125,197 research outputs found
The Kateretidae and Nitidulidae of the Maltese Archipelago (Coleoptera)
No full textIn the present work, a total of 3 Kateretidae and 26 Nitidulidae are recorded from the Maltese Islands. Of these, 14 Nitidulidae (Epuraea luteola, Epuraea ocularis, Carpophilus bifenestratus, Carpophilus marginellus, Carpophilus quadrisignatus, Carpophilus dimidiatus, Carpophilus nepos, Urophorus humeralis, Urophorus rubripennis, Nitidula carnaria, Omosita discoidea, Meligethes rotundicollis, Meligethes ruficornis, Cybocephalus rufifrons rufifrons) and 1 Kateretidae (Brachypterus curtulus) represents new records for the Maltese Islands. Of these both autochthonous and accidentally introduced but established species are present. The earlier citation of Cybocephalus politus may be due to a misidentification. Three further new records of Nitidulidae, Carpophilus opacus, Brachypeplus deyrollei and Brachypeplus rubidus were collected alive on logs originating from Tropical Africa and intended for the timber industry. So far, there were no local records of establishment of any of these three species. All species were assigned to four faunistic groups. These include introduced but non-established species, cosmopolitan species, species with confined distributions and species with small distribution ranges. The complete absence of other species whose host-plants are locally available and which have typical Mediterranean distribution was highlighted. From a zoogeographical perspective the species assemblages of Kateretidae and Nitidulidae of Malta show strong affinities with those present in Italy.peer-reviewe
The Bostrichidae of the Maltese Islands (Coleoptera)
No full textThe Bostrichidae of the Maltese Islands are reviewed. Ten species are recorded with certainty from this Archipelago, of which 6 namely, Trogoxylon impressum (Comolli, 1837), Amphicerus bimaculatus (A.G. Olivier, 1790), Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse, 1884), Sinoxylon unidentatum (Fabricius, 1801), Xyloperthella picea (A.G. Olivier, 1790) and Apate monachus Fabricius, 1775 are recorded for the first time. Two of the mentioned species (H. aequalis and S. unidentatum) are alien and recorded only on the basis of single captures and the possible establishment of these species is discussed. Earlier records of Scobicia pustulata (Fabricius, 1801) from Malta are incorrect and should be attributed to S. chevrieri (A. Villa & J.B. Villa, 1835). A zoogeographical analysis and an updated checklist of the 12 species of Bostrichidae recorded from the Maltese Islands and neighbouring Sicilian islands (Pantelleria, Linosa and Lampedusa) are also provided.
Rhizopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) form granulipennis Lesne in Beeson & Bhatia, 1937 from Uttarakhand (northern India) was overlooked by almost all subsequent authors. Its history is summarized and the following new synonymy is established: Rhizopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) form granulipennis Lesne in Beeson & Bhatia, 1937 = Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792), syn. n.
Finally, records of Amphicerus bimaculatus from Azerbaijan, of Bostrichus capucinus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Jordan and Syria, of Scobicia chevrieri from Jordan and Italy, of Xyloperthella picea from Italy, and of Apate monachus from Corsica (France) and Italy, are also provided.peer-reviewe
On some arthropods associated with Ficus species (Moraceae) in the Maltese Islands
No full textAn account is given on the 39 arthropod species which were found on different Ficus trees in the Maltese Islands. Seventeen species represent new records for Malta including Anothopoda fici, Asetadiptacus emiliae, Astichus bachmaieri, Ecphylus caudatus, Empoasca alsiosa, Eupristina verticillata, Ficocyba ficaria, Gynaikothrips ficorum, Josephiella microcarpae, Philotrypesis caricae, Pleistodontes sp., Rhaphitelus maculats, Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae, Scobicia chevrieri, Silba adipata, Singhiella citrifolii and Zanchius breviceps. Anothopoda fici and Zanchius breviceps, also represent new records for the entire European territory. Of the 39 arthropods, 33 feed on Ficus trees, whereas the rest are either parasitoids or predators of some of these plant feeders. The 33 species which use Ficus as their host-plant spend most of their development on and utilise the aforementioned trees as their main source of food, at least during their larval development.peer-reviewe
Fungal and fungal-like plant pathogens of the Maltese Islands
No full textThe paper provides updated lists of plant pathogenic species belonging to the kingdoms Protozoa, Chromista and Fungi (one, 21, and 211 species entries, respectively) recorded in Malta. It is intended primarily for the use of plant pathologists and authorities involved in plant protection and quarantine issues. It is based on published papers and unpublished reports of several authors and on our original data. The latter were based on inspections in the field and at the Maltese fruit and vegetable market, on surveys requested by EC and on samples brought by farmers at the Għammieri, Marsa, laboratories of the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment (MRAE). They include records or more than 30 species new for Malta and several new host and new location records. Major diseases observed during 2004-2006 include Verticillium wilt of olive, late blight of potato and tomato, powdery mildew on several hosts, crown and root rot (Forl) of tomato, Sclerotinia stem rot of vegetables, grey mould of several crops, leaf mould of tomato. Most of the pathogenic species reported at the beginning of the last century are still present. Several species, including Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea, Colletotrichum acutatum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, probably have been introduced recently. Intensified plant trade, due to world trends and the accession of Malta into the EU, increases this risk and requires consolidating the national quarantine service and extending monitoring of the territory. The incidence and severity of some diseases could be traced back to inappropriate cultural practices or unsuitable seed or plant material. MRAE and private organisations have a key role to play in improving this situationpeer-reviewe
Paurocephala boxi Mifsud & Burckhardt 2002, sp. n.
No full text<i>Paurocephala boxi</i> sp. n. <p>(gures 6C, H, 8A, C, E, M)</p> <p> <i>Description.</i> Species of the <i>gossypii</i> type.</p> <p>Adult: head yellow; vertex covered by inconspicuous setae. Clypeus yellow to brown. Antenna yellow, segments 9 and 10 brown; segment 9 without a long basal seta. Thorax entirely yellow and covered by inconspicuous setae dorsally. Metascutellar horn small, blunt apically. Forewing including pterostigma transparent; veins yellow, apically light brown to forewing margin, central part of vein A brown. Forewing with inconspicuous setae on veins (vein Rs with 14–16 setae); Rs vein marginally curved in apical third. Surface spinules present in all cells of forewing; radular spinules lacking. Legs yellow, tarsal segments light brown. Meracanthus small, curved laterally, rounded apically. Abdomen including genitalia, yellow. Male paramere straight posteriorly, widest in basal third, tapering towards apex and rounded apically, few short setae posteriorly visible from lateral view; inner surface with one or two peg-like setae at basal third. Measurements and ratios as in table 2A–C.</p> <p>Fifth instar larva: unknown.</p> <p> <i>Host plants</i>. Adults were collected on <i>Sterculia tragacantha</i> Lindl. (Sterculiaceae) which could be the host plant.</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Ghana.</p> <p> <i>Material examined</i>. HOLOTYPE, <b>Ghana</b>: Tafo, December 1942, <i>Sterculia tragacantha</i> (H. E. Box) (BMNH). Dry mounted.</p> <p> PARATYPES. <b>Ghana</b>: 2, 2, same data as holotype (BMNH, NHMB). Dry and slide mounted.</p> <p> <i>Comments</i>. Similar to <i>P. medleri</i> sp. n. from which it is easily distinguished by the shape of the male paramere.</p>Published as part of <i>Mifsud, D. & Burckhardt, D., 2002, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea), pp. 1887-1986 in Journal of Natural History 36 (16)</i> on pages 1949-1950, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110048909, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5299071">http://zenodo.org/record/5299071</a>
Paurocephala brendelli Mifsud & Burckhardt 2002, sp. n.
No full text<i>Paurocephala brendelli</i> sp. n. <p>(gures 9E, 11B, D, E, G, I)</p> <p> <i>Description</i>. Species of the <i>kleinho ae</i> type.</p> <p>Adult: head orange, sides along coronal suture and area around median ocellus white; vertex covered by short setae. Clypeus orange. Antenna yellow to orange, segments 9 and 10 brown; segment 9 without a long basal seta. Thorax orange and covered by inconspicuous setae dorsally, yellow to orange laterally and ventrally. Metascutellar horn large, pointed apically. Forewing yellow to orange with small rounded transparent areas; veins yellow, apically brown to forewing margin; pterostigma white, brown basally and apically. Forewing with short setae on veins (vein Rs with 28–35 setae); Rs vein marginally curved basally and in distal quarter. Surface spinules present in all cells of forewing; radular spinules lacking. Legs including tarsal segments, yellow to orange. Meracanthus short, straight laterally, rounded apically. Abdomen including genitalia, orange to brown. Male paramere rounded, widest at apical two-thirds, few short setae posteriorly visible from lateral view. Measurements and ratios as in table 2A–C.</p> <p>Fifth instar larva: unknown.</p> <p> <i>Host plants</i>. Unknown.</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Malaysia (Malaysian Peninsula).</p> <p> <i>Material examined</i>. HOLOTYPE, <b>Malaysia</b>: Malaya, Negeri Sembilan, Pasoh Forest Reserve, 21 September 1994 (M. J. D. Brendell) (BMNH). Dry mounted.</p> <p> PARATYPES. <b>Malaysia</b>: 10, 3, same data as holotype (BMNH, NHMB). Dry and slide mounted.</p> <p> <i>Comments</i>. <i>P. brendelli</i> sp. n. is similar to <i>P. kleinho ae</i> Uichanco from which it diVers in the 10-segmented antennae.</p>Published as part of <i>Mifsud, D. & Burckhardt, D., 2002, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea), pp. 1887-1986 in Journal of Natural History 36 (16)</i> on page 1950, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110048909, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5299071">http://zenodo.org/record/5299071</a>
Paurocephala lienhardi Mifsud & Burckhardt 2002, sp. n.
No full text<i>Paurocephala lienhardi</i> sp. n. <p>(gures 9D, 11A, C, F, H)</p> <p> <i>Description</i>. Species of the <i>gossypii</i> type.</p> <p>Adult: head white, dark brown anteriorly; vertex covered by long setae. Clypeus yellow. Antenna yellow; segment 9 without a long basal setae. Thorax brown and covered by long setae dorsally, yellow to brown laterally and ventrally. Metascutellar horn small, pointed apically. Forewing transparent; veins light yellow, vein A brown basally; basal half of pterostigma dark brown. Forewing with short setae on veins (vein Rs with 15–17 setae); Rs vein strongly curved in apical third. Surface spinules sparse, absent from cell c1 sc; radular spinules lacking. Legs including tarsal segments, yellow to white, distal third of metafemur brown. Meracanthus short, straight laterally, rounded apically. Abdomen, including genitalia, yellow to brown. Male paramere short, widest apically, few short setae posteriorly visible from lateral view. Measurements and ratios as in table 2A–C.</p> <p>Fifth instar larva: unknown.</p> <p> <i>Host plants</i>. Unknown.</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Malaysia (Sabah).</p> <p> <i>Material examined</i>. HOLOTYPE and PARATYPE, <b>Malaysia</b>: Sabah, Kinabalu National Park, 1750–1850 m, 20 March 1983 (C. Lienhard) (MHNG). Slide mounted.</p> <p> <i>Comments</i>. Similar to <i>P. insolita</i> sp. n. from which it diVers in the presence of bi d setae on the antenna and in the shape of the male paramere.</p>Published as part of <i>Mifsud, D. & Burckhardt, D., 2002, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea), pp. 1887-1986 in Journal of Natural History 36 (16)</i> on page 1959, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110048909, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5299071">http://zenodo.org/record/5299071</a>
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Paurocephala distincta Mifsud & Burckhardt 2002, sp. n.
No full text<i>Paurocephala distincta</i> sp. n. <p>(gures 17F, 18F, 19F, O, 20F)</p> <p> <i>Description.</i> Species of the <i>psylloptera</i> type.</p> <p>Adult: head brown, yellow towards lateral ocellus and along coronal suture; vertex covered by inconspicuous setae. Clypeus yellow. Antenna brown, segments 1–3 yellow; segment 9 with a long seta in basal quarter. Thorax brown with yellow markings along body axis and covered by short setae dorsally, yellow to brown laterally and ventrally. Metascutellar horn small, pointed apically and directed posteriorly. Forewing transparent to white; veins light brown; pterostigma white. Forewing with inconspicuous setae on veins (vein Rs with 9–13 setae); Rs vein straight. Surface spinules present in all cells of forewing; radular spinules present in m2, reduced in cu1. Legs yellow to brown, tarsal segments dark brown. Meracanthus long, straight laterally, pointed apically. Abdomen, including genitalia, yellow, tergites brown. Male paramere widest basally, tapering towards apex, few long setae posteriorly visible from lateral view; inner surface with one hook apically, one or two stout setae at base. Measurements and ratios as in table 2A–C.</p> <p>Fifth instar larva: unknown.</p> <p> <i>Host plants</i>. Adults were collected on <i>Ficus</i> sp. (Moraceae) which could be the host.</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. India and Sri Lanka.</p> <p> <i>Material examined</i>. HOLOTYPE, <b>India</b>: Karnataka, Mudigere, 5 January 1989, <i>Ficus</i> sp. (C. Parvathi) (BMNH). Dry mounted.</p> <p> PARATYPES. <b>India</b>: 1, 2, same data as holotype. <b>Sri Lanka</b>: 1, 1961/62 (E. Judenko) (BMNH, NHMB). Dry and slide mounted.</p> <p> <i>Comments</i>. <i>P. distincta</i> sp. n. is similar to <i>P. psylloptera</i> Crawford from which it diVers in the shape of the pterostigma.</p>Published as part of <i>Mifsud, D. & Burckhardt, D., 2002, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea), pp. 1887-1986 in Journal of Natural History 36 (16)</i> on pages 1954-1955, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110048909, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5299071">http://zenodo.org/record/5299071</a>
Paurocephala sinuata Mifsud & Burckhardt 2002, sp. n.
No full text<i>Paurocephala sinuata</i> sp. n. <p>(gures 6B, G, 7B, E, H, K, 8K)</p> <p> <i>Description.</i> Species of the <i>gossypii</i> type.</p> <p>Adult: head and clypeus brown; vertex covered by inconspicuous setae. Antenna yellow, apical half of segments 4 and 6 and entire segments 8–10 brown; segment 9 without a long basal seta. Thorax brown and covered by inconspicuous setae dorsally, yellow to light brown laterally and ventrally. Metascutellar horn small, blunt apically. Forewing transparent to light yellow; veins yellow to light brown; pterostigma yellow. Forewing with inconspicuous setae on veins (vein Rs with 18–22 setae); Rs vein strongly curved in distal third. Surface spinules present in all cells of forewing except in c1 sc; radular spinules lacking. Legs including tarsal segments, yellow. Meracanthus short, almost straight laterally, rounded apically. Abdomen, including genitalia, yellow to light brown. Male paramere short, widest in basal third, rounded apically, few short setae posteriorly visible from lateral view; inner surface with ve or six peg-like setae situated between basal fth and distal third. Measurements and ratios as in table 2A–C.</p> <p>Fifth instar larva: unknown.</p> <p> <i>Host plants</i>. A series of adults were collected on <i>Cnestis ferruginea</i> Vahl ex DC. (Connaraceae).</p> <p> <i>Distribution</i>. Ghana and Nigeria.</p> <p> <i>Material examined</i>. HOLOTYPE, <b>Ghana</b>: Volta Region, Kpeve, March 1943, <i>Cnestis ferruginea</i> (H. E. Box) (BMNH). Dry mounted.</p> <p> PARATYPES. <b>Ghana</b>: 2, 2, same data as holotype. <b>Nigeria</b>: 1, Ife, 30 June 1970 (J. T. Medler); 1, same data but 10 July 1969; 1, same data but 29 December 1970; 3, same data but 30 June 1970; 1, same data but 10 February 1973; 3, same data but Umuahia, 10 April 1975; 2, same data but 8 and 11 April 1973 (BMNH, NHMB). Dry and slide mounted.</p> <p> <i>Comments</i>. <i>P. sinuata</i> sp. n. is close to <i>P. hollisi</i> sp. n. but diVers in the larger body dimensions and the number of peg-like setae on the inner face of the paramere.</p>Published as part of <i>Mifsud, D. & Burckhardt, D., 2002, Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Old World jumping plant-louse genus Paurocephala (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea), pp. 1887-1986 in Journal of Natural History 36 (16)</i> on pages 1974-1975, DOI: 10.1080/00222930110048909, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5299071">http://zenodo.org/record/5299071</a>
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