Primi reperti in Sicilia su diffusione e biologia di Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hetroptera: Coreidae), cimice americana dei semi delle conifere

In this paper the first data on the distribution and biology of L. occidentalis in Sicily are reported; this bug, belonging to the family Coreidae, originates from North America, where it is regarded as a serious pest of conifer seed orchards. The first Sicilian specimens of L. occidentalis were found in September 2002 near Gangi (PA), while the first collecting data published until now refer to November 2003 in Niscemi (CL). The coreid is distributed in all Sicily provinces (30 collecting sites), from the sea level to 1.430 m a.s.l. on the mountains; it was collected on cones and plants of Pinus halepensis Miller, P. laricio Poiret, P. pinea L., P. nigra J.F.Arnold and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, and also inside or near buildings. Females fed in laboratory (at 22 °C ± 1 and 80% U.R.) on P. menziesii shoots layed up to 148 eggs, beginning oviposition after 3 days when collected at the end of May and after 73 days when collected in November. In the laboratory the oviposition period lasted 35 days on average; adults were obtained 61 days after oviposition. Our field and laboratory data did not allow to ascertain the number of yearly generations of L. occidentalis in Sicily, but they should not be more than 2.