Garonna, A.P., Foscari, A., Russo, E., Jesu, G., Somma, S., Cascone, P., & Guerrieri, E. 2018 The spread of the non-native pine tortoise scale Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Europe: a major threat to Pinus pinea in Southern Italy. iForest 11: 628-634
Keywords:
Notes: This study was conducted to investigate the biology and the damage of the non-native pine tortoise scale Toumeyella parvicornis accidentally introduced a few years ago into southern Italy. The morpho-molecular approach confirms the hypothesis of an ongoing shift of parasitoid populations from other indigenous soft scales to the invasive one. Unfortunately, the low level of natural control was ineffective in hampering the spread of T. parvicornis, and preventing the dieback of local pine species, Pinus pinea, as observed in all invaded areas.
