Israel Journal of Entomology
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The Silvanidae of Israel (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)
Get PDFThe Silvanidae is a family comprising mainly small, subcortical, saproxylic, beetles with the more or less dorsoventrally flattened body. It is a family of high economic importance, as some of the species are pests of stored goods; some of them are distributed throughout the world, mainly by human activities. Nineteen species of Silvanidae in ten genera are hereby recorded from Israel. Eleven of those are considered alien, of which four are established either in nature or indoor; eight species are either indigenous or have been introduced in the very remote past. Seven species, Psammoecus bipunctatus, P. triguttatus, Parasilvanus fairemairei, Silvanus castaneus, S. inarmatus, S. ?mediocris and Uleiota planatus, are recorded from Israel for the first time. Airaphilus syriacus was recorded only once in 1913; its status is doubtful. A. abeillei may occur in Israel, although no material is available. Twelve species are associated with stored products, although only three, Ahasverus advena, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and O. mercator, are of distinct economic importance; the rest are either rare or only occasionally intercepted on imported goods. An identification key for all genera and species is provided.
Cite as: Friedman, A.L.L. 2015. The Silvanidae of Israel (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea). Israel Journal of Entomology 44–45: 75–98.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.31646
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CA9BEEE0-C495-4995-A55D-CD4593D4A25
A new record for the darkling beetle fauna of Israel: Akis subtricostata Redtenbacher, 1850 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Get PDFThe distribution range of Akis subtricostata covers Iran, Iraq, Syria (Löbl et al. 2008; Eleyjian 2010) and Turkey (Keskin & Yağmur 2008). Löbl et al. (2008) does not list this species for Jordan; however, it has already been recorded from a few localities in this area. Katbeh-Bader (1996) mentioned it from Dhulayl and Waitzbauer et al. (2004) referred to the area of Petra and Wadi Arava (which is treated here as 'Arava Valley). The senior author collected three specimens of Akis subtricostata (Fig. 1) in the southern area of the 'Arava Valley, Israel on the 12th of September 2014. This is the first record of this species in Israel. Further examination of the Akis specimens deposited in the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History Tel Aviv University, Israel (TAU), revealed three more specimens, all collected in 1968 by J. Klapperich (Bonn) during his 1956–1969 trip to Jordan. Bytinski-Salz (1969: 186) noted on Klapperich’s collecting effort that “the material has been distributed to specialists, but nothing has been published so far”. These three specimens are now the earliest known record from Jordan. It seems that these specimens were sent from Europe back to Israel without being taxonomically treated, and so Akis subtricostata remained unknown from Jordan until the publication of Katbeh-Bader (1996), which was based on a single specimen from Dhulayl. In Israel, the beetles were collected around midnight with a flashlight. They were seen wandering actively on semi stabilized sand dunes near Samar.
Cite as: Rittner, O. & Mienis, H.K. 2015. A new record for the darkling beetle fauna of Israel: Akis subtricostata Redtenbacher, 1850 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 44–45: 61–62.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.31200
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:404E0ED8-78C2-42F3-AE94-FAF 4E893D90
Deroplax silphoides (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae): A new plant pest in Israel
Get PDFThis is the first report of the invasive scutellerid bug Deroplax silphoides (Thunberg, 1783) from Israel. The species is a pest of ornamental plants, whose immature stages and life history were previously unknown. Information on its nymphs, life history and distribution is provided and its association with Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae) is reported for the first time.
Cite as: Novoselsky, T., Furth, D.G., Eger, J.E., Jr & Zvik, Y. 2015. Deroplax silphoides (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Scutelleridae): A new plant pest in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 44–45: 5–12.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.30534
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8D33EFCB-53D6-4D93-AC7A-E887BC62E9B
First record of Epomis circumscriptus (Duftschmid, 1812) (Carabidae: Chlaeniini) from the eastern Dead Sea area, Jordan
Get PDFEpomis circumscriptus (Duftschmid, 1812) attacking the Middle East tree frog is recorded from Moab, Jordan (eastern Dead Sea area) for the first time. This new record expands the known range of this species in the Middle East.
Cite as: Yanai, Z., Truskanov, N., Gasith, A. & Wizen, G. 2015. First record of Epomis circumscriptus (Duftschmid, 1812) (Carabidae: Chlaeniini) from the eastern Dead Sea area, Jordan. Israel Journal of Entomology 44–45: 1–4.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.30322
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38810FF-7F2F-4848-9383-3EF3C0D9D31
An annotated list of the spider mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) of Israel
Get PDFAn annotated list and key to twenty four species of spider mites (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) known from Israel is provided. About half of the species are considered to be exotics, having invaded Israel within the last fifty years. Nine species, all of which belong to the subfamily Tetranychinae: Eutetranychus orientalis, Eutetranychus palmatus, Oligonychus afrasiaticus, Oligonychus perseae, Panonychus ulmi, Panonychus citri, Schizotetranychus asparagi, Tetranychus turkestani and Tetranychus urticae, are agricultural pests, whereas the others have little economic impact, or else are controlled by their natural enemies.
To cite: Ben-David, T., Ueckermann, E.A. & Gerson, U. 2014 [2013]. An annotated list of the spider mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) of Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 125–148
A new record of Bracon celer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of the olive fruit fly in Israel
Get PDFThe olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the most serious pest of cultivated olives. It is currently found wherever olives are grown, except Australia. Bracon celer Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is considered one such prospective parasitoid of the olive fruit fly. This is the only species in the genus Bracon known as parasitoid of the olive fruit fly. It originates from the Sub-Saharan Africa. The attempts to introduce it in southern Europe and USA were unsuccessful. In Israel B. celer was reared from olive fruits collected in November 2011 in Volcani Center, Bet Dagan. At present, we have no explanation of the possible ways by which B. celer arrived in Israel.
To cite: Kuslitzky, W. & Argov, Y. 2014 [2013]. A new record of Bracon celer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of the olive fruit fly in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 91–93.
The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of oak trees (Fagaceae: Quercus spp.) in Israel
Get PDFScale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of four species of oaks (Fagaceae: Quercus) in Israel namely, Q. boissieri, Q. calliprinos, Q. ithaburensis, and Q. look were collected and identified from natural forest stands during the period 2010-2013. A total of twenty-seven species were determined from nine scale insect families: Asterolecaniidae (3 species), Coccidae (3), Diaspididae (7), Eriococcidae (3), Kermesidae (6), Kuwaniidae (1), Monophlebidae (1), Pseudococcidae (2), and Putoidae (1). Six of these species represent new records for Israel and five are identified to the genus level. Kuwaniidae is a new family record for Israel. Species that were previously collected or recorded on oaks in Israel are listed and discussed. Information is given about host trees and global distribution. The majority of the species reported here are monophagous or stenophagous and they appear to be non-pestiferous to the oak trees in Israel. General traits that describe each scale insect family in the field are provided, together with an identification key to aid in the determination of slide-mounted specimens into families represented in this study.
To cite: Spodek, M., Ben-Dov, Y. & Mendel, Z. 2014 [2013]. The scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of oak trees (Fagaceae: Quercus spp.) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 95–124.
Alternative nest-building behavior of the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in the Judean Foothills, and the parasitic and non-parasitic arthropod fauna in their nests
Get PDFOne of the most common explanations of the alternative nest-building behavior in raptors’ population is the “Ectoparasite-avoidance’’ hypothesis, which claims that switching to alternative nests each year reduces nests’ parasites that could decrease their breeding success. Our aim was to investigate this hypothesis concerning the Judean Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) population, in Israel. Furthermore, we also investigated whether any specific parasites for each of these raptors’ species actually exist. Thirty-one nests of Long-legged Buzzards (LLB) and 61 nests of Shorttoed Eagles (STE) were located and systematically examined during the period of February-September 2011, in an area of 450 km2 in the Judean Foothills, Israel. Nest material samples were collected from the center of the nest of 26 LLB and 45 STE nests. Four specimens of the Mallophaga Laemobothrion maximum were isolated from three nests of LLB and one male of Degeeriella leucopleura from a nest of STE. In addition, a hard tick larva (Rhipicephalus sp.), an argasid nymph (Argas sp.) and six specimens of dermanyssid mites were isolated from nests of STE. In 82.1% of the LLB nests, Coleoptera larvae and/or adults were found, most of them belonging to the families Scarabaeidae, Buprestidae, Elateridae and Dermestidae. In 89.8% of the STE nests, Coleoptera larvae and/or adults were found, most of them belonging to the families Buprestidae, Tenebrionidae, Curculionidae, Dermestidae, Elateridae, Coccinellidae and Chrysomelidae. The vast majority of the isolated beetles were damaged and in more or less small pieces. In addition, few specimens of silverfish (Lepismatidae), book lice (Psocidae), ants (Formicidae) and true flies (Muscidae), as well as spiders (Araneae), scorpions (Scorpionida) and pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpionida) were isolated from the nests of both species. Although nest parasites were actually found, in significant small numbers, we cannot support the “ectoparasite-avoidance” hypothesis in our study system. Furthermore, no species specific ectoparasites for either LLB or STE were found.
To cite: Friedemann, G., Izhaki, I., Leshem, Y. & Mumcuoglu, K.Y. 2014 [2013]. Alternative nest-building behavior of the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in the Judean Foothills, and the parasitic and non-parasitic arthropod fauna in their nests. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 11–19.
Phenotypic plasticity in the pear psyllid, Cacopsylla bidens (Šulc) (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Psyllidae) in Israel
Get PDF1. Pear psyllids, belonging to the subgenenus Hepatopsylla, often exhibit strong seasonal dimorphism. The summer forms are lighter and smaller while the winter forms are relatively darker and larger.2. We examined whether seasonal polymorphism in Cacopsylla bidens is a continuous or discontinuous phenomenon and assessed the role of temperature and photoperiod in its regulation.3. Adult psyllids were sampled in pear orchards for three years using beating trays. The effects of temperature and photoperiod on induction of phenotyic changes were evaluated in the laboratory. Morphological parameters such as wing size and body coloration of both sexes were monitored.4. Observation of the wild population indicated that C. bidens exhibited continuous phenotypic plasticity during the transition from summer to winter morphs but a step-wise transition from winter to summer morphs.5. According to laboratory experiments both temperature and photoperiod play a significant role in the regulation of polymorphism in this species.
To cite: Soroker, V., Alchanatis, V., Harari, A., Talebaev, S., Anshelevich, L., Reneh, S. & Levsky, S. 2014 [2013]. Phenotypic plasticity in the pear psyllid, Cacopsylla bidens (Šulc) (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Psyllidae) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 21–31.  
The influence of photoperiod and mating on profiles of seminal fluid peptides from male accessory glands of Helicoverpa armigera
Get PDFAfter mating many female insects undergo physiological and behavioral changes including inhibition of receptivity to further matings and induction of oviposition. These changes are modulated by the transfer of proteins from male seminal fluids during mating. Here, we identified a number of proteins in the seminal fluid secretion of the moth species, Helicoverpa armigera that undergo changes in accordance to photoperiod and are reduced or depleted after mating, thereby indicating a probable functional significance during mating. Changes in seminal fluid proteins were studied using LC-MS/MS and 2D SDS PAGE to identify proteins that are both up-regulated during the scotophase and depleted after mating. A total of 98 proteins were identified using LC-MS/MS, out of which the levels of 52 were up-regulated during the scotophase. We identified many functional similarities to seminal fluids from other insects. Thus, although seminal fluid proteins are amongst the most rapidly evolving proteins, the classes they represent are relatively conserved. The proteins identified were classified into 7 different functional groups: signal transduction; immune function; lipid transporting; gene function; cytoskeletal proteins; apoptosis; metabolism; the remainder of unknown function. More than half of the identified proteins were up-regulated during the scotophase with most at a level of up to 5 fold but 7 of the proteins were up-regulated to levels of more than 20 fold. Using comparative 2D electrophoresis MAG content was further studied to identify extracted proteins that are both up-regulated during the scotophase and depleted after mating and thus may be transferred to the female during copulation. Most of the identified H. armigera proteins bore high homologies to proteins in both the Bombyx mori and the Drosophila melanogaster databases. The possible individual roles of these proteins in the mating process are discussed.
To cite: Rafaeli, A. & Hanin, O. 2014 [2013]. The influence of photoperiod and mating on profiles of seminal fluid peptidesfrom male accessory glands of Helicoverpa armigera. Israel Journal of Entomology 43: 51–79.