9) Campylomma verbasci (Meyer-Duer, 1843)

Trophic status.

Zoophytophagous.

Distribution.

Holarctic.

Preys.

Cacopsylla bidens , from Pyrus communis, Ilinci, 24.V.2008, reared 1♂ 'ex larva' 29.V.2008; Bavanište, 25.V.2006, reared 1♂, 1♀ 'ex larva' 30.V.2006. Cacopsylla pyri, Cacopsylla pyricola and Cacopsylla pyrisuga, from Pyrus communis, Bavanište, 25.V.2006, 1♂, 1♀ 'ex larva' 30.V. 2006. Cacopsylla melanoneura, from Malus domestica, Ilinci, 2.V.2010, reared 2♂♂.

Campylomma verbasci is a zoophytophagous species preying on apple aphids, pear psyllids, codling moth, thrips and mites (Wheeler 2000b). Its most common prey among insects are Aphis pomi and Cacopsylla mali, and among mites Panonychus ulmi and Tetranychus urticae (Hagen et al. 1999, Wheeler 2000b, Bradley 2007).

However, if there is a lack of prey, it can feed on apple fruits, rarely pear, causing the harm to their aesthetic value. Therefore, Campylomma verbasci is a significant fruit pest in Canada (Hagen et al. 1999, Wheeler 2000a, Bradley 2007). Erler (2004) reported the presence of Campylomma verbasci as a predator of Cacopsylla pyrisuga in treated and untreated pear orchards in Turkey, and Harizanova et al. (2012) mentioned it on Acizzia jamatonica in Bulgaria.

Already known in Serbia ( Protić 1993) but in our investigations registered for the first time as a predator of psyllids in this country.