Herein we present the first record of a very rare species of parasitoid wasp, Mantibaria seefelderiana, in Croatia, with the basic elements of its unusual biology. The most precise categorization of its trophic interaction would be pseudoparasitoid, because the larva of this species feeds on a larger number of mantis embryos in the ootheca in a way that is more representative of predatory diet and behavior, without any regulation by its host’s behavior. Additionally, adult females of this pseudoparasitoid live as ectoparasites attached to the body of female mantises, where they feed on hemolymph. The combination of an unusual predatory and parasitic lifestyle is extremely atypical for the predominantly parasitoid character of most other members of the family Scelionidae.
Acasis appensata (Eversmann, 1842) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is reported in Serbia for the first time. The status on the Balkan Peninsula of the two Western Palaearctic species of Acasis Duponchel, 1845 is discussed. The localized distribution pattern of both A. appensata and A. viretata (Hubner, 1799) is probably genuine, though both species may be significantly under-recorded for want of adequate field workers in the region.
The present study reviewed bee fly (Diptera, Bombyliidae) fauna on the southwest shore of the Caspian Sea in the north of Iran. Taxonomic, faunistic and geographical distribution notes for 20 species belonging to 11 genera from six subfamilies found in Guilan province are provided. These are: Callostoma soror Loew, 1873, Conophorus pseudaduncus Paramonov, 1929, Exoprosopa amseli Oldroyd, 1961, Exoprospora dispar Loew, 1869, Exoprosopa efflatounbeyi Paramonov, 1928, Exoprosopa grandis (Wiedemann in Meigen, 1820), Exoprosopa kirgizorum Paramonov, 1928, Exoprosopa pectoralis Loew, 1862, Hemipenthes subvelutinus Zaitzev, 1966, Heteralonia megerlie (Meigen, 1820), Heteralonia suffuse Klug, 1832, Thyridanthrax elegans (Wiedemann in Meigen, 1820), Thyridanthrax griseolus (Klug, 1832), Thyridanthrax punctum (Loew, 1854), Veribubo misellus, Loew 1869, Lomatia belzebul (Fabricius, 1794), Parageron lutescens (Bezzi, 1925), Usia bicolor Macquart, 1855, Phthiria pulicaria (Mikan, 1796) and Phthiria vagans Loew, 1846.
The results of the faunal exploration of Geometer Moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the area of Montenegro and Serbia are reported. Based on fieldwork conducted in the past 50 years, data for 71 species are presented. Wherever necessary, comments are provided concerning ovipositional and nutritional plants, as well as illustrations of adults and genital armature. In Montenegro, several species have been recorded for the first time.
An alien mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata, has expanded its areal in Europe in the last few years. It was registered in several European countries, including some on the Balkan Peninsula. Herein are presented for the first time records of H. tenuidentata on the territory of Serbia, several from the capital city of Belgrade, and one from Novi Kneževac, a town in the northern part of country. The species was recognized for the first time in photos posted in a Facebook group of insect lovers and enthusiasts in 2019, but positive identification only took place in 2020 after group members collected specimens. Social networks can be a very important tool for the monitoring of invasive species in general, and invasive mantids in particular, especially due to their size and attractiveness.
Academician Dr. Dusan Camprag, retired full professor of entomology at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, passed away on March 22, 2021. With his passing, the scientific and professional communities lost one of the pioneers of plant protection in our country, a well-known entomologist and the oldest member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA).
Sixty-one adult individuals of 15 species (10 genera) and one subspecies of Pselaphinae were caught using a car-net during a single evening trip in the valley of the Lumnica River, village of Alipostivan, close to the town of Permet, southern Albania, on 22.05.2018. The following five species are new for the beetle fauna of Albania: Trimium expandum Reitter, 1884, Meliceria (Cyrtoplectus) stankoi (Karaman, 1960), Brachygluta (Brachygluta) epirotica Sabella, 2004, Bythinus tener Reitter, 1884 and Tychobythinus latifrons (Muller, 1902). The prevailing weather (air) conditions between 7:00 and 8:30 pm on the day of collecting (at Gjirokaster, 30 km away), with a warm although decreasing temperature (27.2-25.6°C) and increasing humidity (46-53%), were obviously optimal for the car-net method.
Herein we present the first record of a very rare species of parasitoid wasp, Mantibaria seefelderiana, in Croatia, with the basic elements of its unusual biology. The most precise categorization of its trophic interaction would be pseudoparasitoid, because the larva of this species feeds on a larger number of mantis embryos in the ootheca in a way that is more representative of predatory diet and behavior, without any regulation by its host’s behavior. Additionally, adult females of this pseudoparasitoid live as ectoparasites attached to the body of female mantises, where they feed on hemolymph. The combination of an unusual predatory and parasitic lifestyle is extremely atypical for the predominantly parasitoid character of most other members of the family Scelionidae.
The manuscript encloses the first finding of the leafhopper Arboridia kakogawana (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) in Serbia. On total of four sites in Vojvodina, identification based on the morphological characters gave us data on the presence of this allochtonous species that was previously detected in Romania and Crimean peninsula. Arboridia kakogawana is known as the grapevine pest and it was observed in Serbia on two localities on damaged grapevine plants expressing characteristic symptoms of its presence such as intensive chlorotic patches. Individuals were collected using entomological nets and light traps.
The paper cites the correct citation of 14 species described in 2020, which are also listed in the Atlas of the Hoverflies of Greece. In order to prevent potential dilemmas and different taxonomic interpretations in accordance with the rules of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, it is stated that 14 presented species should be cited.
The species Acrosternum heegeri Fieber, 1861 is a well-known member of the Mediterranean fauna in Europe and until recently was not recorded outside its natural range. In recent years, the presence of stable populations of the species in Budapest has been confirmed, and the first findings on the territory of Serbia are from 2013, when several overwintering adults were found under the bark of deciduous trees in Novi Sad. Since 2017, active individuals have been recorded throughout the season, for now mainly from the area of Vojvodina. This bug is probably conquering new territories by transporting people and goods, but we assume that climate change is also responsible for establishing stable populations in new environments. The paper presents the findings of the species A. heegeri in Serbia, which were taken from the Alciphron database on insects in Serbia. A. heegeri is a polyphagous herbivore and has the status of an economically significant species in the Middle East because it causes damage in pistachio plantations.
Nine aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae), mainly found in the southeastern part of the country, were determined as new records for Serbia. They belong to three subfamilies: Aphis passeriniana (Del Guercio, 1900); A. podagrariae Schrank, 1801; A. salviae Walker, 1852; Brachyunguis tamaricis (Lichtenstein, 1885); Smiela fusca Mordvilko, 1948; Staticobium limonii Contarini, 1847 and Uroleucon pseudobscurum (Hille Ris Lambers, 1967) from the subfamily Aphidinae; Drepanosiphum oregonensis Granovsky, 1939 from the subfamily Drepanosiphinae and Pterocomma jacksoni Theobald, 1921 from the subfamily Pterocommatinae. With the inclusion of these nine records, a total of 383 aphids have been found so far in Serbia. This represents about 70% of the species of the total aphid fauna expected to be found on plants in Serbia. All species are of Palearctic distribution and seem to be monoecious.
Traditional techniques for identifying the red cotton bugs Dysdercus koenigii and Dysdercus cingulatus (Pyrrhocoridae: Hemiptera) depend on phenotypic and morphological data. These methods are suitable when species have well-defined structures and when huge taxonomic knowledge is at hand. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was selected for the molecular identification of D. koenigii and D. cingulatus. The sequence data showed that one species of the red cotton bug sample was identified as Dysdercus koenigii with 35-100% similarity to other Dysdercus species present in the NCBI database, while the other species was identified as Dysdercus cingulatus with 88-94% similarity to other red cotton bugs species present in the NCBI database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that our D. koenigii Seq (>180319003-A02-102-DK-.ab1) shares the same cluster with four D. koenigii isolates (ZSI/SRC_I.28B, ZSI/SRC_I.28, GQ306227.1, KJ459924.1). While the D. cingulatus Seq (>180319003-A02-103-DC-.abl) shares a cluster with D. cingulatus voucher (RO_DC2015). This is the first molecular identification of red cotton bugs (D. koenigii and D. cingulatus) reported in Pakistan. Thus, in the current study, molecular identification has been accepted as a reliable method for the identification of these agriculturally important insect pests.
The present study is based on samples collected in various locations in Turkey since the 1990s. Together with literature sources, a total of 25 species of the genus Cleptes Latreille, 1802 (Cleptinae) are listed for the country, and C. syriacus Buysson, 1887 is newly recorded for Turkish fauna. A detailed revision of literature data provided new insight into the species composition of this genus in Turkey. Most of the Cleptes species are very rarely collected and are known from one-two provinces: 10 species are known only from one province and five species only from two provinces. Four species are sparsely recorded from different parts of Turkey, whereas only three species, namely C. ignitus, C. scutellaris and C. splendidus, are widely recorded. Currently, seven species are considered endemic, and five are listed as doubtful for the country. A detailed checklist of the genus Cleptes and a distribution map are provided.
Field surveys were carried out in the provinces of Balikesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Canakkale, Edirne, Istanbul, Izmit, Kirklareli, Sakarya, Tekirdag and Yalova in the Marmara region of Turkey between 2009 and 2010. As a result of identification of the collected specimens, 17 genera and 31 species, belonging to Diaphorinae, Dolichopodinae, Hydrophorinae, Rhaphininae, Sciapodinae, Sympycninae, Xanthochlorinae subfamilies, were determined. Two species (Hercostomus plagiatus Loew, 1857 and Poecilobothrus nobilitatus Linnaeus, 1767) are new records for Turkey dolichopodid fauna.
Available geo-referenced data about the pine processionary moth (PPM) attacks in Stara Zagora province in Central Bulgaria were used to study the relationships between the frequency of attacks and soil conditions. It was established that the PPM prefers fresh, deep and fertile soils.
In a study of the fauna of phloemo-xylophagous insects on Ulmus minor and their parasitoids and predators in Serbia, new data were obtained on the distribution of the recorded species. Some of these data have been published, but many have not. These unpublished data are presented in this paper, which contains a list of 45 species from two orders, 13 families and 41 genera (16 phloemo-xylophagous species, 24 species of parasitoids and five species of predators). For each of them, data are presented regarding the place and time of their finding.
Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) is a North American chrysomelid successfully spreading through Europe in recent years. It is a natural enemy and a potential biocontrol agent of Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., an important invasive weed, both for agricultural crops and public health (Vrbnicanin, et al., 2008). In Europe, O. communa was first detected in Italy (Boriani et al., 2013), after which it has spread to Switzerland (Muller-Scharer et al., 2014), Slovenia (Seljak, 2017) and Croatia (Zadravec et al., 2019). Here we report the first record of O. commmuna from Serbia. Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae) plants were surveyed during 2020 in 7 localities in Serbia (Fruska gora - Ležimir, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Bela Crkva, Belgrade, Donji Milanovac, Valjevo, Stara planina). Plants were surveyed in the fields, samples were gathered and then inspected in the laboratory.
