Leptoglossus occidentalis, a species native to North America, has been expanding through European conifer forests. The fast spread across the European continent demonstrates its great invasive potential and poses a threat to conifer seed orchards. To better understand its potential distribution and population growth in infested regions, the temperature-dependent development in laboratory as well as life history, phenology, and winter survival were investigated in southern Slovakia during 2009-2011. The lower temperature thresholds to complete embryonic and postembryonic development estimated with the linear model were 13.38 and 14.37°C, respectively. The number of degree-days required for completion of development from egg to adult estimated by the linear model was 533°C. Overwintered adults or late nymphal instars became active in mid-March, oviposition was not observed before mid-April, and nymphs passing through five stages reached adulthood after mid-July. Individual females laid on average 31 eggs (max 78). The second generation started in August but did not complete its development till winter, although part of the 5th instar nymphs did survive until spring. Using temperature data of 41 localities across Europe and cumulative degree-days for complete life cycle, a prediction of the potential number of generations per year was made. In conditions of southern Slovakia L. occidentalis was univoltine, but up to four generations per year were estimated depending on the locality in Europe.Keywords Western conifer seed bug Á Life history Á Phenology Á Degree-days Á Mlyňany Arboretum Key message• Leptoglossus occidentalis is a pestiferous invasive insect feeding on conifer seeds which currently spreads over Europe, where detailed information on its biology is limited. • The thermal requirements for the development and life history of L. occidentalis were examined in Slovakia, and the number of potential generations was estimated across Europe. • The outcomes of this study provide important data for evaluating management options of this species.

Fungi of the order Entomophthorales (Zygomycota, Zygomycetes) constitute a group of mostly insect pathogenic species, which attracts attention of insect pathologists because of their high capacity for use in biological control of pest insects. This work primarily focuses on entomophthoralean species attacking aphids. The Entomophthorales are considered major pathogens of aphids in nature. In fact, the fungi are the only pathogens that regularly and effectively can affect aphid populations in natural ecosystems as well as in agroecosystems. Up to now, 33 entomophthoralean species organized into 9 genera have been recorded in aphid hosts. All fungal species are listed and organised by genus in the work. Descriptions are presented for all the fungal genera and species, including a nomenclature genesis, a geographical distribution, a host specificity/host range, a capability of cultivation in vitro, and possible prospects for their use in biological control strategies. A key to identification of the pathogens is provided as well. A general life cycle outline of the pathogens is followed by fundamental facts on biology and ecology of the fungi and analysis of primary factors that are involved in the study of epizootiology of infectious diseases in insect populations. The abiotic and biotic elements of the environment, which interfere in the pathogen-host interactions, are also underlined. In the last chapter, several examples are reviewed when the Entomophthorales were used against aphids within the four strategies of biological control, namely classical biological control, inoculation biological control, inundation biological control, and conservation biological control. The aim of this review is to cover the present status of knowledge about the natural enemies of aphids and to stimulate an interest of insect pathologists in this group of entomopathogenic fungi.

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Summary The occurrence and distribution of Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) were studied in 2014–2017 around Slovakia. A total of 84 localities, both native and planted, were investigated, and the presence of DNB was confirmed in 73 of them. In all positive locations, symptoms typical of DNB were observed and the Dothistroma species was confirmed using species‐specific primers either from fungal cultures or directly from needles. Both Dothistroma species—D. septosporum and D. pini—were identified. Both species occurred together in 29 locations, only D. septosporum in 42 and only D. pini in two locations. The host range of D. septosporum included 10 pine species and two spruce species. The host range of D. pini comprised the same number of pine hosts but only one spruce species. Five pine hosts, P. aristata, P. coulteri, P. densiflora, P. jeffreyi, P. × schwerinii, and one spruce host P. abies are new hosts species of D. pini. P. densiflora and Picea pungens have earlier been reported to be susceptible for DNB. In this study, D. septosporum was found from both tree species.

The species spectrum of entomophthoralean fungi parasiting aphids was investigated in Slovakia. The surveys focused on aphid fauna occupying both agricultural crops and vegetation at non-crop sites. During the surveys, 15 different entomophthoralean species were identified from 66 aphid species. Of these 15 fungal species, eight had not previously been recorded in Slovakia and one species, Erynia erinacea (Ben-Ze'ev et Kenneth) Remaudie`re et Hennebert, had not been recorded previously in Central Europe. New hosts for some parasitic fungi were also recorded. The occurrence of fungal infection and the fungal species spectrum varied with sampling period and sampling area. In general, the fungi were observed parasiting aphid populations from April until November. Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudie`re et Hennebert) Humber was the predominant fungal pathogen and could effectively reduce aphid populations. Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu and Conidiobolus obscurus (Hall et Dunn) Remaudie`re et Keller were also common pathogens of aphids, but without an epizootic potential. On the other hand, Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Remaudie`re et Keller had a strong tendency to establish epizootics in dense aphid colonies, especially in those of the black bean aphid. Other entomophthoralean species observed in the country were considered to be minor aphid pathogens on account of their low occurrence, lower specificity to aphids, or high specificity to a single aphid species. This is the first detailed report to date on the occurrence of Entomophthorales in Slovakia.

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Mahmoud M.F., Barta M., 2011. Effect of gamma radiation on the male sterility and other quality parameters of peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Hort. Sci. (Prague), 38: 54-62.Bactrocera zonata, a serious pest of fruits in many parts of the world, has recently been recorded in Northern Africa. Even though it has not been introduced to the European continent yet, a strong emphasis is being placed on developing effective measures to suppress this pest and to prevent it from establishing in neighbouring European countries. The sterile insect technique is widely used in integrated programmes against tephritid fruit flies and, in this paper, quality parameters of irradiated B. zonata were evaluated for possible use of sterile insect technique within the management of this pest. Pupae were irradiated ( 60 Co) 48 h before adult emergence (in an air atmosphere) with doses of 10, 30, 50, 70 or 90 Gy. While adult emergence and egg hatch decreased with increasing dose, no significant differences in female fecundity were found among doses. Exposure of pupae to 90 Gy resulted in a total sterility of eggs laid by non-treated females crossed with treated males. Only insignificant difference in the radiation effect on female fecundity was found. Moderate effects on sex ratio and size were recorded, as they decreased gradually by increasing doses. No considerable effect on flying capability was observed, but generally, the percentage of fliers decreased with increasing radiation doses. Fried's competitiveness values of treated males (30 and 70 Gy) suggest that irradiated males compete successfully with non-irradiated ones.

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