Cleigastra puberula (Becker, 1894) is recorded as new to Norway based on a single male collected in a Malaise trap in Vegårshei, Agder. This is the 79th species of Scathophagidae to be recorded from mainland Norway.
The family Brachychthoniidae was established by the Norwegian entomologist, Sig Thor. Studies on the Norwegian Brachychthoniidae started nearly 100 years ago in Svalbard where Thor found two species, including one new to science. Nowadays, 32 species and seven genera of Brachychthoniidae are known in Norway. One species, Brachychthonius laetepictus Berlese, 1910 has been considered species inquirenda and its taxonomic status needs to be clarified. Five species new to Norway are reported herein, including the smallest oribatid mite known from Norway, Sellnickochthonius cricoides (Weis-Fogh, 1948), the adults of which are only 135–165 µm long, and other species found during projects from the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative [Brachychthonius impressus Moritz, 1976, Liochthonius evansi (Forsslund, 1958), S. honestus (Moritz, 1976)] and at the University Museum of Bergen [S. rostratus (Jacot, 1936)]; their distribution and ecology are presented. Based on the lists of Brachychthoniidae from Sweden and Finland, which include ten species and two genera unknown in Norway, we can expect more species of this family in Norway, but sampling from new areas and habitats is necessary.
Ctenolepisma longicaudatum (Escherich, 1905) (Zygentoma, Lepismatidae) is an indoor nuisance and a potential threat to cultural heritage objects. The sustained effect of insecticidal bait application was investigated by collecting old and potentially degraded bait from previously conducted pest control experiments. The collected bait was compared with fresh bait in no-choice laboratory tests. The different insecticidal bait treatments decimated C. longicaudatum populations significantly with no difference between 43-month-old and fresh bait. Across all different levels of degradation 79–97% of the individuals died within 18 days. The study documents a sustained effect of bait and should direct pest control technicians towards a single bait application when managing C. longicaudatum populations. This will reduce the amount of bait used and the number of man-hours needed to decimate or eradicate a local population. The knowledge generated in this study may therefore directly contribute to a reduction of human exposure to harmful pesticidal substances in the indoor environment.
A total of nine species of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera) are reported from Norway for the first time; Aphelopus orphanidesi Olmi, 1994, Anteon pinetellum de Rond, 1998, Anteon reticulatum Kieffer, 1905, Lonchodryinus woodi Olmi, 1998, Gonatopus horvathi Kieffer, 1906, Gonatopus formicarius Ljungh, 1810, Gonatopus pallidus (Ceballos, 1927), Gonatopus distinguendus Kieffer, 1905 and Haplogonatopus oratorius (Westwood, 1833). The unknown female of Lonchodryinus woodi Olmi, 1998 is described based on a specimen from Norway. New records of Anteon claricolle Kieffer, 1906 from Norway are reported. Remarks on geographical range and host use of all species are given.
There has been considerable confusion regarding the genus Pulvinaria Targioni-Tozzett, 1866, but recent studies have helped clarify some of these issues and have, to some extent, restored nomenclatural stability. Recently, two species of the genus were reported as new to Norway, one of which was also new to science. In this paper, another species, Pulvinaria regalis Canard, 1968, is reported as new to Norway. Additionally, the validity and distribution of Pulvinaria species recorded from Norway are discussed.
The water mite fauna inhabiting calcareous water bodies in Southeastern, Central, and Northern Norway was surveyed through the collection of 4334 specimens across 110 localities. Morphological identification combined with DNA barcoding revealed a total of 144 species, 132 of which were assigned Linnean names. Analysis of DNA barcodes uncovered 11 previously unrecorded taxa, some of which may represent species new to science. These lineages warrant further study to clarify their taxonomic status and ecological relationships. The study also explores a potential affinity of water mite assemblages for habitats with elevated calcium concentrations, with particular attention to the 19 species, 14 of them formally named, documented here as new records for Norway.
The weevil Coniocleonus zherichini Ter-Minassian & Korotyaev 1977 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Lixinae) is recorded new to Europe at two sites in northern Norway. Previously the species has been found at a few sites in northern Russia, as well as from Alaska (fossil records) and Canada. Field observations as well as DNA-analyses of gut content reveal that the host plant for the larvae and adults is Dryas octopetala L. The unknown larva of the species was found together with adults among mats of D. octopetala. The new records indicate that C. zherichini has a Holarctic distribution and the present records may represent relicts from early Holocene.
The following four species of Hymenoptera are reported for the first time from Norway: Schizoprymnus collaris (Thomson, 1874) (Braconidae, Brachistinae), Streblocera longiscapha Westwood, 1882 (Braconidae, Euphorinae), Ademon decrescens (Nees, 1811) (Braconidae, Opiinae) and Phrudus badensis Hilpert, 1987 (Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae). Their biology and distribution are briefly discussed.
Hygrobates norvegicus (Thor, 1897), the type species of the subgenus Rivobates Thor, 1897 is redescribed, based on the syntypes harboured at the Museum of Natural History in Oslo and fresh material recently collected from various parts of Norway. The species is defined considering its morphological variability range and molecular data (CO1 sequences), bibliographical data published during the past 125 years are discussed. The synonymy of Hygrobates polyporus Piersig, 1898 With H. norvegicus is confirmed and H. norvegicus imminutus Maglio, 1909 is regarded a nomen dubium.
Records for 25 species of Tipulidae (Diptera) are presented, collected during the period 2016–2024 mainly from Grimstad (Aust-Agder), Nesodden (Akershus) and Oslo (Oslo). Tipula (Lunatipula) peliostigma Schummel, 1833, is recorded for the first time in Norway at Nesodden (AK). The second record in Norway of Tipula (Lunatipula) cava Riedel, 1913, is reported from Grimstad (AAY). Tipula (Pterelachisus) pabulina Meigen, 1818 is also recorded new in the Strand region AAY.
Dacnusini and Dapsilartha Förster, 1862 genus-group wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) attack phytophagous Diptera, especially leaf miners. The group has been little studied in Norway and a critical review of the literature finds evidence for only 13 + 2 (Dacnusini + Dapsilarthragroup) species recorded in the country. This includes three species of Coelinidea Viereck, 1913 whose identities cannot be confirmed at present in the absence of a 20th or 21st century revision. DNA barcode sequences are now available in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) for 1155 specimens collected in Norway. Based on genetic and morphological study of these wasps a further 47 + 3 species are added to the Norwegian list. Dacnusa nipponica Takada, 1977 is noted from Europe for the first time and a third specimen of Coloneurella lomnickii Niezabitowski, 1910 is recorded (the sequence of which has revealed the presence of the genus Coloneurella van Achterberg, 1976 in North America). Wasps in a further 23 sequence clusters, where it has not been possible to assign names, are discussed. These include several known undescribed species, likely new species to science, and wasps where further research is needed to establish their identity (or in a few cases of singletons to exclude sequencing or other errors). One new synonym is established: Bracon pygmeator Zetterstedt, 1838 syn. n. = Synelix semirugosa Haliday, 1839. Four times the 60 + 5 species of Dacnusini + Dapsilarthra-group species now recorded from Norway occur in the British Isles strongly suggesting that there are many more species yet to be discovered.
Paramormia ustulata (Walker, 1856) is recorded from Shetland for the first time and a revised checklist of the Shetland Psychodidae is given. The Psychodidae fauna of Shetland is briefly compared With that of mainland Britain, Norway and the Faroe Islands.
The yellow-faced bee Hylaeus signatus (Panzer, 1798) is reported from Norway. Five males and two females were sweep-netted in the Botanical Garden of Oslo [AK] 9 July 2024. The first record in Sweden was from the Botanical Garden in Stockholm in 1963. There are now records present from Skåne north to Uppsala (Uppland) and Krylbo (Dalarna), and the northwesternmost from Åmål (Vastergötland) around 146 km in straight line from Oslo. In Denmark H. signatus is reported from Svendborg at Funen (Fyn) 1918 and the Botanical Garden of Copenhagen (North East Zealand) in 2006 and 2008. There is a single record from Finland from the Botanical Garden of Helsinki (Nylandia) 1958. In Northern Europe, it is strictly associated with Reseda L. (Resedaceae Martinov), which is the only flower where the females gather pollen. All the Norwegian specimens were netted when visiting flowers of Reseda luteola L. The genus Reseda is represented in Norway with four non-native species, and at least two of them seem well established (i.e. R. luteola L. and R. lutea L.). H. signatus may have a predominantly rural distribution in Northern Europe where Reseda is found. These may be gardens, particularly botanical gardens, roadsides, ruderate areas, beaches, limestone areas or other abandoned places where Reseda has established. It is assumed that H. signatus has established itself naturally in Norway from Swedish populations but may have been present in a longer period. H. signatus is the 13th Hylaeus species in Norway, and with this addition the list of Norwegian bees (Apoidea, Apiformes) counts a total of 213 species.
The subfamily Xoridinae is a relatively small and rare group within the species rich family of Ichneumonidae. Xorides indicatorius (Latreille, 1906) is recorded from two hot-spot locations in southern Norway. A total of 12 species of Xorides are currently recorded from Norway.
The early primary succession on a moraine near a melting glacier in southern Norway was analysed for abiotic and biotic driving forces, and for meaningful division into phases. Four successional phases were identified during the first eight years, during which a complex ecosystem developed. First year: Colonization of cold-adapted Collembola and establishment of terrestrial biofilm with diatom algae. One to three years: Rapid colonization of microarthropods and predatory macroarthropods. Three to six years: Pioneer mosses became common and fed several of the arthropods. Six to eight years: Ancient carbon released from the glacier was assimilated into the food web. In the succession process, abiotic and biotic driving forces acted together. Wind was a key force for the dispersal of several organisms into the virgin ground. Biofilm, mosses and ancient carbon were important driving forces as food sources. Certain cold-adapted arthropods, as well as arthropods preferring open ground, were forced to follow the retreating ice edge and gradually disappeared from the moraine. Good knowledge of the ecology of each species is necessary to understand early succession pattern.
A total of 40 individuals from the family Pteromalidae from the insect collection at Tromsø Museum has been studied. The material was collected by Tron Soot-Ryen at 16 localities, mainly from northern Norway in the years 1922 to 1948. The findings include records of 23 species from three subfamilies, including six species recorded for the first time in Norway: Halticoptera polita (Walker, 1834), Lamprotatus claviger Thomson, 1876, Pteromalus cardui (Erdös, 1953), Pteromalus chlorospilus (Walker, 1834), Stictomischus scaposus Thomson, 1876 and Tomicobia promulus (Walker, 1840). Information about the distribution and biology of each species is provided.
Additions and corrections to the Nordic-Baltic Checklist of Lepidoptera (Aarvik et al. 2017) are presented. 42 species new to the Nordic-Baltic area as well as numerous new country records are added.
We present five new records of soil oribatid mites, including four found in the Norwegian subarctic, in Finnmark: Chamobates voigtsi (Oudemans, 1902), Hermannia nodosa Michael, 1888, Kunstidamaeus nidicola (Willmann, 1936) and Oribatella sexdentata Berlese, 1916, and one found in Svalbard: Scutozetes arcticus Ermilov & Makarova, 2021. This paper presents details of these new records and comments on the known distribution and ecology of the species.
Macaria fusca (Thunberg, 1792) is a small geometer moth species that inhabits mountain heathland just above the timberline and occasionally warm forest openings in the mountains. Existing literature describes the species overwintering as a half-grown larva. However, in our observations, we detected an alternative overwintering strategy of M. fusca as a half-developed egg, contrary to the claims in the literature. Additionally, we briefly describe the rearing methods of the species and document what appears to be the first known outbreak of the species.
Holocentropus varangensis Mey, 1987 was described based on a single male collected by Wolfgang Tobias at Lake Gjøkvatn in Sør-Varanger municipality, northern Norway in 1969. It is very similar to H. insignis Martynov, 1924 and H. picicornis (Stephens, 1836), and the species can only be separated on relatively small differences in the male genitalia. The holotype of H. varangensis is the only specimen known. The species has never been found again neither in northern Norway, nor in neighboring countries. Holocentropus insignis and H. picicornis, on the other hand, are common and widespread in the northernmost parts of Fennoscandia. Based on this fact, and on detailed comparison of the male genitalia of all three taxa, we regard the holotype of H. varangensis as a hybrid specimen between H. insignis and H. picicornis. Thus H. varangensis is a name not valid under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
