First report of caper (Capparis spinosa) serious infestation by Eurydema eckerleini in Cyclades Islands, Greece (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

Abstract

The islands of Tinos and Syros in the Cyclades Archipelago, greece, have a hilly terrain, a mild mediterranean climate and vegetation adapted to drought conditions. Caper (Capparis spinosa l.) is highly adapted to arid environments and grows successfully during the mediterranean summer. in August 2015, we detected serious infestations on wild caper by Eurydema eckerleini (Pentatomidae), which was formerly considered a species endemic to Crete and the Peloponnese, with an isolated report in Turkey. This is the first record of the presence of E. eckerleini in the Cyclades.

New Records and Updated Checklist of the Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Greece

“…In Greece, until the present work, very few studies have been conducted on the Pentatomoidea fauna, in which 150 Pentatomoidea species are referred. Except two overall studies performed by Drosopoulos [ 43 ] and Ramsey [ 44 ], in 1980 and 2019, respectively, only sporadic references are made by numerous researchers, considering the Greek fauna as part of a wider Balkans. In the present study, 8 species are recorded in Greece for the first time, raising the number of the Greek fauna to 158 species.…”

“…There have been sporadic references on specific species of Pentatomoidea in Greece [ 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ], and two overall studies, one in 1980 [ 44 ] and the other in 2019, which updated the previous one and included all new species [ 45 ]. Given the worldwide problem of the brown marmorated stink bug pest status [ 6 ] and its presence in Greece [ 8 ], understanding this family in Greece may assist in distinguishing this pest species from native ones, and provide more targeted response for future detections of this pest.…”

Evaluation of Brassicaceae Seedlings as Trap Plants for Bagrada Hilaris Burmeister in Caper Bush Cultivations

“…Capparis spinosa L. (Brassicales: Capparaceae), also known as the caper bush, is a perennial shrub cultivated mainly for the flower buds known as capers, used for human consumption as spices [1,2]. Caper bush is a xerophilous plant able to develop and survive in environments with dry summer climates, typical of the islands of the Mediterranean Basin [3]. In Italy, capers are cultivated in Sicily and its minor islands where the positive use of marginal lands allows it, and has higher profit margins compared to other local crops [4].…”