Phytophagous insects of the genus Bactrocera are among the most economically important invasive fruit fly pests. In 2003, an unknown Bactrocera species was found in Kenya. First identified as an ‘aberrant form’ of the Asian B. dorsalis complex, it was later recognized as a new species, Bactrocera invadens. Within 2 years of its discovery, the species was recorded in several African countries, becoming an important quarantine pest. As this invasive fly was discovered only recently, no data are available on its invasion pattern in Africa. This pilot study attempts to infer from genetic data the dynamic aspects of the African invasion of this pest. Using microsatellite markers, we evaluated the level of genetic diversity and the extent of common ancestry among several African populations collected across the invaded areas. A sample from the Asian Sri Lankan population was analysed to confirm the Asian origin of this pest. Genetic data cast no doubt that Sri Lanka belongs to the native range, but only a small percentage of its genotypes can be found in Africa. African populations display relatively high levels of genetic diversity associated with limited geographical structure and no genetic footprints of bottlenecks. These features are indicative of processes of rapid population growth and expansion with possible multiple introductions. In the span of relatively few years, the African invasion registered the presence of at least two uncorrelated outbreaks, both starting from the East. The results of the analyses support that invasion started in East Africa, where B. invadens was initially isolated.

Scaphoideus titanus Ball is a Nearctic leafhopper that was introduced for the first time in Europe probably at the beginning of the 20th century. In Europe, this species is a specialist on cultivated grapevines and is of great economic importance as the vector of Flavescence dorée (FD), a Grapevine Yellows disease caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis. The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was employed to obtain genetic information about the diffusion and the structure of S. titanus populations. Two American and 14 European populations were analysed. A total of 188 reproducible bands, obtained from three arbitrary primers, were considered to assess the amount and the pattern of genetic variation within and among leafhopper populations. American populations showed high levels of intra-population polymorphism and dissimilarity and appeared to be the most isolated of all the tested samples. The results confirm the historical role of American samples as the sources for the more recently founded European populations. RAPD analyses revealed a weak genetic structure of European samples that could probably be explained invoking the human role in their diffusion. The non-natural spreading of S. titanus across Europe is in fact attributable to the exchange of grapevine canes and grafts carrying eggs that the insect laid under the bark to overwinter.

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis sensu stricto, is one of the most economically destructive pests of fruits and vegetables especially in East Asia. Based on its phytophagous life style, this species dispersed with the diffusion and implementation of agriculture, while globalization allowed it to establish adventive populations in different tropical and subtropical areas of the world. We used nine SSR loci over twelve samples collected across East Asia, i.e. an area that, in relatively few years, has become a theatre of intensive agriculture and a lively fruit trade. Our aim is to disentangle the different forces that have affected the invasion pattern and shaped the genetic make-up of populations of this fruit fly. Our data suggest that the considered samples probably represent well established populations in terms of genetic variability and population structuring. The human influence on the genetic shape of populations and diffusion is evident, but factors such as breeding/habitat size and life history traits of the species may have determined the post introduction phases and expansion. In East Asia the origin of diffusion can most probably be allocated in the oriental coastal provinces of China, from where this fruit fly spread into Southeast Asia. The spread of this species deserves attention for the development and implementation of risk assessment and control measures.

We describe the isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the recently discovered fruit fly pest, Bactrocera invadens. The polymorphism of these loci was tested in individual flies from two natural populations (Sri Lanka and Democratic Republic of Congo). Allele number per locus ranged from three to 15 and eight loci displayed a polymorphic information content greater than 0.5. These microsatellite loci provide useful markers for studies of population dynamics and invasion history of this pest species.

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Tephritid fruit fly species cause major economical losses in crops worldwide. Genetic transformation of insect pests, which are targets of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), a key component of area‐wide pest management, has been achieved for several years. For the medfly Ceratitis capitata as well as several Bactrocera and Anastrepha species, germline transformation can now be used to bioengineer strains that should increase the efficacy and cost‐effectiveness of the SIT. Novel transformation vectors, robust genetic markers and diverse promoters to drive stage‐ and tissue‐specific gene expression provide powerful tools to test the contribution that these technologies can make to current SIT programmes.

Medics (Medicago spp.) are among the most important pasture legumes of temperate regions. Lebanon is considered as a part of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot in Medics. Its flora including more than 35 species of medics, most of which, not unlike this country's flora, are threatened. To alleviate these threats, large accessions of Medicago were collected for ex situ conservation; however, some species are underrepresented and sometimes not represented in genebanks, and many species are not protected, particularly because of the lack of in situ conservations strategies. In this study, we produced an updated checklist and distribution maps of Lebanese medics. Later we identified priority species for collection and priority areas for ecogeographic surveys and conservation by using gap analysis. Out of the 37 species reported from Lebanon, six were found to be priority species for collecting. Gap analysis also revealed that priority areas for surveying and conservation are located mostly in the northern, southern and eastern parts of the country. Out of the currently established natural reserves, the Shouf Cedar Reserve had the highest diversity of Medicago species. Beirut and Tripoli (both major coastal cities) and Zahle (one of the major cities in the Bekaa valley) have excellent to very highly suitable sites with the highest genetic diversity of medics. Therefore, they constitute with areas along the northern border of the country, priority locations for establishing in situ conservation sites (genetic reserves) because the two locations are very rich in priority species. Other priority species are found in the southern part of Lebanon and could be ex situ conserved. Keywords Medicago Á Rangeland plants Á Forage species Á Lebanon Á Gap analysis Á Ex situ conservation Á In situ conservation Á DIVA-GIS

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