Introduction into Italy of Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead), an eggparasitoid of the alien invasive bug Leptoglossus occidentalisHeidemann

Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera, Coreidae), a Nearctic species, was accidentally introducedinto Northern Italy in the late 1990s, from where it has spread throughout Europe. The bug causesabortion of immature cones of Pinus pinea L., with economic impact on the pine-nut industry. Aspart of a pest control research program, the egg parasitoid Gryon pennsylvanicum Ashmead (Hymenoptera,Platygastridae) was collected from British Columbia, Canada, and legally introduced to aquarantine climatic chamber in Florence, Italy. The egg parasitoid will be tested against native non targetheteropterans, an environmental impact assessment will be conducted, and a mass rearingmethod will be developed if appropriate. The ultimate goal is to release G. pennsylvanicum into ItalianP. pinea forests for classical biological control of L. occidentalis.