Page 6 - Volume 1, Issue 2, July 2008

Anagnou-Veroniki et al. 58
area of Crete (Roditakis et al,. 2006).
Pezothr ips kellyanus (Bagnall) (Thripi-
dae), a new serious citrus pest, was recent-
ly (2003) recorded in Crete. Its presence
was noticed during flowering when pop-
ulation densities were high especially on
lemon flowers (Varikou et al., 2003).
The species Taeniothrips inconsequens
(Uzel) (Thripidae), was found in 1999 to
cause a severe infestation on pear trees
var. Kontoula (Papadopoulos et al., 2002).
The symptoms were obvious on infest-
ed buds, which do not develop normally
or do not develop at all. Also, there were
stems with few or no leaves and fruits with
surface scarring.
Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)
(Thripidae) has been recorded in Crete
(Roditakis 1994) and in Kavala (Katsoyan-
nos, 1992; Paloukis et al., 1995). It causes
primary damage during the flowering pe-
riod and later it causes fruit scarring. Im-
portant damage (20-40% of grapes) was
observed in Korinthia in 1996 (Tsitsipis et
al. 1997). F. occidentalis is a polyphagous
species of glasshouse crops (with more
than 200 host species), it causes spots
(with small black specks), scarring and the
drying of the plant tissues. On cotton F. oc-
cidentalis was observed in July 1993 at the
perfectures of Imathia and Pella (Kyparis-
soudas & Alexandrakis, 1993). The infesta-
tionwas evident at the shoot tips while de-
velopment of the whole plant was slower.
It infests the flowers especially the yellow
ones that remain closed without forming
any fruits (“bolls”) or forming small atro-
phic “bolls”. As a pest it is regarded as one
of great economic importance.
The species Thrips parvispinus (Karny)
(Thripidae), a native to South-East Asia,
was recorded for the first time in Europe
(2000), including Greece, to infest garde-
nia plants (Mound & Collins, 2000).
The species Tenothrips frici (Uzel)
(Thripidae) was recorded in 1992 for the
first time in Greece on Lycopersicon escu-
lentum in the area of Thiva (Deligeorgid-
is, 2002).
Since 2000 a severe infestation of the
outter parts of the canopy of Ficus micro-
carpa has been observed in several ar-
eas of Greece (Attica, Messinia, Kyparis-
sia). The damage is due to Gynaikothrips
ficorum (Marshal) (Phlocothripidae) that
infests the young leaves of F. microcarpa.
It also attacks F. elastika and F. benjamina
(Papadoulis & Emmanouel, 2001).
1.3. Coleoptera
The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus
ferrugineus (Olivier) (Curculionidae), the
most important pest of palm trees, caus-
ing severe damage, has been found for the
first time in Hersonissos (Heraklion, Crete),
infesting Phoenix canariensis, during 2005
and for the first time in Cyprus, infesting
also P. canariensis, during 2006. During
2007, the weevil was found in the island
of Rhodes and in Attica infesting mainly P.
canariensis (Kontodimas et al., 2007).
The weevil Mesagroicus pilifer (Bohe-
man) (Curculionidae) has been observed
to cause a serious infestation of sugar-
beet seedlings in Melia (Thessalia, Cen-
tral Greece) during 2000-2005, particu-
larly in 2003 and 2004. The infestation,
manifested around the roots of the seed-
lings where ball-like soil accumulations
were observed, was more evident on the
leaves which were peripherally eaten (Pa-
padopoulou, 2005).
High numbers of Tychius quinquepunc-
tatus (Linneaus) (Curculionidae) were found
on Vicia sativa (garden vetch), in Larissa
(Central Greece) during 2003. Extensive in-
festations by this insect seem to happen
occasionally. Larvae, which destroy the
seeds within the pods, are the most dam-
aging stage (Koveos et al., 2003).
The species Otiorrhynchus aurifer Bo-
heman (Curculionidae), was observed in
Attica (1991) to cause damage on leaves
of various ornamental plants (Bouchelos,