University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology: Open Journal Systems
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FIVE SPECIES OF PSELAPHINAE (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE) NEW FOR THE FAUNA OF ALBANIA
Get PDFSixty-one adult individuals of 15 species (10 genera) and one subspecies of Pselaphinae were caught using a car-net during a single evening trip in the valley of the Lumnica River, village of Alipostivan, close to the town of Përmet, southern Albania, on 22.05.2018. The following five species are new for the beetle fauna of Albania: Trimium expandum Reitter, 1884, Meliceria (Cyrtoplectus) stankoi (Karaman, 1960), Brachygluta (Brachygluta) epirotica Sabella, 2004, Bythinus tener Reitter, 1884 and Tychobythinus latifrons (Müller, 1902). The prevailing weather (air) conditions between 7:00 and 8:30 pm on the day of collecting (at Gjirokastër, 30 km away), with a warm although decreasing temperature (27.2-25.6°C) and increasing humidity (46-53%), were obviously optimal for the car-net method
DIORYCTRIA ROBINIELLA (MILLIÈRE, 1865) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) IS A MEMBER OF FAUNA OF CROATIA
Get PDFThe occurrence of Dioryctria robiniella in Croatia is confirmed. The species has a disjunct areal in the Mediterranean area of Europe and it is one of the rarer species of its genus. The presence of this species in Croatia has in the literature been noted before, but has recently been excluded from recent checklists of Pyraloidea of Croatia and the Balkan Peninsula. However, the species indeed occurs in the country and has been recorded at seven localities across the coastal areas, from Pag island in the north down to Konavle area in the south, near the border with Montenegro. Further surveys of other neighbouring countries should reveal additional localities for this species in the Balkan peninsula
ASIAN APRICOT APHID, MYZUS MUMECOLA (MATSUMURA, 1917) (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE), FOUND IN SERBIA
Get PDFAsian apricot aphid, Myzus mumecola (Matsumura, 1917) (Hemiptera: Aphididae, Aphidinae) has been found during spring of 2021 in many localities in Serbia (Ljig, Smederevo, Velika Plana, Belgrade and Šid) on cultivated apricot. The species is of Asian origin, a few years ago it was found in Italy and in Hungary. Research of the species indicates that it is rapidly widening its distribution in Europe. Damages made to apricot trees by feeding on leaves at young branches and making red galls are significant. Presence, damage and biology of M. mumecola needs to be studied in the future, especially its secondary hosts which are not enough known
LARVICIDAL EFFECT OF THE SEED OILS OF TWO INDIGENOUS PLANTS FROM THE ALGERIAN SAHARA ON THE DESERT LOCUST
Get PDFThe lethal and sublethal effects of the seed oils of two indigenous plants of the Algerian Sahara, Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) and Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae), were investigated. Administration of 60 μl of oil by forced oral injection using a micropipette to the L5 larvae of Schistocerca gregaria Forsk. (Orthoptera: Acrididae) revealed the deterrent effect of these oils on treated larvae. The treatment resulted in various toxicological symptoms, such as intense defecation, diarrhea, weight loss, reduction in motor activity, delay and difficulty in molting and, in the most extreme cases, the death of treated individuals. During the treatment of L5 larvae of S. gregaria with P. harmala seed oil, various toxicological symptoms appeared: 81.81% of individuals presented with diarrhea; 68.18% of individuals lost weight; 72.72% exhibited reduced motor activity, and 100% of surviving individuals experienced a delay in their molt. On the other hand, in L5 larvae treated with D. stramonium seed oil, 77.27% of individuals had diarrhea, 100% showed weight loss and 100% of individuals reduced their motor activity. D. stramonium seed oil has been shown to be more toxic than P. harmala seed oil. The oral administration of 60 μl of D. stramonium seed oil caused the blocking of the phenomenon of exuviation in 100% of the treated L5 larvae, resulting in death after 16 days. While P. harmala seed oils caused 50% mortality after 12 days, the 50% surviving individuals were able to complete their imaginal molt with difficulties, which resulted in malformations. The estimated lethal time 50 (LT50) in larvae (L5) treated with D. stramonium seed oil was 3.67 days. It was more toxic than the LT50 obtained in larvae (L5) treated with the oil of P. harmala seeds, which was 12 days.
The food intake in L5 larvae of S. gregaria treated with D. stramonium seed oil was 0.28 ± 0.18 g/day, it was lower than the average daily consumption recorded in the L5 larvae treated with P. harmala seed oil, which was 0.67 ± 0.36 g/day, D. stramonium seed oil appears to be more toxic, and profoundly affects food intake. The values of the apparent digestive utilization coefficient (DUC a) reported for L5 larvae treated with seed oil of P. harmala and D. stramonium were 39.32 ± 13.07% and 34.23 ± 29,07%, respectively. These values were significantly lower compared to the control group value, which was 70.63 ± 19.56%. Likewise, the digestive conversion coefficients (CCD) recorded in the L5 of S. gregaria treated with the seed oils of P. harmala and D. stramonium were -75.07 ± 54.45% and -3.08 ± 1.18, respectively. However, in the control group of L5 larvae, the noted CCD was 1.004 ± 0.073. Values of the consumption index (CI) reported for L5 larvae treated with the seed oils of P. harmala and D. stramonium were low, 6.74 ± 4.45 and 3.82 ± 2.45, respectively, while for the L5 larvae of the control group, it was 15.74 ± 3.51
REDISCOVERY OF RHAGIO CHRYSOSTIGMA (LOEW, 1857) (DIPTERA: RHAGIONIDAE)
Get PDFThe rediscovery of Rhagio chrysostigma (Loew, 1857) after ca. 90 years, as well as the first record from Slovenia, are presented. The published data of this species are known only from northeastern Italy and are based on old records (Loew 1857, Schiner 1862, Szilády 1934)
PRESENCE OF MANTIBARIA SEEFELDERIANA (DE STEFANI) (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE) IN CROATIA: A PSEUDOPARASITOID OF PRAYING MANTIS
Get PDFHerein we present the first record of a very rare species of parasitoid wasp, Mantibaria seefelderiana, in Croatia, with the basic elements of its unusual biology. The most precise categorization of its trophic interaction would be pseudoparasitoid, because the larva of this species feeds on a larger number of mantis embryos in the ootheca in a way that is more representative of predatory diet and behavior, without any regulation by its host’s behavior. Additionally, adult females of this pseudoparasitoid live as ectoparasites attached to the body of female mantises, where they feed on hemolymph. The combination of an unusual predatory and parasitic lifestyle is extremely atypical for the predominantly parasitoid character of most other members of the family Scelionidae
RONCUS TURRESI: A NEW CAVE-DWELLING PSEUDOSCORPION SPECIES FROM SOUTHEASTERN SERBIA (NEOBISIIDAE, PSEUDOSCORPIONES)
Get PDFA new cave-dwelling pseudoscorpion species belonging to the genus Roncus L. Koch, 1873, Roncus turresi sp. n., from southeastern Serbia (a small unnamed cave up to Vladikine Ploče Cave, near the town of Pirot) is established in the present paper. Its main morphological characters and diagnostic features are analyzed, illustrated and compared with its closest congeners from southeastern Serbia. This new cavernicolous pseudoscorpion is endemic to a small area of Mt. Stara Planina in southeastern Serbia
A FIRST RECORD OF THE ALIEN MANTIS SPECIES HIERODULA TENUIDENTATA (MANTODEA: MANTIDAE) IN SERBIA
Get PDFAn alien mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata, has expanded its areal in Europe in the last few years. It was registered in several European countries, including some on the Balkan Peninsula. Herein are presented for the first time records of H. tenuidentata on the territory of Serbia, several from the capital city of Belgrade, and one from Novi Kneževac, a town in the northern part of country. The species was recognized for the first time in photos posted in a Facebook group of insect lovers and enthusiasts in 2019, but positive identification only took place in 2020 after group members collected specimens. Social networks can be a very important tool for the monitoring of invasive species in general, and invasive mantids in particular, especially due to their size and attractiveness
FURTHER RANGE EXPANSION OF THE SCULPTURED RESIN BEE (MEGACHILE SCULPTURALIS) IN SERBIA AND BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Get PDFMegachile sculpturalis is the first non-native bee species established in Europe, originating from E-Asia. Since early detections in SW-Europe (2008–2010) its spreading resulted in a range currently spanning nearly 2,800 km x 1,100 km across the southern and central Europe. In SE-Europe establishment was confirmed since 2015 in NE-Hungary, followed by detection in N-Serbia (2017), and wider spreading across the eastern Pannonian Plain (2018–2019); eventually it was detected in NW-Bosnia & Herzegovina (2020). Accordingly, the repeated calls for monitoring of M. sculpturalis spread were voiced, aiming to address its potential invasiveness, but mostly lacking a more specific assessment protocol. A 'working concept' for a comprehensive monitoring of M. sculpturalis was proposed within the survey conducted in Belgrade (Serbia) during 2017–2019, based on quantitative assessment of bee population trends in relation to focal plant resources. There was a need to improve and broaden this initial framework, e.g., to allow for different spatio-temporal scales and various potential usage requirements. Therefore, in 2020 we considerably extended the research scope, defined at two spatial scales: LOCAL, for the Belgrade area – the continuation of protocol development, through a high-intensity assessment of M. sculpturalis abundance, bionomics, and distribution, in parallel with assessment of extended set of relevant plants (and potential bee-plant interactions); REGIONAL, a survey covering the bee spreading across Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, aiming to provide a reference time-section in expanding SE-European front, while also extending the knowledge of its environmental affinities. The study included the launching of a pioneering citizen science project, which enabled a remarkable geographic coverage despite modest return of positive reports.
The Belgrade-scale survey yielded a modest increase in recorded locations, relative to 2019, but the recording efficiency was decreased, despite a much intensified surveying efforts and extended coverage. This corroborated the importance of inter-seasonal variation of key food resources, which affects both the population dynamics and detectability of this bee, through alternating concentration and dilution effects. We confirmed the strong association of detection success with availability and variability of blooming Styphnolobium, at both scales, indicating the highest relevance of inclusion of this plant into monitoring assessment protocols. The established phenological extent of M. sculpturalis activity (>70 days) also closely corresponded with the phenology of Styphnolobium blooming; yet it does not represent the entire phenological span for the region. Almost no record came from surveying other plants. The regional expansion of M. sculpturalis during 2017–2020 is documented from 19 wider locations (16 added in 2020). It is particularly well established in the Pannonian, and to a lesser extent in peri-Pannonian area of Serbia and B&H, while the approximated range extent was likely doubled during 2019–2020. Further south records were scarce, indicating the slower expansion across the hilly-mountainous part of the Balkans. Records largely came from urban or other settlements, only about a third from semi-natural or agricultural environments
In memoriam Academician, Prof. Dr. Dušan Čamprag (1925-2021)
Get PDFAcademician Dr. Dušan Čamprag, retired full professor of entomology at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, passed away on March 22, 2021. With his passing, the scientific and professional communities lost one of the pioneers of plant protection in our country, a well-known entomologist and the oldest member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA)