Page 27 - Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2010

Pásztor

et al.

26

This psyllid has several overlapping gen-

erations per year and overwinters in the

adult stage (6). However, there is still no de-

tailed data available on its life cycle in the

European countries except Italy (12).

Acizzia jamatonica

is native to East Asia,

where it is widely distributed. It was record-

ed from Japan, Korea and China (8, 9, 10). In

Europe, the pest was first found in the north-

ern part of Italy in 2001 (1). Soon afterwards,

it was also observed in Switzerland, France

and Spain (3, 6, 7, 21). At the same time, the

psyllid started invading the eastern Med-

iterranean region from Italy, and it was re-

corded in Slovenia and Croatia as well (15,

16, 17, 18). In 2005, the pest was also iden-

tified in Hungary (13, 14). Its occurrence has

recently been reported from Bulgaria (20).

The first report of

A. jamatonica

in North

America was given in 2007 (19). According

to the authors, the potential biological, eco-

nomic and aesthetic impacts of the psyllid

in the USA needs detailed investigation, as

its host plant,

A. julibrissin

, is also considered

a weed in the Southeast by many, hence the

insect might be a biocontrol agent against

this plant species.

The primary damage of

A. jamatonica

is

the weakening of different parts of silk tree

caused by sucking, or, in the case of heavy

infestations, the discoloration, desiccati-

on and falling of leaves (1, 19). The secon-

dary damage, namely the excreted, sticky

honeydew, may cause further problem and

inconvenience by dropping onto and co-

vering the surface of any objects (e.g. par-

ked cars, deckchairs, tables of open-air res-

taurants) under the infested silk trees. Being

a decorative ornamental plant, numerous

A. julibrissin

trees are planted in the streets

and parks of Thessaloniki, so the occurren-

ce of the pest in the town is obviously un-

desirable. Although

A. jamatonica

was not

found either in Karditsa or in Athens during

the summer of 2009, it can not be excluded

that the pest will be reported soon from the

central or southern regions of Greece, too. It

is not easy to prove the origin of infestation

in the case of silk trees in Thessaloniki, but

it may be assumed that the specimens have

probably been transported passively by the

wind from long distances. Nevertheless, in

order to prevent further spread of the pest,

the use of healthy planting material has to

be emphasised. The trade of

Albizia

trees

can ensure the dissemination of the pest as

it was demonstrated once in the UK (5). In-

secticides can be used, but several applica-

tions may be necessary to control the over-

lapping generations. In addition, treatments

are difficult to perform on amenity trees in

urban environments, where only a limited

number of active substances are registered

(6), and, during summer months, the conti-

nuous flowering might increase the risk of

poisoning insect pollinators. Control trials

against this pest were performed in Italy du-

ring 2003 and 2004. Different active subs-

tances and application methods (endot-

herapy and aerial applications) were used.

Endotherapy with imidacloprid or abamec-

tin gave satisfactory results with only one

application. Among the active substances

tested with aerial applications during 2003

and 2004, only lambda-cyhalothrin and thi-

amethoxam gave good control results with

at least two applications (11). Several speci-

es of natural enemies (e.g. coccinellid and

anthocorid predators) have been identified,

and studies are being done on their possib-

le release (3, 6).

Literature Cited

Alma, A., Tedeschi, R. and Rossi, J. 2002.

1.

Aciz-

zia jamatonica

(Kuwayama) nuova psilla per

l’Europa (Homoptera Psyllidae).

Informatore Fi-

topatologico

, 52: 64-65.

Anagnou-Veroniki, M., Papaioannou-Souli-

2.

otis, P., Karanastasi, E. and Giannopolitis, C.N.

2008. New records of plant pests and weeds

in Greece, 1990-2007.

Hellenic Plant Protection

Journal

, 1: 55-78.

Chapin, É. and Cocquempot, C. 2005. Psylle de

3.

l’

Albizia

: 1

ers

signalements en France.

PHM Revue

Horticole

, 467: 49-52.

Cothran, J.R. 2004. Treasured ornamentals of

4.

southern gardens—Michaux’s lasting legacy.

In

The Proceedings of the André Michaux Interna-

tional Symposium

.

Castanea Occasional Papers

No. 2: 149-157.

EPPO 2003. EPPO report on notifications of non-

5.