Page 3 - Volume 4, Issue 2, July 2011
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© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Laboratories of Biological Control (1) and Agricultural
Entomology (2), Department of Entomology and Agri-
cultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8
St. Delta Str., GR-145 61 Kifissia (Athens), Greece.
Corresponding author:
The identification of the species was based
on two infested geranium plant samples re-
ceived at the Laboratory of Biological Con-
trol at Benaki Phytopathological Institute in
July and September 2010. The plant samples
(leaves and stems) were originally collected
from Kifissia, Attica-Greece and were kept
at 25±1°C and 70±5% RH until adult emer-
gence. Based on the adult morphological
characteristics, the species was identified
as the Geranium Bronze Butterfly
Cacyreus
marshalli
(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) (Figures
1, 2). Eggs of the Geranium Bronze are whit-
ish to light-yellow or brown in colour (Figure
3); 0.5 mm in diameter x 0.3 mm in height
(2). Eggs are laid near the flower buds or less
frequently on the leaves. Caterpillars (Figu-
re 4) are found within the flower buds or in-
side the stem, where they bore through. En-
trance holes in buds and stems are easy to
detect. Once attacked, the stems turn black-
Hellenic Plant Protection Journal
4:
31-34, 2011
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Report of the Geranium Bronze Butterfly,
Cacyreus marshalli
for mainland Greece
A.F. Martinou
1
, D. Papachristos
2
and P.G. Milonas
1
Summary
In July and September 2010, two samples of infested geranium plants (
Pelargonium
spp.),
which were originally collected from Kifissia, Attica-Greece, were received at the Laboratory of Bio-
logical Control at Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Greece. Larvae were taken from infested plants
and kept under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 70±5% RH and under a photoperiod of 16L:8D h un-
til adults emerged. Adults were identified as the Geranium Bronze Butterfly,
Cacyreus marshalli
But-
ler (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). This species is recorded for the first time for mainland Greece.
Cacyreus
marshalli
is on the EPPO A2 List of pests recommended for the regulation as quarantine pests. Gera-
nium Bronze Butterfly has the potential to establish in Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean ba-
sin as climatic conditions can allow this pest to overwinter outdoors and its host plants are common-
ly propagated.
Additional keywords
: biodiversity, butterfly, geranium, invasive,
Pelargonium
spp.
Figure 1.
Adult of
Cacyreus marshalli
(upperside).
Figure 2.
Adult of
Cacyreus marshalli
(underside).
