COROEBUS FLORENTINUS (HERBST) (COLEOPTERA, BUPRESTIDAE) Biologia, danni, lotta.

Abstract

Coroebus florentinus (Herbst) has been a very harmful pest on yung holm-oak groves in the promontory of Gargano (South ltaly) during the last eight years.

Biological observations carried out in field and in laboratory about ethology, ecology and development, with essential morphology of imago, egg and larvae of the pest are here reported.

In Apulia Coroebus florentinus has a generation every two years. The embryonic development lasts about two weeks (end July-early august), whereas larval development and metamorphosis last about twenty months and three weeks respectively.

The main ecological factors, affecting ontogenetic and demographic development of Coroebus are (in Apulia): bad physiological status or vulnerability of the host-plant, stormy weather (cloudy and cool) during the activity of the adult beetles (15th July -15th august), and many natural enemies, as Fungi, Bacteria or Virus, and entomoparasites (Spathius radjabii Fischer, Bracon maculiger Wesmael, an other Braconinae, and Cryptus maculipennis Dufour).

The economical importance of the pest and some actual suggestions to control it are here discussed.