El declive de los polinizadores y la consecuente necesidad de realizar seguimiento de sus poblaciones implica tener un conocimiento óptimo de la distribución presente e histórica de las especies involucradas. En este contexto, las colecciones entomológicas adquieren un valor añadido. El desarrollo de una colección nacional de polinizadores de referencia es justamente el objetivo del proyecto INC-STEP, en el marco del cual se han realizado abundantes identificaciones de sírfidos eristalinos. De todas las identificaciones realizadas, solo se destaca una selección de aquellas consideradas relevantes por suponer novedades faunísticas en ciertos ámbitos geográficos o por la importancia taxonómica de los géneros a los que pertenecen. En total, se tratan 29 especies, de las cuales tres son primeras citas para España. Este trabajo confirma la importancia de las colecciones en el entendimiento de la distribución de los eristalinos y de los polinizadores en general, y recuerda que todavía queda mucha información por extraer en los especímenes de colección.
The tribe Eucerini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is well represented in the Iberian Peninsula, yet significant distributional gaps persist for several species. We revised 664 specimens of Eucerini preserved in the private collection of Luis Óscar Aguado Martín, documenting 46 species from Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. The study provides several regional first records and notable range extensions. The first confirmed Iberian records of Eucera (Eucera) curvitarsis Mocsáry, 1879 and Eucera (Eucera) dafnii Dorchin, 2019 represent remarkable westward extensions of their previously known European distributions. The presence of Eucera vulpes in northeastern Iberia is confirmed and its known distribution expanded. In addition, the examination of a specimen labelled as the holotype of Eucera (Synhalonia) asensioi Tkalců in litt. demonstrates that it corresponds to Eucera tricincta Erichson, 1835; the unpublished name is therefore unavailable and should be excluded from Iberian faunal lists. Our results highlight the importance of revising historical entomological collections under current taxonomic frameworks. Such collections represent valuable repositories of biodiversity data and continue to contribute significantly to the knowledge of Iberian bees. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/dq933w)
The Mediterranean coast hosts a high diversity of birds, with resident, wintering, and migratory species that coexist according to seasonal patterns. This study highlights the strategic role of urban green spaces in the conservation of avifauna, focusing on Montjuïc hill (Barcelona), which integrates natural habitats with ornamental and themed gardens. Between December 2023 and November 2024, over the course of 144 fieldwork days, 8,974 individuals of 75 bird species were recorded. Resident species predominated (32.00 %), followed by trans-Saharan migrants (28.00 %) and wintering species (24.00 %). Curruca melanocephala, Phylloscopus collybita, and Ficedula hypoleuca were the most abundant species within their respective groups. Species richness reached maximum values in spring and autumn, coinciding with the temporal overlap of migratory and wintering species. Natural areas, dominated by open habitats, concentrated more wintering and trans-Saharan migratory species. The phenological spectrum of some species indicates a regular use of Montjuïc as a stopover area during seasonal movements.
New distribution records of Andrena marginata Fabricius, 1777 and Andrena pellucens Pérez, 1895 are presented to improve knowledge of the subgenus Margandrena Warncke, 1968 in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. Data on floral preferences, flight periods, updated distribution maps, and intraspecific variation in coloration in both sexes are provided. Our results also confirm the parasitic relationship between Nomada argentata Herrich-Schäffer, 1839 and A. pellucens.
The structure of harvestmen communities sampled in the Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park (Alcoi, Alicante, Spain) and the Sierra de Aitana (Confrides, Alicante, Spain) was analysed across 12 different localities, primarily sampled using pitfall traps, between 2020 and 2022. A total of 847 harvestmen, belonging to 10 species, were collected. Odiellus levantinus, Nelima hispana, Phalangium minus, and Cosmobunus granarius, present in both areas, were the most frequent species, with the highest niche breadth values. O. levantinus was the most abundant species in the Sierra de Aitana and Homalenotus coriaceus in the Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park. All species exhibited stenochronous development. The parameters of Clench's function indicated efficient sampling, and the richness values offered by the different estimators were close to those observed in both areas. In the Sierra de Aitana, shrublands were the most diverse localities, with C. granarius and P. minus as indicator species; while in the Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park, herbaceous and shrubland localities within the sunlit side were the most diverse. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/obyxc1)
This study is the first attempt to inventory and evaluate the taxonomic identification of the Algerian myrmecofauna by integrating traditional morphology with molecular barcoding and phylogenetic approach. Sixty-one specimens of ants belonging to the family Formicidae, collected from different ecosystems in Algeria, were sequenced and barcoded using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COX1). The DNA barcodes newly generated from this study were compared and analyzed with COX1 homologs available in GenBank databases representing putative conspecific and congeneric relatives of the Algerian ant samples and several others to represent the Formicoid, Poneroid, and Leptanillinae diversity to serve as molecular barcode references and outgroups for phylogenetic analyses. The results confirmed the COX1 gene as an excellent molecular marker at the generic level. They allowed the unambiguous taxonomic assignment of the Algerian specimens surveyed to fourteen Formicoid genera belonging to the Myrmicinae, Formicinae, and Dolichoderinae subfamilies, with abundance of Crematogaster, Tapinoma, Cataglyphis, and Componotus representatives. Such an integrative approach not only provided molecular support to most morphology-based identification but also allowed suggestion of taxonomic assignment or reassignment of some incompletely determined specimens, in accordance with the latest taxonomic revisions (e.g., Plagiolepis schmitzii, Camponotus spissinodis). It also helped to circumscribe some cases which need further investigations to illuminate complex evolutionary relationships and to re-evaluate and refine the taxonomic value of the most relevant diagnostic characters. Moreover, these preliminary data support the previous detection of three additional non-native ants in Algeria. Altogether, these results demonstrate the significant advantages that can be derived from a comprehensive development of such integrative studies for faster and better knowledge and understanding of the myrmecofauna diversity of Africa conserving regional biodiversity. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15468/sjtjv2)
Long-spined sea urchin species (genus Diadema) are important to the ecology of coral-reef ecosystems. The objective of this paper is to inventory Diadema species occurring in the so far under-sampled Indo-Malay archipelago at the core of the tropical Indo-West Pacific ensemble and to produce point maps. Records of Diadema spp. were compiled from the literature and from the GBIF database. New records were obtained by visual censuses at 52 coastal locations across the Indo-Malay archipelago. Specimens were collected and their nucleotide sequences at the mitochondrial COI gene locus were produced. Photographs were taken, voucher specimens were deposited in scientific collections. Nucleotide sequences revealed three mitochondrial lineages in the Indo-Malay archipelago, which clustered with the D. paucispinum, D. savignyi and D. setosum-a lineages. The distinction between D. paucispinum and D. savignyi was possible only through COI barcoding. D. paucispinum was thus recorded for the first time in the Andaman Sea, in Makassar Strait and in the Banda Sea. D. savignyi was recorded for the first time in the Andaman Sea, in the Bali Sea, in the Flores Sea and on the Pacific shores of West Papua. We failed to sample D. clarki despite extensive reef surveys in Makassar Strait and in the Banda Sea, the two regions where this species had been reported previously. The present study provides the first comprehensive COI-based inventory of long-spined sea urchin species inhabiting the coral reef ecosystems of the Indo-Malay archipelago. This information is important to our understanding of the biogeography of Diadema sea urchin communities and it can be useful to their fisheries and conservation management in this region. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/weeuk1)
Què puc menjar abans que em mengin? Notes sobre la dieta de Phoxinus spp. en un llac d'alta muntanya (grup Monviso, nord-oest d'Itàlia) Els llacs d'alta muntanya no tenen peixos de manera natural i, per tant, són particularment vulnerables a la introducció de peixos no autòctons. A més dels salmònids, recentment s’han introduït piscards Phoxinus spp. en aquests ambients. Tot i que l'impacte de les introduccions de salmònids en la biodiversitat s'ha estudiat àmpliament, incloent-hi anàlisis de la seva dieta, la informació sobre l'impacte i la dieta dels peixos petits introduïts en aquests ambients continua sent escassa. Aquest estudi analitza el contingut estomacal dels piscards en un llac d'alta muntanya, demostrant com la seva dieta reflecteix la baixa diversitat de fauna aquàtica típica d'aquests ambients oligotròfics, així com la sobreexplotació de les comunitats naturals resultant de la presència no natural de peixos. Aquesta informació pot ser útil per comprendre millor les dinàmiques ecològiques complexes que sorgeixen quan s'introdueixen múltiples depredadors en ambients sensibles i únics com els llacs d'alta muntanya.
Nous registres d’oligoquets d’aigua dolça (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Criodrilidae, Naididae) del Marroc La fauna d’oligoquets d’aigua dolça del Marroc encara és poc coneguda. Estudis de camp recents al nord del Marroc han donat lloc al descobriment de Criodrilus lacuum Hoffmeister, 1845 i Ophidonais serpentina (Müller, 1774), proporcionant la primera evidència de la seva presència en ecosistemes d'aigua dolça del país. Estudis faunístics i hidrobiològics posteriors podrien donar lloc al descobriment d'aquestes espècies en altres llocs del Marroc i del nord d'Àfrica.
The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), is a significant pest of pine and cedar forests in Southern Europe and North Africa. This study aimed to assess pupal mortality of this pest on two host species, Cedrus atlantica and Pinus halepensis, in northern Algeria. A total of 1,382 mature larvae were collected in the field and allowed to pupate under laboratory conditions. Mortality caused by parasitism and entomopathogenic fungi was then assessed. Overall mortality ranged from 13.7 % to 31.1 %, with parasitism contributing 7.0 % - 11.9 % and fungal infections 2.7 % - 6.3 %. Three Diptera parasitoid species were identified: Exorista segregata (Rondani, 1859), Phryxe caudata (Rondani, 1859) (Diptera, Tachinidae), and Hemipenthes sp. (Diptera, Bombyliidae), the latter being recorded for the first time in Algeria. Exorista segregata was the most abundant species, accounting for nearly 65 % of emerging parasitoids. Additionally, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina, Zygomycetes) was identified, indicating potential for biological control despite its low incidence. Key words: Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Pupal mortality, Parasitoid, Entomopathogenic fungus, Biological control, Algeria
The global trade in parrots in recent years has led to the establishment of non-native conure populations outside their native range. In Italy, conures are poorly documented compared to other invasive parrot species. Here, we confirm the presence of a breeding population (N = 14 individuals) of white-eyed conures in Florence through a literature review and citizen science data screening. Furthermore, repeated sightings of flocks of blue-crowned conures suggest the potential breeding of this species in Rome. Misidentifications and confusion with more common invasive parrot species may obscure their true distribution, highlighting the need for systematic monitoring to assess their ecological impact and potential for expansion in urban environments.
The beetle Anoplotrupes stercorosus inhabits European forests, preferably in cool hardwood and mixed environments. Larvae are strictly coprophagous while adults exhibit a varied diet that includes dung, decaying organic matter, and fungi. In mountainous areas, they are present in advanced stages of carcass decomposition, highlighting their ecological relevance as a decomposer. In Navarra (Spain), a unique behavior is reported. It has been observed that A. stercorosus attacked slugs of the genus Arion, which are larger than the beetles, and subsequently nested beneath them. This finding provides new insight into the ecological role of A. stercorosus and expands knowledge about its diet and trophic plasticity. Key words: Dung beetle, Diet, Ecological plasticity, Palearctic, Iberian Peninsula
Dietary habits of the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat Mops plicatus in Cambodia The role of bats in regulating pest insect populations in agricultural ecosystems has recently emerged as a topic of global interest to farmers and conservationists. However, the diet of bats in Cambodia remains largely unexplored. We analysed faecal pellets of Mops plicatus to understand the role of this bat species in suppressing agricultural pests. Faecal pellets were collected, during the late wet and early dry seasons, from La Ang Reach Trop and Phnom Preah Kuhear Luong in Battambang and Kampot Provinces, respectively. Seven insect orders and Acari were identified in the diet of M. plicatus individuals. This bat species mainly consumed Hemiptera (Delphacidae) with 76.78 ± 30.35 % and Coleoptera with 13.02 ± 22.09 % of its diet across all regions and seasons. The less frequent orders were Hemiptera (Cicadellidae), Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Siphonaptera, and Acari. We found a significant difference in the diet of M. plicatus between seasons, and between both areas. The results suggest that M. plicatus plays a significant role in the predation of Delphacidae, contributing to the pest regulation in rice paddy fields and increasing rice production. Prioritising the conservation and management of M. plicatus and its habitats is critical for maintaining its ecosystem services and economic value. Key words: Pest insects, Paddy field, Bat conservation, Delphacidae, Cave bat, Limestone
The geographical location of Morocco provides an exceptionally biodiverse environment. This study aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding the biodiversity of beetles in the northwest of Morocco. We explored cork oak forests Quercus suber L. in Larache and the Gharb plain over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) and performed an inventory of beetles. We captured and identified 5,405 specimens belonging to 246 species and 39 families. Three trends were evident in this study: 1) the most diverse family was Tenebrionidae, a family with a distinct affinity to Mediterranean climates; 2) we found few sapro–xylophagous, xylophagous, and coprophagous beetles in the study; and 3) our findings indicate that the Larache cork oak forest plays a vital ecological role in the area as beetle biodiversity and functional groups were much higher in the forested sectors than in nearby agricultural areas.
Bio-acoustic study on the richness and abundance of bats in the Natural Interest Site Les Obagues del Corb In summer 2021, ultrasound recordings were carried out at 16 points in the Natural Interest Site (EIN) Les Obagues del Corb (Catalonia) in order to determine the composition of chiropteran communities in this protected natural space. We recorded a total of 11 species or phonic groups, with an average of 5.9 species per point and an average abundance of 20%. The most widespread species were the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Kulh's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii, both almost ubiquitous and locally abundant, followed at some distance by the Soprano pipistrelle/Schreiber's bent-winged bat phonic pair Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Miniopterus schreibersii and the serotine Eptesicus serotinus. The greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and the Bbrbastelle Barbastella barbastellus were also relatively well distributed although their abundance was lower. This work reveals the presence of a rich community of chiropterans in the Les Obagues del Corb, and indicates the need for studies and protection from possible impacts in the future.
Ecologia tròfica de Plagioscion magdalenae (Pisces, Sciaenidae) en un embassament neotropical de la conca baixa del riu Magdalena, a Colòmbia. Plagioscion magdalenae és una espècie endèmica de la conca del riu Magdalena, a Colòmbia, es troba en categoria de gairebé amenaçada, és una de les espècies que suporta la pesca artesanal al Baix Magdalena i es coneix poca cosa sobre el rol que desenvolupa i les relacions tròfiques que estableix en els ecosistemes aquàtics. Per tant, es van estudiar aspectes de l'ecologia tròfica de l'espècie, com ara la dieta, el nínxol tròfic, el període d'alimentació i el grau de robustesa a l'embassament El Guájaro, al departament de l'Atlàntic, a Colòmbia. Es van fer mostrejos mensuals de captura de peixos durant 10 mesos, entre l'abril de 2018 i el gener de 2019, amb l'objectiu de cobrir l'impuls d'inundació de la zona, i es van recol·lectar i examinar 211 exemplars. Per a analitzar les dades, es van fer servir el mètode numèric, el volumètric, la freqüència d'ocurrència, el coeficient de vacuïtat, l'índex d'importància alimentària, el factor de condició, l'amplitud del nínxol tròfic i l'anàlisi de solapament tròfic entre talles. Els nostres resultats indiquen que P. magdalenae és un depredador especialista de comportament carnívor amb tendència piscívora. El solapament tròfic entre les talles petites i grans es va observar per sota del 70 % de similitud, i la dieta incloïa invertebrats com ara Chironomidae, Campsurus sp. i Macrobrachium sp. pel que fa als exemplars juvenils (14,5-21,8 cm LE), i peixos com ara Caquetaia kraussii i Andinoacara latifrons i restes de peixos pel que fa a exemplars adults (29,2-36,5 cm LE). L'oferta de preses en el sistema era més baixa durant la temporada de sequera que durant la de pluges; tot i això, el factor de condició K va mostrar que l'espècie té un grau de robustesa elevat en els períodes secs, associat al fet que es prepara per reproduir-se quan el nivell de l'aigua puja per l'augment del cabal. Plagioscion magdalenae compleix el rol de depredador primari a l'embassament, i utilitza diversos recursos tròfics, que varien en funció de les diferències de mida corporal. Plagioscion magdalenae va mostrar estratègies adaptatives per a fer disminuir la competència intraespecífica per l'aliment i una relació amb la variació del nivell d'aigua de l'embassament, de manera que aconsegueix robustesa en períodes secs per a estar a punt per a la reproducció en períodes plujosos.
Entomological investigations in western Algeria have led to the first observation of the trap-jaw ant Anochetus ghilianii (Spinola, 1851) in the country. Five nests were found under stones in two agricultural orchards in the Hauts Plateaux of Meghila and Hammam Tires (Tissemsilt department). This finding marks the first record of the genus Anochetus in Algeria, increasing the number of ant genera known in the country to 35 and the number of species to 219. This species was so far only known from Morocco and Spain, and suspected to be introduced in the latter. Additionally, a list detailing the other ant species collected in the two orchards is provided. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/o3zxvj).
Populations of invasive species can have a negative impact on the natural environment and socioeconomic effects of artificial systems. The relationship of Corbicula fluminea with humans, together with the its great adaptive-reproductive capacity, make it one of the most expansive species of invasive bivalves worldwide. Here we report on the dispersion of C. fluminea, and based on genetic analysis we describe the presence and potentially negative effect of this species for the first time in an anthropic environment, an aquaculture facility in Ecuador.
Implementació de mètodes complementaris per a mostrejar ratpenats en un paisatge càrstic del centre–nord de Guatemala, a Centreamèrica És recomanable emprar mètodes complementaris per a mostrejar ratpenats amb l'objectiu de millorar els inventaris d’espècies. En aquest estudi implementem el mostreig directe i l'indirecte en coves, al riu principal i en diferents cobertures de vegetació forestal en un paisatge càrstic del centre–nord de Guatemala, i determinem l'eficiència i la complementarietat entre mètodes. Amb xarxes japoneses i un esforç de 2,670 m²h, vam capturar un total de 296 individus de 19 espècies; amb micròfons ultrasònics i un esforç de 71 hores d'enregistrament, vam obtenir 1.598 arxius efectius de 16 espècies/sonotips; i amb un parany d'arpa i un esforç de 79 hores d'operació, vam capturar 939 individus de 12 espècies. En total, vam registrar 34 espècies/sonotips. Pel que fa al percentatge de la riquesa d'espècies mostrejada, segons una extrapolació al doble de l'esforç de mostreig, va variar entre el 69,8 % i el 91,5 %, cosa que considerem satisfactòria. Els percentatges de complementarietat entre mètodes van resultar superiors al 70 %, i va ser notablement elevat el de xarxes japoneses i micròfons ultrasònics (91 %). Al país, els inventaris han resultat particularment incomplets, perquè estan esbiaixats a l'ús de xarxes japoneses i, per tant, a la captura de ratpenats de la família Phyllostomidae. Cal la capacitació i implementació de mètodes que no s'empren de manera extensiva, com ara la detecció acústica, per a millorar el coneixement sobre aquest grup taxonòmic i aportar informació fonamental per a les estratègies de conservació. Dades publicades a GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/3vcvof).
This study aimed to explore and evaluate the entomological biodiversity of the Maamora forest through a structural study of the coleopteran population, which contributes to the proper functioning of this ecosystem. It is an inventory at the level of the cork oak forest of Maamora that took place over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) using different types of traps and various sampling techniques. This inventory identified 17 orders of Arthropods. The order of Coleoptera is represented by 256 species, belonging to 42 families, subdivided into eight functional groups according to their diets. The calculated ecological indices confirm the significant diversity of the environment, with the Shannon index being greater than 4 and the Simpson index not exceeding 0.16. These results have complemented and updated the work of other studies conducted in the region and will fill the gap in information on beetles in the cork oak forests of Morocco. The presence of such insect biodiversity in the Maamora cork oak forest is an indicator of the important heritage value of the environment, which calls on managers and decision-makers to protect it from the threats that weigh on this environment. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/0z8ret)
