Severe attacks caused by Macrolenes dentipes (Olivier) on Feijoa, Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret (Myrtaceae) in Italy (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

During recent surveys of tropical fruit plants in Southern Italy, severe infestations were observed on young vegetation of Feijoa, Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret inflicted by the leaf beetle Macrolenes dentipes (Olivier, 1808) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) which occurs in the Mediterranean area. Feijoa is a species that belongs to the Myrtaceae family and bears an edible interesting fruit. From 2016 we observed adults of M. dentipes feeding on Acca sellowiana leaves in orchards located in the Calabria and Sicily regions. We identified the phenological stages of Feijoa leaves in 12 trees according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. M. dentipes feeds on young leaves (BBCH scale: principal stage 1, substages 10-17). Its adult life cycle on feijoa trees lasts from early June until the end of flowering in late June (BBCH scale: principal growth 7, substage 65) and when the fruits begin to develop (BBCH scale: principal stage 7, substage 70). Details on the current distribution, host plants, biological
traits, and natural enemies are given for M. dentipes.