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Giuseppe Serra

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Institute of BioEconomy, Researcher

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), --, Researcher

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Tortrix viridana, oak defoliators, vine pests, edible insects, tenebrio molitor
Phone: +39.079.2841406
Address: Traversa la Crucca n. 3
07100 Li Punti Sassari (SS), Italy

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Stanisław Czachorowski

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

CARLOS EDUARDO DO PRADO SAAD

UFLA - Federal University of Lavras

Mendel University in Brno

Abdel-Moneim E . Abdel-Moneim

Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority

Martina Tarantola

Università degli Studi di Torino

Cathy Johnson-Delaney

Univeristy of Washington

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Papers by Giuseppe Serra

Feed Preference, Daily Intake, and Laying Performance of Captive-Born Sardinian Partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) Offered Whole Defrosted Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) as Raw Feed Material with Diet

Agriculture

The competence to locate natural feeding sources is one of the main limiting factors for survival... more The competence to locate natural feeding sources is one of the main limiting factors for survival in the wild, especially for captive-born birds. Therefore, environmental enrichment through the diet can be strategic before their release into nature. In this research, a feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the potential use of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) larvae (TM) provisions to captive bred couples of Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbarabarbara Bonaterre, 1790) during the laying period. Twenty-four couple-caged Sardinian breeding partridges were enrolled during the laying period (April–May 2019) and randomly allotted to two feeding groups of 12 couples each: (a) the control (CON) group was fed a conventional complete pelleted diet for laying quails; (b) the yellow mealworm enriched group was additionally fed 5% whole, defrosted TM larvae (TM5%) on top of the same amount of the control diet. As a prerequisite, partridges were unaccustomed to eating mealworms before ...

Influenza dell'infestazione di Bactrocera oleae (Gmel.) sulla produzione e sulle caratteristiche qualitative dell'olio di oliva

Rivista Italiana Delle Sostanze Grasse, 1995

Olive fly infectation has a negative effect on the oil quality and production A bringing forward ... more Olive fly infectation has a negative effect on the oil quality and production A bringing forward of the harvesting in relation to the period in which maximum oil content of the olives of cv. Bosana is reached enables an increase in the amount of harvestable oil per hectare. Furthermore in this period, the last 15 days in November, the quality of oil obtained remains high

Metabolic response of yellow mealworm larvae to two alternative rearing substrates

Metabolomics, 2019

Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due t... more Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due to its high sustainability and low environmental impact. Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) are conventionally reared on wheat bran (WB), but alternative substrates, such as several by-products of the agri-food industry, have shown good prospects for insect rearing. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate on the metabolic and nutritional response of yellow mealworm larvae to dried brewer's spent grains (BSG) and WB used as rearing substrates. Methods Proximate, fibre and fatty acid compositions of durum WB and dried BSG were first characterized. Mealworm larvae were fed either WB (WB-L) or BSG (BSG-L) in a trial reproducing a scale rearing condition. Feed efficiency parameters together with proximate and FA composition were determined. Metabolic pathways affected by the dietary treatments were evaluated by means of a targeted metabolomics approach. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectra were acquired on lipid and polar extracts of WB-L and BSG-L and then coupled to multivariate data analysis. Absolute quantitative 1 H NMR data were carried out on selected metabolites. Results BSG-L exhibited better feed conversion ratio and efficiency in conversion of ingested food (P < 0.05) and almost half fat content (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L also showed higher ω-3 and ω-6 poliunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) and lower content of monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L mobilized body fat towards methylamine accumulation and led to enhanced trehalose catabolism. Conclusions Our findings are useful to gain knowledge on the metabolic features that finally affect growth and body composition in reared yellow mealworm larvae.

Effect of freezing and drying processes on the molecular traits of edible yellow mealworm

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2018

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food... more Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food and feed. Industrial production of mealworm meals for food and feed must count on optimized processing methods based on a deep knowledge of nutritional and quality aspects. Viable mealworm larvae (VL) were frozen at −20°C and dried under two different thermal conditions, namely high-temperature-short-time (HTST, 90°C for 1.5 h) and low-temperature-long-time (LTLT, 50°C for 62 h). Proximate composition, fatty acid analyses by gas-chromatography and metabolic profiling by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectroscopy were carried out and 1 H NMR data investigated with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). While fatty acid profiles did not indicate significant differences among treatments, 1 H NMR highlighted relevant molecular alterations associated to LTLT drying (95% of detected metabolites are altered by LTLT). In particular, detrimental hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) was favored during LTLT drying (approximately 25% reduction of TAG in LTLT compared to VL), accompanied by the enrichment of the free amino acid pool. Larvae composition was only minimally affected by the freezing process, with only 15% of the metabolite pool affected. Industrial relevance: Sustainable industrial production of insect-derived products (insect meal, oil, and other extracts) must count on efficient processes and high standard quality. Freezing and drying are the most critical processing operations in insect industry, since they can strongly affect the quality of final products. It is demonstrated here that low-temperature-long time drying processes negatively affect insect products quality, while freezing and high-temperature-short time drying do not have a significant impact. Molecular details of nutrient degradation processes are provided.

Catalogue of the spiders (Arachnida Araneae) of Sardinia

This catalogue summarizes and critically reviews araneological knowledge about Sardinian fauna. 1... more This catalogue summarizes and critically reviews araneological knowledge about Sardinian fauna. 140 publications from 1868 to 2012 were considered and about 4800 specimens belonging to 254 species were directly examined. The list report 495 species belonging to 229 genera divided into 43 families. For each species, literature, chorotype, regional distribution, and, where possible, habitats are indicated. Among the listed species Philodromus bosmansi Muster et Thaler, 2004 (Philodromidae) is new for Europe and the family of Prodidomidae with the species Zimirina brevipes Pérez et Blasco, 1986 is new for Italy. Also Setaphis parvula (Lucas, 1846) (Gnaphosidae), Centromerus succinus (Simon, 1884) and Hybocoptus corrugis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1875) (Linyphiidae) are new records for the Italian fauna and further 37 species are new for Sardinia. The genitalia of Phrurolithus corsicus (Simon, 1878), Zimirina brevipes, Drassodes luteomicans (Simon, 1878) and Zelotes dentatidens Simon, 1914 are ...

Mating Disruption of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Vineyards Using Reservoir Pheromone Dispensers

Journal of insect science (Online), Jan 15, 2014

Mating disruption field experiments to control the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (H... more Mating disruption field experiments to control the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), were carried out in 2008 and 2009 in two commercial vineyards in Sardinia (Italy). The effectiveness of mating disruption was evaluated by testing reservoir dispensers loaded with 100 mg (62.5 g/ha) and 150 mg (93.8 g/ha) of the sex pheromone in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The number of males captured in pheromone traps, the P. ficus population density and age structure, the parasitism rate, the percentage of ovipositing females, and the crop damage were compared between disrupted and untreated plots. In both field trials, the number of males captured in mating disruption plots was significantly reduced by 86% and 95%, respectively. Mating disruption at the initial dose of 62.5 g/ha of active ingredient gave inconclusive results, whereas the dose of 93.8 g/ha significantly lowered the mealybug density and modified the age structure, which showed a lower percen...

Host plant budburst and male-biased dispersal affect the genetic structure of the green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae

The early spring folivore green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana, is one of the most harmfu... more The early spring folivore green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana, is one of the most harmful pests of Palaearctic oaks. The young larvae develop inside flushing buds and therefore require moth egg-hatching and budburst of their host plant to be synchronized. The aim of this study was to understand which factors (geographical distances, oak species, oak leaf phenology and timing of moth egg-hatching) influence the genetic structure of the moth. We performed multilocus analyses (COI and COII mitochondrial genes and eight nuclear microsatellites) on 30 populations from key forest districts in Sardinia and other Mediterranean localities. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers detected a genetic divergence among populations that were separated by long distances and/or wide sea straights (Sardinia-Corsica vs. Tunisia vs. Italian peninsula-Sicily). Mitochondrial variation was divided into two major haplogroups relating to early or late egg-hatching behaviour, which was dependent on adaptation to specific oak budburst phenologies. On a regional scale, AMOVA tests showed the highest fixation indexes when populations were grouped according to early or late egg-hatching, whereas oak leaf phenology [deciduous (pubescent oak) or evergreen (holm oak and cork oak)] was the main factor in structuring populations on a larger Mediterranean scale. Furthermore, we demonstrated evidence for non-random patterns of gene flow mediated by male-biased dispersal, with females as the philopatric sex. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: budburst phenology-deciduous oaks-egg-hatching-evergreen oaks-insecthost synchronization-microsatellites-mitochondrial DNA-Quercus-sex-biased dispersal-Tortrix viridana.

Effect of freezing and drying processes on the molecular traits of edible yellow mealworm

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food... more Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food and feed. Industrial production of mealworm meals for food and feed must count on optimized processing methods based on a deep knowledge of nutritional and quality aspects. Viable mealworm larvae (VL) were frozen at −20°C and dried under two different thermal conditions, namely high-temperature-short-time (HTST, 90°C for 1.5 h) and low-temperature-long-time (LTLT, 50°C for 62 h). Proximate composition, fatty acid analyses by gas-chromatography and metabolic profiling by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectroscopy were carried out and 1 H NMR data investigated with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). While fatty acid profiles did not indicate significant differences among treatments, 1 H NMR highlighted relevant molecular alterations associated to LTLT drying (95% of detected metabolites are altered by LTLT). In particular, detrimental hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) was favored during LTLT drying (approximately 25% reduction of TAG in LTLT compared to VL), accompanied by the enrichment of the free amino acid pool. Larvae composition was only minimally affected by the freezing process, with only 15% of the metabolite pool affected. Industrial relevance: Sustainable industrial production of insect-derived products (insect meal, oil, and other extracts) must count on efficient processes and high standard quality. Freezing and drying are the most critical processing operations in insect industry, since they can strongly affect the quality of final products. It is demonstrated here that low-temperature-long time drying processes negatively affect insect products quality, while freezing and high-temperature-short time drying do not have a significant impact. Molecular details of nutrient degradation processes are provided.

Metabolic response of yellow mealworm larvae to two alternative rearing substrates

by Giuseppe Serra and Roberto Anedda

Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due t... more Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due to its high sustainability and low environmental impact. Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) are conventionally reared on wheat bran (WB), but alternative substrates, such as several by-products of the agri-food industry, have shown good prospects for insect rearing. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate on the metabolic and nutritional response of yellow mealworm larvae to dried brewer's spent grains (BSG) and WB used as rearing substrates. Methods Proximate, fibre and fatty acid compositions of durum WB and dried BSG were first characterized. Mealworm larvae were fed either WB (WB-L) or BSG (BSG-L) in a trial reproducing a scale rearing condition. Feed efficiency parameters together with proximate and FA composition were determined. Metabolic pathways affected by the dietary treatments were evaluated by means of a targeted metabolomics approach. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectra were acquired on lipid and polar extracts of WB-L and BSG-L and then coupled to multivariate data analysis. Absolute quantitative 1 H NMR data were carried out on selected metabolites. Results BSG-L exhibited better feed conversion ratio and efficiency in conversion of ingested food (P < 0.05) and almost half fat content (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L also showed higher ω-3 and ω-6 poliunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) and lower content of monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L mobilized body fat towards methylamine accumulation and led to enhanced trehalose catabolism. Conclusions Our findings are useful to gain knowledge on the metabolic features that finally affect growth and body composition in reared yellow mealworm larvae.

Excreta quality and digestive function of singly versus couple caged Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) as non-invasive indicators of birds' coping ability to forced pairing

The Sardinian partridge is a monogamous wild bird species of least concern according to IUCN list... more The Sardinian partridge is a monogamous wild bird species of least concern according to IUCN list at present, though formerly accounted among threatened species for decades. The creation of couples is crucial in captivity, because forced pairing in cages can lead to poor welfare of birds, specially of females. This study investigated the

Evaluation of remote sensing indices for characterizing insect defoliation in a Mediterranean agroforestry system

Feed Preference, Daily Intake, and Laying Performance of Captive-Born Sardinian Partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) Offered Whole Defrosted Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) as Raw Feed Material with Diet

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more

La gestione fitosanitaria della frutticoltura di montagna in Sardegna: un impegno per il rilancio

Sviluppo embrionale e diapausa in popolazioni di Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) della Sardegna

Preliminary notes on the distribution of egg masses of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) (Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae) in Sardinian cork oak forests

A study on the lackey moth egg masses distribution is reported. Length and surface of the egg mas... more

Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) egg masses and tents in Sardinian cork oak forests

Verdinelli M., Serra G., Luciano P. - Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustriu... more Verdinelli M., Serra G., Luciano P. - Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) egg masses and tents in Sardinian cork oak forests. In order to determine sampling methods for the Malacosoma neustrium population, in 1998-99, the insect fecundity was observed and its population density and the spatial distribution of its tents and egg masses recorded. The length of cylindrical egg mass (x) was the most highly correlated single measurement with actual number of eggs per mass (y) (lOglO Y = 1,3263+1.0920910glO x; R2= 0.78). An insect preference in laying the egg masses and making tents in the South facing side of the trees was observed. The spatial distribution of egg masses and tents among the trees was compared with Poisson's, Neyman's and negative binomial mathematical models. The aggregated models proved to be more suitable to represent the actual spatial distribution. Taylor's power law parameters and Iwao's regression were needed to determin...

Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leaf-roller moth eggs in Sardinian forests. Second contribution

Serra G., Luciano P. , Gilioli G. - Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leafrol... more Serra G., Luciano P. , Gilioli G. - Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leafroller moth eggs in Sardinian forests. Second contribution. The spatial distribution of Tortrix viridana L. egg-clusters was investigated during the winter of 1999 in eight forest areas of Quercus pubescens Willd. in centraI Sardinia. On each area of between approximately 300 and 100 ha, a three-stage sampling was adopted: 8 onehectare plots per area, 8 trees per plot, 4 terminaI branches per tree. All elements were chosen at random. The average number of egg-clusters per branch varied within the eight areas between 1.93 and 7.92. Data regarding the abundance of egg-clusters were analysed using two interpretative models of mean-variance relationships (<<Taylor's power Iaw» and «Iwao's patchiness regression») which showed an aggregated-type distribution both at the spatiallevel of branches within tree and trees within plot, while distribution was random on plots within area. Th...

Effetti dei trattamenti con Bacillus thuringiensis Berl. kurstaki sulla lepidotterofauna non target in boschi di roverella infestati da Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae)

Efficacy of Foray 48B against Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) in a Sardinian pubescent oak forest

The possibility of controlling green oak leaf-roller moth infestations with Foray 48B (Bacillus t... more The possibility of controlling green oak leaf-roller moth infestations with Foray 48B (Bacillus thuringiensis Berl. subsp. kurstaki) was assessed in spring 2004 in a Sardinian pubescent oak forest. At the time of treatment, the larval density was 0.70-0.88 larvae per shoot. The insecticide was aerially sprayed at ULV in a dose of 4 l/ha (equivalent to 42.4 BIU/ha). One week later, a population reduction of 82% was observed in the treated plots. Canopy defoliation was 14% in the treated plots compared with 30% in the untreated plots. The experiment demonstrated the efficacy of Foray 48B treatment, but large-scale application requires further tests to assess the efficacy of B.t.k. in limiting oak defoliation when larval densities are high.

Response of vine mealybug populations to cover crop management in vineyards

The influence of different ground cover management systems on the development of the vine mealybu... more The influence of different ground cover management systems on the development of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), was evaluated in a commercial vineyard (cv. Carignano) in north-western Sardinia within an ongoing multi-year project. In this paper, preliminary results of the first year of observations are reported. The field trial was arranged in a randomized block design, comparing traditional tillage and three different cover crops: natural self-regenerating (legume-grass mixture), grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and legume (Trifolium yanninicum Katzn. & Morley). In each treatment, some life parameters of the vine mealybug (survival, development time from egg to ovipositing female and fecundity) and the nitrogen content of grapevines, measured by a SPAD meter, were recorded. The ground cover management systems affected the vegetative growth of grapevines. In fact, the SPAD values were significantly higher on tillage and legume cover crop, whi...

Feed Preference, Daily Intake, and Laying Performance of Captive-Born Sardinian Partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) Offered Whole Defrosted Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) as Raw Feed Material with Diet

Agriculture

The competence to locate natural feeding sources is one of the main limiting factors for survival... more The competence to locate natural feeding sources is one of the main limiting factors for survival in the wild, especially for captive-born birds. Therefore, environmental enrichment through the diet can be strategic before their release into nature. In this research, a feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the potential use of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) larvae (TM) provisions to captive bred couples of Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbarabarbara Bonaterre, 1790) during the laying period. Twenty-four couple-caged Sardinian breeding partridges were enrolled during the laying period (April–May 2019) and randomly allotted to two feeding groups of 12 couples each: (a) the control (CON) group was fed a conventional complete pelleted diet for laying quails; (b) the yellow mealworm enriched group was additionally fed 5% whole, defrosted TM larvae (TM5%) on top of the same amount of the control diet. As a prerequisite, partridges were unaccustomed to eating mealworms before ...

Influenza dell'infestazione di Bactrocera oleae (Gmel.) sulla produzione e sulle caratteristiche qualitative dell'olio di oliva

Rivista Italiana Delle Sostanze Grasse, 1995

Olive fly infectation has a negative effect on the oil quality and production A bringing forward ... more Olive fly infectation has a negative effect on the oil quality and production A bringing forward of the harvesting in relation to the period in which maximum oil content of the olives of cv. Bosana is reached enables an increase in the amount of harvestable oil per hectare. Furthermore in this period, the last 15 days in November, the quality of oil obtained remains high

Metabolic response of yellow mealworm larvae to two alternative rearing substrates

Metabolomics, 2019

Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due t... more Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due to its high sustainability and low environmental impact. Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) are conventionally reared on wheat bran (WB), but alternative substrates, such as several by-products of the agri-food industry, have shown good prospects for insect rearing. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate on the metabolic and nutritional response of yellow mealworm larvae to dried brewer's spent grains (BSG) and WB used as rearing substrates. Methods Proximate, fibre and fatty acid compositions of durum WB and dried BSG were first characterized. Mealworm larvae were fed either WB (WB-L) or BSG (BSG-L) in a trial reproducing a scale rearing condition. Feed efficiency parameters together with proximate and FA composition were determined. Metabolic pathways affected by the dietary treatments were evaluated by means of a targeted metabolomics approach. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectra were acquired on lipid and polar extracts of WB-L and BSG-L and then coupled to multivariate data analysis. Absolute quantitative 1 H NMR data were carried out on selected metabolites. Results BSG-L exhibited better feed conversion ratio and efficiency in conversion of ingested food (P < 0.05) and almost half fat content (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L also showed higher ω-3 and ω-6 poliunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) and lower content of monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L mobilized body fat towards methylamine accumulation and led to enhanced trehalose catabolism. Conclusions Our findings are useful to gain knowledge on the metabolic features that finally affect growth and body composition in reared yellow mealworm larvae.

Effect of freezing and drying processes on the molecular traits of edible yellow mealworm

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2018

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food... more Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food and feed. Industrial production of mealworm meals for food and feed must count on optimized processing methods based on a deep knowledge of nutritional and quality aspects. Viable mealworm larvae (VL) were frozen at −20°C and dried under two different thermal conditions, namely high-temperature-short-time (HTST, 90°C for 1.5 h) and low-temperature-long-time (LTLT, 50°C for 62 h). Proximate composition, fatty acid analyses by gas-chromatography and metabolic profiling by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectroscopy were carried out and 1 H NMR data investigated with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). While fatty acid profiles did not indicate significant differences among treatments, 1 H NMR highlighted relevant molecular alterations associated to LTLT drying (95% of detected metabolites are altered by LTLT). In particular, detrimental hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) was favored during LTLT drying (approximately 25% reduction of TAG in LTLT compared to VL), accompanied by the enrichment of the free amino acid pool. Larvae composition was only minimally affected by the freezing process, with only 15% of the metabolite pool affected. Industrial relevance: Sustainable industrial production of insect-derived products (insect meal, oil, and other extracts) must count on efficient processes and high standard quality. Freezing and drying are the most critical processing operations in insect industry, since they can strongly affect the quality of final products. It is demonstrated here that low-temperature-long time drying processes negatively affect insect products quality, while freezing and high-temperature-short time drying do not have a significant impact. Molecular details of nutrient degradation processes are provided.

Catalogue of the spiders (Arachnida Araneae) of Sardinia

This catalogue summarizes and critically reviews araneological knowledge about Sardinian fauna. 1... more This catalogue summarizes and critically reviews araneological knowledge about Sardinian fauna. 140 publications from 1868 to 2012 were considered and about 4800 specimens belonging to 254 species were directly examined. The list report 495 species belonging to 229 genera divided into 43 families. For each species, literature, chorotype, regional distribution, and, where possible, habitats are indicated. Among the listed species Philodromus bosmansi Muster et Thaler, 2004 (Philodromidae) is new for Europe and the family of Prodidomidae with the species Zimirina brevipes Pérez et Blasco, 1986 is new for Italy. Also Setaphis parvula (Lucas, 1846) (Gnaphosidae), Centromerus succinus (Simon, 1884) and Hybocoptus corrugis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1875) (Linyphiidae) are new records for the Italian fauna and further 37 species are new for Sardinia. The genitalia of Phrurolithus corsicus (Simon, 1878), Zimirina brevipes, Drassodes luteomicans (Simon, 1878) and Zelotes dentatidens Simon, 1914 are ...

Mating Disruption of Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Vineyards Using Reservoir Pheromone Dispensers

Journal of insect science (Online), Jan 15, 2014

Mating disruption field experiments to control the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (H... more Mating disruption field experiments to control the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), were carried out in 2008 and 2009 in two commercial vineyards in Sardinia (Italy). The effectiveness of mating disruption was evaluated by testing reservoir dispensers loaded with 100 mg (62.5 g/ha) and 150 mg (93.8 g/ha) of the sex pheromone in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The number of males captured in pheromone traps, the P. ficus population density and age structure, the parasitism rate, the percentage of ovipositing females, and the crop damage were compared between disrupted and untreated plots. In both field trials, the number of males captured in mating disruption plots was significantly reduced by 86% and 95%, respectively. Mating disruption at the initial dose of 62.5 g/ha of active ingredient gave inconclusive results, whereas the dose of 93.8 g/ha significantly lowered the mealybug density and modified the age structure, which showed a lower percen...

Host plant budburst and male-biased dispersal affect the genetic structure of the green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae

The early spring folivore green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana, is one of the most harmfu... more The early spring folivore green oak leaf roller moth, Tortrix viridana, is one of the most harmful pests of Palaearctic oaks. The young larvae develop inside flushing buds and therefore require moth egg-hatching and budburst of their host plant to be synchronized. The aim of this study was to understand which factors (geographical distances, oak species, oak leaf phenology and timing of moth egg-hatching) influence the genetic structure of the moth. We performed multilocus analyses (COI and COII mitochondrial genes and eight nuclear microsatellites) on 30 populations from key forest districts in Sardinia and other Mediterranean localities. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers detected a genetic divergence among populations that were separated by long distances and/or wide sea straights (Sardinia-Corsica vs. Tunisia vs. Italian peninsula-Sicily). Mitochondrial variation was divided into two major haplogroups relating to early or late egg-hatching behaviour, which was dependent on adaptation to specific oak budburst phenologies. On a regional scale, AMOVA tests showed the highest fixation indexes when populations were grouped according to early or late egg-hatching, whereas oak leaf phenology [deciduous (pubescent oak) or evergreen (holm oak and cork oak)] was the main factor in structuring populations on a larger Mediterranean scale. Furthermore, we demonstrated evidence for non-random patterns of gene flow mediated by male-biased dispersal, with females as the philopatric sex. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: budburst phenology-deciduous oaks-egg-hatching-evergreen oaks-insecthost synchronization-microsatellites-mitochondrial DNA-Quercus-sex-biased dispersal-Tortrix viridana.

Effect of freezing and drying processes on the molecular traits of edible yellow mealworm

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food... more Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) represents a highly sustainable source of proteins for food and feed. Industrial production of mealworm meals for food and feed must count on optimized processing methods based on a deep knowledge of nutritional and quality aspects. Viable mealworm larvae (VL) were frozen at −20°C and dried under two different thermal conditions, namely high-temperature-short-time (HTST, 90°C for 1.5 h) and low-temperature-long-time (LTLT, 50°C for 62 h). Proximate composition, fatty acid analyses by gas-chromatography and metabolic profiling by means of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectroscopy were carried out and 1 H NMR data investigated with multivariate data analysis (MVDA). While fatty acid profiles did not indicate significant differences among treatments, 1 H NMR highlighted relevant molecular alterations associated to LTLT drying (95% of detected metabolites are altered by LTLT). In particular, detrimental hydrolysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) was favored during LTLT drying (approximately 25% reduction of TAG in LTLT compared to VL), accompanied by the enrichment of the free amino acid pool. Larvae composition was only minimally affected by the freezing process, with only 15% of the metabolite pool affected. Industrial relevance: Sustainable industrial production of insect-derived products (insect meal, oil, and other extracts) must count on efficient processes and high standard quality. Freezing and drying are the most critical processing operations in insect industry, since they can strongly affect the quality of final products. It is demonstrated here that low-temperature-long time drying processes negatively affect insect products quality, while freezing and high-temperature-short time drying do not have a significant impact. Molecular details of nutrient degradation processes are provided.

Metabolic response of yellow mealworm larvae to two alternative rearing substrates

by Giuseppe Serra and Roberto Anedda

Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due t... more Introduction Mass insect rearing is becoming increasingly pursued by food and feed industry due to its high sustainability and low environmental impact. Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) are conventionally reared on wheat bran (WB), but alternative substrates, such as several by-products of the agri-food industry, have shown good prospects for insect rearing. Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate on the metabolic and nutritional response of yellow mealworm larvae to dried brewer's spent grains (BSG) and WB used as rearing substrates. Methods Proximate, fibre and fatty acid compositions of durum WB and dried BSG were first characterized. Mealworm larvae were fed either WB (WB-L) or BSG (BSG-L) in a trial reproducing a scale rearing condition. Feed efficiency parameters together with proximate and FA composition were determined. Metabolic pathways affected by the dietary treatments were evaluated by means of a targeted metabolomics approach. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H NMR) spectra were acquired on lipid and polar extracts of WB-L and BSG-L and then coupled to multivariate data analysis. Absolute quantitative 1 H NMR data were carried out on selected metabolites. Results BSG-L exhibited better feed conversion ratio and efficiency in conversion of ingested food (P < 0.05) and almost half fat content (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L also showed higher ω-3 and ω-6 poliunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) and lower content of monounsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.001) than WB-L. BSG-L mobilized body fat towards methylamine accumulation and led to enhanced trehalose catabolism. Conclusions Our findings are useful to gain knowledge on the metabolic features that finally affect growth and body composition in reared yellow mealworm larvae.

Excreta quality and digestive function of singly versus couple caged Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) as non-invasive indicators of birds' coping ability to forced pairing

The Sardinian partridge is a monogamous wild bird species of least concern according to IUCN list... more The Sardinian partridge is a monogamous wild bird species of least concern according to IUCN list at present, though formerly accounted among threatened species for decades. The creation of couples is crucial in captivity, because forced pairing in cages can lead to poor welfare of birds, specially of females. This study investigated the

Evaluation of remote sensing indices for characterizing insect defoliation in a Mediterranean agroforestry system

Feed Preference, Daily Intake, and Laying Performance of Captive-Born Sardinian Partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) Offered Whole Defrosted Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) as Raw Feed Material with Diet

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more

La gestione fitosanitaria della frutticoltura di montagna in Sardegna: un impegno per il rilancio

Sviluppo embrionale e diapausa in popolazioni di Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) della Sardegna

Preliminary notes on the distribution of egg masses of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) (Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae) in Sardinian cork oak forests

A study on the lackey moth egg masses distribution is reported. Length and surface of the egg mas... more

Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) egg masses and tents in Sardinian cork oak forests

Verdinelli M., Serra G., Luciano P. - Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustriu... more Verdinelli M., Serra G., Luciano P. - Observations on spatial distribution of Malacosoma neustrium (L.) egg masses and tents in Sardinian cork oak forests. In order to determine sampling methods for the Malacosoma neustrium population, in 1998-99, the insect fecundity was observed and its population density and the spatial distribution of its tents and egg masses recorded. The length of cylindrical egg mass (x) was the most highly correlated single measurement with actual number of eggs per mass (y) (lOglO Y = 1,3263+1.0920910glO x; R2= 0.78). An insect preference in laying the egg masses and making tents in the South facing side of the trees was observed. The spatial distribution of egg masses and tents among the trees was compared with Poisson's, Neyman's and negative binomial mathematical models. The aggregated models proved to be more suitable to represent the actual spatial distribution. Taylor's power law parameters and Iwao's regression were needed to determin...

Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leaf-roller moth eggs in Sardinian forests. Second contribution

Serra G., Luciano P. , Gilioli G. - Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leafrol... more Serra G., Luciano P. , Gilioli G. - Observations on the spatial distribution of green oak leafroller moth eggs in Sardinian forests. Second contribution. The spatial distribution of Tortrix viridana L. egg-clusters was investigated during the winter of 1999 in eight forest areas of Quercus pubescens Willd. in centraI Sardinia. On each area of between approximately 300 and 100 ha, a three-stage sampling was adopted: 8 onehectare plots per area, 8 trees per plot, 4 terminaI branches per tree. All elements were chosen at random. The average number of egg-clusters per branch varied within the eight areas between 1.93 and 7.92. Data regarding the abundance of egg-clusters were analysed using two interpretative models of mean-variance relationships (<<Taylor's power Iaw» and «Iwao's patchiness regression») which showed an aggregated-type distribution both at the spatiallevel of branches within tree and trees within plot, while distribution was random on plots within area. Th...

Effetti dei trattamenti con Bacillus thuringiensis Berl. kurstaki sulla lepidotterofauna non target in boschi di roverella infestati da Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae)

Efficacy of Foray 48B against Tortrix viridana L. (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) in a Sardinian pubescent oak forest

The possibility of controlling green oak leaf-roller moth infestations with Foray 48B (Bacillus t... more The possibility of controlling green oak leaf-roller moth infestations with Foray 48B (Bacillus thuringiensis Berl. subsp. kurstaki) was assessed in spring 2004 in a Sardinian pubescent oak forest. At the time of treatment, the larval density was 0.70-0.88 larvae per shoot. The insecticide was aerially sprayed at ULV in a dose of 4 l/ha (equivalent to 42.4 BIU/ha). One week later, a population reduction of 82% was observed in the treated plots. Canopy defoliation was 14% in the treated plots compared with 30% in the untreated plots. The experiment demonstrated the efficacy of Foray 48B treatment, but large-scale application requires further tests to assess the efficacy of B.t.k. in limiting oak defoliation when larval densities are high.

Response of vine mealybug populations to cover crop management in vineyards

The influence of different ground cover management systems on the development of the vine mealybu... more The influence of different ground cover management systems on the development of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), was evaluated in a commercial vineyard (cv. Carignano) in north-western Sardinia within an ongoing multi-year project. In this paper, preliminary results of the first year of observations are reported. The field trial was arranged in a randomized block design, comparing traditional tillage and three different cover crops: natural self-regenerating (legume-grass mixture), grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and legume (Trifolium yanninicum Katzn. & Morley). In each treatment, some life parameters of the vine mealybug (survival, development time from egg to ovipositing female and fecundity) and the nitrogen content of grapevines, measured by a SPAD meter, were recorded. The ground cover management systems affected the vegetative growth of grapevines. In fact, the SPAD values were significantly higher on tillage and legume cover crop, whi...