FIRST DATA ON ESTABLISHMENT AND POPULATION TREND OF THE NEOTROPICAL DELPHASTUS CATALINAE (HORN, 1895) (COLEOPTERA COCCINELLIDAE) IN ITALY

Abstract

After the first record in 2018 in southern Italy and in Sicily, the Neotropical ladybird Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Sticholotidinae) has been rediscovered and monitored in Sicily. The population of this non-indegenous species was observed in an experimental citrus orchard with organic management in eastern Sicily. D. catalinae is the only Italian and Sicilian allochthonous ladybird species with Neotropical origin. It was abundant in the study area and active all year, especially in autumn-winter. Overall, a total of 971 specimens of D. catalinae were collected during the three years field surveys on twenty sampled trees. Over the years the population of D. catalinae increased, as increased the percentage of D. catalinae specimens on the total number of ladybirds collected. More studies will be needed for monitoring the spread of D. catalinae in Sicily and the effective interaction with other indigenous ladybird predators of Aleyrodidae like Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi, 1794). Key Words: Ladybeetles; Delphastus catalinae; Delphastus pusillus; Clitostethus arcuatus; Italy; Biological invaders.