformis is a pollinator weevil of Phoenix canariensis but is at the same time reported to damage male flowers (and occasionally female flowers). Both larvae and pupae develop inside the closed male flowers which subsequently drop off, and development continues within the fallen flowers. When visiting female inflorescences, the insect may injure some flowers and induce abortion, but it also enhances pollination by depositing pollen on the receptive stigma of the plant. This species was first described from 1 specimen from Madeira (Funchal, PT) and 2 specimens from Morocco (Rabat). As it develops only on Phoenix canariensis, it is assumed that D. piriformis originates from the Canary Islands and was later introduced into Europe and North Africa with P. canariensis seedlings. Its currently known distribution is the following:
EPPO region: France, Israel, Italy (Liguria, Lazio, Sicilia), Morocco, Spain (mainland and Canary Islands), Portugal (Madeira only).
In Israel, the first specimen of D. piriformis was collected at Tel Aviv in 1976 but remained unidentified until the present study. To date, D. piriformis has only been found in central and southern parts of the coastal plain. It has not been observed on P. dactylifera. As D. piriformis is a potential pest of cultivated P. canariensis it is suggested that it should be monitored and that possibilities for biological control should be investigated.
- Frankliniella fusca
Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was first reported in Israel in August 2005. A survey conducted in 2005-2006 found the apterous form of this thrips infesting several types of ornamental bulbs around the country. The pest status of Frankliniella fusca in Israel is officially declared as: Present.
- Tetranychus ludeni
Tetranychus ludeni (Acari: Tetranychidae) was discovered on a number of wild plants in Israel. No economic damage is reported. The pest status of Tetranychus ludeni in Israel is officially declared as: Present.
Sources
NPPO of Israel, 2007-05.
Friedman ALL (2006) Derelomus piriformis Hoffmann (Curculionoidea: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Derelomini), a new invasive species in Israel. Phytoparasitica 34(4), 357-359.
Piry S, Gompel N (2002) Présence en France de Neoderelomus piriformis (Hoffmann, 1938) sur le palmier Phoenix canariensis Hort. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 107(5), 529-534.