The discovery of Leptophyes punctatissima in an urban park in Bucharest is consistent with the species’ known ecological plasticity, the finding suggesting that the bush-cricket may be expanding its range in the region.
Gabriela Andrei passionate malacologist and museologist dedicated her lifetime to the Museum and its collections, half a century, passed away on a Christmas Day, December 26, 2025. Mariana Gabriela Ecaterina Andrei (Hanganu) was born on December 18th, 1946. After graduating from "Iulia Hașdeu" High School, in 1965 she attended the Faculty of Biology (University of Bucharest), specializing in Biology – Zoology, until 1971. After graduation she worked for several years teaching biology, agriculture and chemistry in Tulcea County and in Bucharest. In 1976 she joins the museum collective and up until her retirement, in 2009 she will dedicate all her efforts to the development of the mollusk scientific collection, the "Arnold Lucien Montandon" Heteroptera collection, educating the public through conferences and organising exhibitions. After her return in 2013 and until her sudden passing in 2025 she worked tirelessly at identifying Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Gasteropoda, Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda, 18,846 specimens of 1,150 species and subspecies, belonging to 202 families, specimens from Romania and different parts of the world, both terrestrial and aquatic species (freshwater and marine). Gabriela stood out through her modesty, sincerity and fairness, with a special thirst for knowledge and respect for the personalities who left their mark on the history of the Museum and biological research. Condolences to the family!
The discovery of Leptophyes punctatissima in an urban park in Bucharest is consistent with the species’ known ecological plasticity, the finding suggesting that the bush-cricket may be expanding its range in the region.
This study reports the first records of Proctotrupes gravidator (Proctotrupidae), Dirhinus hesperidum (Chalcididae) and Oodera formosa (Ooderidae) in Greece. The co-occurrence of O. formosa and Agrilus derasofasciatus (Buprestidae) suggests a potential host-parasitoid association, as well as a possible new plant association with grapevines. The currently observed geographic distribution of these species in Greece is discussed.
This study documents the first recorded predation on Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex) by the Blue-crested lizard (Calotes mystaceus) in Hong Kong, where it is an introduced species. An adult female lizard was observed ingesting a nestling of Zosterops simplex in a peri-urban parkland. This observation indicates that this medium to large-sized Calotes species exhibits opportunistic feeding behaviour, suggesting a broader diet compared to the only native, smaller agamid congener, the Changeable lizard C. wangi. The potential negative impacts of this alien species on native biota are also discussed.
The eupelmid wasp, Eupelmus (Eupelmus) curvator Yang, 1996 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), is newly recorded from Japan. The hitherto unknown male of the species is described for the first time. Tenodera angustipennis Saussure, 1869 (Mantodea: Mantidae) is newly recorded as a host, the species being an egg parasitoid inside the ootheca (egg case). Eupelmus (Eupelmus) curvator is also confirmed as the fifth species of Eupelmus which is a parasitoid within mantis oothecae. This study was initiated by a series of posts on social media, exemplifying the recent trend of utilizing social media to aid in biodiversity research.
This paper presents a faunistic study on 21 large carrion and burying beetle species/subspecies for Romania (13 belonging to Silphini and eight to Nicrophorini). The treatment for each species/subspecies consists of Romanian localities and temporal distribution of the records based on the Grigore Antipa Museum collections. The Romanian bibliography of silphids is reviewed and analysed. The distribution maps are given for the first time for all the species/subspecies. Silpha (Phosphuga) atrata atrata, Silpha (Silpha) carinata, S. (S.) obscura obscura and Nicrophorus vespilloides are the species/subspecies with the most data.
We present a new museum record of Plagiognathops microlepis in Romania, an undated specimen from the fish ponds at Nucet, where this species was introduced from China, likely in 1959, when a massive import of farmed fishes from China occurred.
The Japanese maple leafhopper Japananus hyalinus is an invasive, phloem feeding true bug species of maples (Acer sp.). Originally native to eastern Asia, J. hyalinus has rapidly spread to North America, Europe and Australia with the international trade of ornamental maples. Since 1961, when it was detected for the first time in Austria, the Japanese maple leafhopper has expanded to neighboring central European countries. In 2024, it was detected for the first time in Greece infesting field maples (Acer campestre) planted in urban areas of two closely related tows namely, Diavata and Nea Magnisia (Central Macedonia, Greece). Species identification was based both on morphological traits and molecular (mtDNA) markers. Given the fact that J. hyalinus has been occasionally observed infesting grapevines, and considering the capacity of closely-related leafhopper species to transmit phytoplasmas, it is evident that further research is warranted to assess the exact potential impact of this species on Greek viticulture.
Gabriela Andrei passionate malacologist and museologist dedicated her lifetime to the Museum and its collections, half a century, passed away on a Christmas Day, December 26, 2025.Mariana Gabriela Ecaterina Andrei (Hanganu) was born on December 18th, 1946. After graduating from "Iulia Hașdeu" High School, in 1965 she attended the Faculty of Biology (University of Bucharest), specializing in Biology – Zoology, until 1971. After graduation she worked for several years teaching biology, agriculture and chemistry in Tulcea County and in Bucharest. In 1976 she joins the museum collective and up until her retirement, in 2009 she will dedicate all her efforts to the development of the mollusk scientific collection, the "Arnold Lucien Montandon" Heteroptera collection, educating the public through conferences and organising exhibitions. After her return in 2013 and until her sudden passing in 2025 she worked tirelessly at identifying Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Gasteropoda, Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda, 18,846 specimens of 1,150 species and subspecies, belonging to 202 families, specimens from Romania and different parts of the world, both terrestrial and aquatic species (freshwater and marine).Gabriela stood out through her modesty, sincerity and fairness, with a special thirst for knowledge and respect for the personalities who left their mark on the history of the Museum and biological research.Condolences to the family!
Based on a specimen collected in the mid-19th century, the first documented record of Saptha divitiosa from the Nicobar Islands is given. This record extends and reshapes the known western limit of this species’ distribution range. Image of the specimen, as well as brief considerations on the known distribution of this species are provided. The specimen also holds a certain historical value, being collected during the first “Galathea” expedition (1845–1847).
Sphecidae sensu lato currently includes more than 10,000 species of which 34 belong to the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801. In Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, three out of eight species of Sceliphron are alien to the region, including the Asian S. curvatum (Smith, 1870) and S. deforme (Smith, 1856) as well as the Nearctic S. caementarium (Drury, 1773). Up-to-date, only three species of Sceliphron have been reported for Cyprus, S. destillatorium, S. madraspatanum tubifex and S. spirifex, being native to the island. In this publication, S. curvatum is reported for the first time as a new alien mud-dauber to the island. Specimens were first observed in 2020 at Xyliatos (Nicosia) and reared from nests collected in 2023 upon annual surveys. In addition, nests of both S. curvatum and S. spirifex co-existing at the site were opened providing preliminary data on spider prey. A literature investigation compared with the national list of spiders in Cyprus provides an insight into potential spider prey while a dichotomous identification key, including alien S. caementarium and S. deforme yet to be reported from the island, is provided. The number of Sceliphron species known from Cyprus is raised to four. More research is necessary to elucidate the biotic interactions of Sceliphron in Cyprus, the invasiveness and the further spread of S. curvatum on the island.
A newly discovered species of soldier beetle, Cantharis (s. str.) sesermanae sp. nov., has been identified from the Sarmatian (around 10.5 mya, Late Miocene) deposits located near Vlădiceni, Iaşi County, Romania. This discovery represents a notable addition to the fossil record, as it is the second species from the family Cantharidae to be described from this particular geological formation. Significantly, it also is the first documented fossil species of the genus Cantharis in Romania, highlighting the country’s exceptional contribution to the study of ancient biodiversity. This finding provides valuable insights into the biodiversity of Cantharidae during the Miocene. The identification of Cantharis (s. str.) sesermanae sp. nov. underscores the paleontological importance of the Vlădiceni deposits as a key site for understanding the faunal composition and environmental conditions of the Miocene period. Further research on this and other fossil specimens from the site may offer deeper perspectives on the evolutionary trajectories of Cantharidae and their role within Miocene ecosystems.
Kleptoparasitism is a widely observed feeding strategy across various animal taxa. In snakes it is well documented in captivity, but rarely reported in the wild. This observation is the first of its kind in Nicaragua. This behavior may be more common in wild snake populations than previously thought.
Malacosoma franconica ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae) is reported for the first time in Romania based on a male specimen found in the south-west of the country, on the shore of the Danube, very close to the border with Serbia. DNA barcoding data confirms the morphology-based identification of the specimen and shows that it is genetically similar to other conspecifics from southern and central Europe. An overview of the species’ distribution in Serbia and Bulgaria shows that, although the species has a fragmented range and very few records from those areas, its presence in Romania is not completely unexpected given the proximity of records from the above-mentioned countries. The sandy grassland where the Romanian specimen was found corresponds well to the preferred habitat of M. franconica. This site, as well as other potentially suitable areas in Romania, deserve further research to assess the distribution and conservation status of this local, often threatened, moth.
Algeria hosts 55 Ramsar sites of international significance, serving as crucial habitats for a wide range of migratory, wintering, and breeding waterbird species. Despite this, research on the ectoparasites of aquatic avifauna in Algeria remains limited. This study aims to investigate the ectoparasite diversity infesting the Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis Pallas, 1764) and the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus Linnaeus, 1758) in northeastern Algeria. To do so, we examined grebes of both species at Lake Tonga between 2022 and 2023.A total of 8,057 ectoparasites were collected, 24 of which belonged to Phthiraptera and 8,033 to Acari. Two lice species were identified: Aquanirmus podicipis Denny, 1842, belonging to the suborder Ischnocera, infesting the Great Crested Grebe and Pseudomenopon dolium Rudow, 1869, from the suborder Amblycera, infesting the Little Grebe. As for Acari, we identified two mite species belonging to the suborder Astigmata (Pterolichoidea; Ptiloxenidae): Ptiloxenus major Mégnin & Trouessart, 1884, and Ptiloxenus colymbi Canestrini, 1878 the latter of which had not been reported since its original description. This study reports a new host-parasite association in the global mite fauna (Great Crested Grebe - Ptiloxenus colymbi Canestrini, 1878). All the identified ectoparasite species are reported for the first time in Algeria.Feather mite infestation did not differ significantly between breeding and wintering seasons and showed only a weak correlation with host morphometric parameters. These findings suggest that neither season nor body size strongly influence feather mite dynamics in the studied grebes, while still providing valuable insights into their host–parasite relationships.
We herein report the first record of two bush-cricket species, Poecilimon affinis and Isophya modesta, from Vrancea Mountains in the Eastern Carpathians, documented during our regular fieldwork conducted in the period 2013–2014. For P. affinis, Vrancea Mountains represent the new easternmost location in its Carpathian distribution range, extending approximately 60 km northeast from the previously known eastern limit, in Ciucaș Mountains. The discovery of I. modesta in montane habitats near Soveja is particularly significant, as this area is geographically isolated from other known populations and may represent an important biogeographical link between the Transylvanian and the Wallachian and Dobrogean populations.
This study documents the first records of three rare spider species from the Republic of Moldova: Liocranoeca spasskyi Ponomarev, 2007 (Liocranidae), Marinarozelotes manytchensis (Ponomarev & Tsvetkov, 2006) (Gnaphosidae), and Oecobius rhodiensis Kritscher, 1966 (Oecobiidae). Specimens were collected in Chisinau during 2023–2024 through manual sampling and pitfall trapping at three sites. The findings substantially extend the known distribution ranges of the species. The record of O. rhodiensis represents the first national record of the family Oecobiidae in Moldova. Ecological data, including microhabitat descriptions and meteorological parameters, are provided for each site. Records of mature specimens also extend the known phenological periods for these species. The results contribute to the faunistic knowledge of the region and highlight Moldova’s potential as a biogeographic corridor for Eastern European spider fauna.
This paper presents the recent results of the fish faunal study carried out in the lower course of the Cerna River, between the confluence with its main tributary (Belareca River), and until its discharge into the Danube. The study was carried out between 2020–2024 and refers to four sampling stations. Nineteen fish species were identified, besides the first occurrence of Cobitis elongata – the Balkan loach. The first record of this species in Cerna River is an important discovery as long as the previous data, including fish surveys in the studied area, do not mention the species in this river system.
This study explores the use of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) to assess the hunting pressure on the vulnerable Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) population wintering in Romania. The Red-breasted Goose is a long-distance migrant whose numbers have been declining, with south eastern Romania serving as a significant wintering area. Despite restrictions on hunting, the species remains vulnerable to accidental shooting and gunshot disturbances targeting Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), a legal quarry species that coexists in mixed flocks with the Red-breasted Goose. This research employed AudioMoth acoustic devices at three Natura 2000 sites during two winter seasons (2018–2020). The devices recorded over 5900 hours of sound data, detecting 2530 gunshots across 220 days. Results showed that the hunting pressure was highest at Balta Albă Lake, where 69% of study days recorded gunshots. The findings highlight that PAM is a cost-effective method for monitoring hunting activity, with potential applications for enforcing conservation measures and preventing poaching. The study concludes with recommendations for improving field data collection, data analysis, and implementing stronger conservation measures, such as hunting bans within critical areas for the Red-breasted Goose.
