Israel Journal of Entomology
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Pinhas (Pinye) Amitai (1928—2023)
Full text linkPinhas (Pinye) Amitai, a self-educated zoologist, was one of the most notable and popular naturalists in Israel, famous for his books, lectures, jokes, pranks and the characteristic enormous moustache. Amitai was born in Jerusalem, spent most of his life in Jerusalem and died in Jerusalem, full of years and good works. In general, he was primarily an entomologist and arachnologist, and his main scientific interest was in poisonous arthropods. However, Pinye’s major contribution was the popularization of nature science and his love of nature among the general public. Overall, he authored or co-authored more than 270 publications, including 17 scientific articles in English or French, one scientific book in English, 17 popular scientific books in Hebrew, and numerous articles in Hebrew journals and newspapers.
To cite: Simon, D. & Friedman, A.-L.-L. 2024. Pinhas (Pinye) Amitai (1928—2023). Israel Journal of Entomology 53: 159–170. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1475610
First record of the leafhopper Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) in Israel
Full text linkLeafhopper Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov, 2022 is reported from Israel for the first time. A recording of the male call of this species is provided; the syllable of N. grandidentis is longer by a magnitude compared to published male calls produced by several other Neoaliturus species. The hitherto unknown female of N. grandidentis is described.
To cite: Sinaiko, G. & Dietrich, C.S. 2023. First record of the leafhopper Neoaliturus grandidentis Gnezdilov (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 67–73.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10566720
SupplementsS1: Oscillogram and spectrogram of Neoaliturus grandidentis male:DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10561268S2: A live leafhopper Neoaliturus grandidentisDOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1056210
Endelus barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae: Aphanisticini) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, with lectotype designations in the Endelus marseuli species-group
Full text linkA new species of jewel beetle, Endelus (s.str.) barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), belonging to E. (s.str.) marseuli Deyrolle, 1864 species-group, is described from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Lectotypes are designated for E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864, E. scintillans Deyrolle, 1864 and E. modiglianii Kerremans, 1896. An updated key of species within this group is provided, including Endelus lunatus Fisher, 1921, Endelus barclayi Kalashian, 2011, Endelus splendens Kalashian, 2011, and Endelus nairaarum Kalashian, 2011.ԱՄՓՈՓՈՒՄԻնդոնեզիայի Սուլավեսի կղզուց նկարագրվում է E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864 տեսակային խմբին պատկանող Endelus (s.str.) barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) նոր տեսակը: Լեկտոտիպեր են նշանակվում E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864, E. scintillans Deyrolle, 1864 և E. modiglianii Kerremans, 1896 տաքսոնների համար: Տրվում է խմբի տեսակների նորացված որոշիչ, որն ընդգրկում է նաև Endelus lunatus Fisher, 1921, Endelus barclayi Kalashian, 2011, Endelus splendens Kalashian, 2011 and Endelus nairaarum Kalashian, 2011տեսակները:ՀԻՄՆԱԲԱՌԵՐ: Կենսաբազմազանություն, Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Aphanisticini, նոր տեսակ, լեկտոտիպեր, Հնդ-Մալայան տարածաշրջան, Ինդոնեզիա, Սուլավեսի, տաքսոնոմոնիա:
To cite: Kalashian, M.Y. 2023. Endelus barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae: Aphanisticini) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, with lectotype designations in the Endelus marseuli species-group. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 21–28.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1036175
A new and the southernmost species of Zaitunia Lehtinen, 1967 (Araneae: Filistatidae) from the United Arab Emirates
Full text linkZaitunia arabica n. sp., the southernmost member of the genus, is described from Rub ‘Al Khali Desert, the United Arab Emirates. The new species is assigned to Z. persica species-group, and it is most similar to Z. medica Brignoli, 1982 in having solid receptacles, which are wider than long and have no stalks. Zaitunia arabica n. sp. differs from the latter species by the lack of a carapace pattern, having no leg annulation, by much smaller size, as well as by a different shape of the receptacles and by a smaller distance between them.
To cite: Marusik, Y. & Zonstein, S. 2023. A new and the southernmost species of Zaitunia Lehtinen, 1967 (Araneae: Filistatidae) from the United Arab Emirates. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 29–33.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1039678
The first interception record of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), an invasive true bug and serious threat, in Israel
Full text linkHalyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), native to East Asia, an invasive broad-polyphagous pest in the West Palaearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical and Australasian Regions, has been recently intercepted in Israel.
Novoselsky, T., & Rittner, O. 2023. The first interception record of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), an invasive true bug and serious threat, in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 57–61.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1050709
The first Levantine record of Megaselia sandhui Disney (Diptera: Phoridae), a pest of cultivated mushrooms (Agaricales: Agaricaceae)
Full text linkMegaselia sandhui Disney, 1981, a pest of cultivated mushrooms (Agaricales: Agaricaceae), known previously from the southern part of the Palaearctic Region (Arabian Peninsula, Iran and India (Punjab)), has been recorded for the first time in Israel, in the southern part of the 'Arava Valley.
To cite: Mostovski, M.B. 2023. The first Levantine record of Megaselia sandhui Disney (Diptera: Phoridae), a pest of cultivated mushrooms (Agaricales: Agaricaceae). Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 63–65.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1050833
Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer (1926–2022)
Full text linkDr Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer, an Israeli myrmecologist, was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 20 September 1926. He survived Holocaust, and at age of twenty repatriated to Israel. Yaakov started as a member in several kibbutzim throughout Israel. Despite having no matriculation diploma he was able to complete his education, starting at Oranim College, then in Tel Aviv University, and received his MSc and PhD degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, studying various ecological and biological aspects of ants (Formicidae). For most of his career Ofer taught biology in the Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv, and continued his myrmecological research, until final withdrawal in 2011. His studies resulted in several publications on the ecology and biology of various ants, particularly harvester ants (Messor) and weaver ants (Polyrachis), and culminated in the book on the ants of Israel, published in both Hebrew and English. One of Yaakov's important inventions was the namlul, a special cage for establishing and raising of artificial ant nests in captivity. Yaakov passed away on 19 June 2022, at the age of 96, in Herzliya, Israel, and has been survived by his children, grand- and great-grandchildren.
To cite: Friedman, A.L.L. 2023. Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer (1926–2022). Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 1–7.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1021406
Does the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Odonata: Libellulidae) avoid perching on vegetation?
Full text linkThe perching substrate choice of the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Brauer, 1865) was recorded during a long-term (2013–2021) Odonata survey in the Dead Sea area, Israel. The data were collected at two streams in the Dead Sea oases, Nahal Bokek and Nahal Arugot, by walking monthly along the permanent watercourses (fixed transects). Among 872 observations on O. ransonnetii, there were records of neither males nor females using vegetation (live plants) for perching. The Desert Skimmer clearly prefers perching on stones or bare ground. The stone preference of O. ransonnetii for perching has been noted in the literature on Odonata for a long time, but the presented data demonstrate this phenomenon as a total preference.
To cite: Blecher, M. 2023. Does the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Odonata: Libellulidae) avoid perching on vegetation? Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 97–103. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1069411
Rachel Galun (1926—2023)
Full text linkProfessor Rachel Galun (1926—2023) was a highly respected figure in medical, veterinary, and agricultural entomology, a brilliant scientist, mentor, and leader. Prof. Galun contributed significantly to the study of medically relevant insects and ticks, expanded our understanding of vector-borne diseases and provided valuable insights into the interactions between these arthropods and the pathogens they transmit. She researched the mechanisms behind mosquitoes' ability to identify the blood of their hosts by detecting ATP; the stimulation of ticks' cheliceral sensillae by sensing glutathione in the blood that induce ticks to feed; demonstrated the capability of tsetse flies and mosquitoes to inhibit the host's local immune response for blood-feeding purposes. Her research included radiation, radioisotopes, insect pest rearing methods, sterile male techniques for tsetse flies, the physiology and control of the medfly, and the role of purinergic receptors in hematophagous insects' blood meals, the development of artificial feeding methods to study sensory responses in insects, particularly mosquitoes. Prof. Rachel Galun did her research at the Israel Institute for Biological Research and at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, and lectured at the Tel Aviv University, Haifa Medical School, Techinion, Haifa and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; at the latter she became a Professor of Zoology and served as head of the department. Prof. Galun conducted seminars at the World Health Organization in Geneva, the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, and the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, where she also served as a member of the Board of Directors. She was a member of the Council for the International Congresses of Entomology (ICE) for both the ICE meetings in 1992 (Beijing, China) and 1966 (Firenze, Italy). Prof. Galun was one of the important founders of the Entomological Society of Israel. Many of her students and mentees are continuing to make significant contributions to entomology.
To cite: Mumcuoglu, K.Y. 2023. Rachel Galun (1926—2023). Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 9–19.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1026157
New data on the spider genus Steriphopus, with description of a new species from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae)
Full text linkThe Paleotropical spider genus Steriphopus Simon, 1887, previously known from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Seychelles, is recorded from India for the first time. In view of new data, the genus is rediagnosed and redescribed, and its diagnostic characters are reconsidered. A poorly known Seychelles species, S. lacertosus Simon, 1898, is redescribed from the conspecific female and depicted for the first time. The newly discovered Indian representative, S. benjamini n. sp., is diagnosed, depicted and described based on the holotype female and a few additional subadult specimens. The two species distinguish from each other, as well as from other congeners, in either their eye pattern or the structure of the endogyne.
To cite: Zonstein, S. & Marusik, Y. 2023. New data on the spider genus Steriphopus, with description of a new species from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 41–50.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1043597