Zafiri, S.G., Fasseas, C.P., & Emmanouel, N.G. 2007 An approach to the investigation of the Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in pine.. Proceedings of the 12th Panhellenic Cogress of Entomology, 13-16 November 2007, Larnaca, Cyprus. Golden Bay Larnaca 412 pp.

Notes: The aim of this study is double. On the one hand, it concerns about the peer and critical review of the bibliography which exists until now, regard to: i) the taxonomy, ii) the geographical distribution, iii) the host trees, iv) the importance in apiculture, v) the morphology, vi) the biology and vii) the possible harmful effect of the insect. On the other hand it concerns the investigative approach of the potential harmful effect. For this research, there were studied: i) the insect's capability of establishment in smooth or in rough bark of the pine trees, ii) microscopic bark sections for observation of possible tissue-pathological alterations of the host's bark, as a result of the insect's establishment and iii) the potential mechanical damage (widening) of the pine bark, due to the prolonged presence of the insect in the bark cracks or crevices of the pine. The conclusions of this research are that: o The 1st and 2nd nymphal stages can't install in bark with smooth surface and that the presence of cracks or scales of the bark are necessary for its survival and continuation of its biological cycle. o The insect's stylet moves vertically through the pine's tissues to the layer of phloem, where it moves in parallel, without reaching the xylem. The insect apparently feeds from the sap, which runs through the phloem cells, by pricking them. o No widening of the initial bark cracks, are observed in the positions of the insect's establishment. Therefore, any observed crack enlargement of the bark is seemed to concern natural functions of the pine trees. Collaterally, mentions of observations are made in respect to the behavior and the biology of the insect, which are compared with the existing knowledge, while in the end of the study, proposals are given about the furthermore research in subjects concerning the insect and the pine.