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Prospects for classical biological control of Marchalina hellenica in Australia

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Abstract

The giant pine scale, Marchalina hellenica Gennadius (Hemiptera: Marchalinidae), is a sap-sucking insect native to South-East Europe that was recently introduced in Australia where it threatens the pine forestry industry. To initiate a classical biological control programme, a literature review and field surveys were carried out in Greece to investigate the natural enemy complex of the scale. While no parasitoids were found, M. hellenica was attacked by several predators, most notably Neoleucopis kartliana Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae). N. kartliana was present at all sites investigated and is presumably specific to Marchalina. This highlights its potential as a biological control agent for M. hellenica. This predatory fly has already been used to control M. hellenica on the Italian island of Ischia. Interestingly, molecular analyses of Greek samples revealed other Chamaemyiidae predatory flies that can be potentially included in the Australian classical biological control programme of M. hellenica.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Agriculture Victoria, the Australian Government and pine plantation growers represented by the Australian Forest Products Association through the Giant Pine Scale Emergency Response—Transition to Management program. The authors would like to thank the Forest Research Institute (Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter), Andrea Battisti (Universita di Padova), Glykeria Chronopoulou (Msc forester and GIS specialist), Paul Cunningham and Linda Semeraro (Agriculture Victoria) and industry stakeholders, for their valuable contributions and advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Research Institute - Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Vassilika, 570 06, Thessaloníki, Greece

    Dimitrios N. Avtzis, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou & Anneliza Andreadi

  2. Invertebrate & Weed Sciences, Agriculture Victoria Research Division, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, AgriBio Centre, Bundoora, VIC, Australia

    Umar K. Lubanga, Greg K. Lefoe & Raelene M. Kwong

  3. HVP Plantations, 50 Northways Road, Churchill, VIC, Australia

    Stephen Elms

  4. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Bakeham Ln, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20 9TY, UK

    Richard Shaw

  5. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Rue des Grillons 1, 2800, Delémont, Switzerland

    Marc Kenis

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  1. Dimitrios N. Avtzis
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  2. Umar K. Lubanga
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  3. Greg K. Lefoe
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  4. Raelene M. Kwong
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  5. Nikoleta Eleftheriadou
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  6. Anneliza Andreadi
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  7. Stephen Elms
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  8. Richard Shaw
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  9. Marc Kenis
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Correspondence to Dimitrios N. Avtzis.

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Avtzis, D.N., Lubanga, U.K., Lefoe, G.K. et al. Prospects for classical biological control of Marchalina hellenica in Australia. BioControl 65, 413–423 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-020-10012-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-020-10012-3

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