Ulteriori dati sulla progressiva diffusione di Acanalonia conica (Say) (Rhynchota Acanaloniidae) nel Nord Italia

Further data on the progressive diffusion of Acanalonia conica (Say) (Rhynchota Acanaloniidae) in northern Italy. - During the years 2012-13 and the previous four years, findings and reported sightings of the Nearctic acanaloniid hopper Acanalonia conica (Say) (Rhynchota Acanaloniidae) in the central and eastern sectors of northern Italy have increased, confirming the expected tendency of this alien hopper to spread widely and to a slow but progressive expansion of its secondary distribution into Italy; it is likely that the dispersal started from at least two different points of accidental introduction. The present contribution aims to provide an updated picture of this phenomenon, on the basis of both scientific literature and findings made or ascertained personally by the authors of this note, and other records of this unmistakeable insect, not published in the scientific literature but made available, with photographic documentation, by amateur entomologists or persons keen on naturalistic photography through internet sites; records which seem to be reliable and therefore we think it not right to ignore. Furthermore, in the year 2010 in the ‘Oltrepò Pavese’ (Pavia) we observed A. conica on a vine in a vineyard. Nevertheless, in all localities there is no evidence up to now of injury by the insect, which is generally present only with low population densities. As far as we know, A. conica is present in Italy in Friuli–Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna; a great many of the observations were made in Lombardy and in Friuli - Venezia Giulia, principally in two of the most western provinces (Pavia and Milan) of Lombardy and in two provinces of Friuli - Venezia Giulia (Pordenone and Udine). On the contrary, up to now we are unaware of findings from Val d’Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria and Trentino - Alto Adige. We also take the opportunity to summarize the main morphological and bio-ecological traits of this hopper in this note.