This work investigates the life cycle and seasonal dynamics of the dung beetle Onthophagus vacca in Middle Atlas ecosystems in Morocco. This species is recognized for its crucial ecological role and was studied under controlled conditions to assess its developmental stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and seasonal abundance in relation to environmental factors. The results show that Onthophagus vacca has a short life cycle with peak activity in spring, which correlates with moderate temperatures and limited rainfall. The abundance of this species is higher in sites located at higher altitudes, where climatic conditions are more favorable. This study contributes to our understanding of the ecological requirements of Onthophagus vacca in Morocco and highlights the importance of its conservation to preserve the ecosystem services it provides, particularly in terms of soil fertility and excreta management in agricultural environments.
Myrtle (Myrtus communis L., 1753), the only species of Myrtaceae native to Europe, is a key Mediterranean scrub species valued for its aromatic and medicinal properties. During field research on the Culuccia Peninsula (NE Sardinia) in 2024, a series of observations and data were collected on insects visiting flowering plants. Since very little is known about the pollinators and visitors of flowers of Myrtus communis, we here provide a fist account of the insect recorded during the research. A total of 117 visitor insects were collected, mainly Coleoptera (84%), followed by Diptera (7%), Hymenoptera (7%), Hemiptera (1%) and Thysanoptera (1%). The most common families are Oedemeridae (29%), Cerambycidae (14%) and Scraptiidae (13%). Oedemera flavipes (Fabricius, 1792) is the most frequent species observed visiting myrtle flowers (19%). Our results show a diverse insect community dominated by Coleoptera, unlike previous studies reporting only Hymenoptera and Diptera, highlighting the need for further research across regions to understand the insect assemblages associated with this plant species.
The Fulcidacini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) is a group of beetles in which the females build a shelter of feces around their eggs and the hatched larvae maintain and expand this shelter with their own feces. Chlamisus Rafinesque, 1815 is the largest genus in the Fulcidacini, but immatures of only 25 of the similar to 400 recognized species have been reported. This paper presents, for the first time, the complete and detailed life cycle of a Chlamisus species. Adults were found feeding on Malvaceae (Hermannieae) in the semi-arid region of Brazil; some were collected for laboratory rearing and observation. Captive adults oviposited in individual containers. These eggs were kept in individual containers and after hatching, the larvae were fed and monitored daily until the adults emerged. The pre-imaginal period lasted 87.0 days, with four larval instars, each building on the fecal case from the previous instar. The period from egg fecal capsule to larval emergence was 14.75 days. The larval period lasted approximately 46.54 days. The period in the pupa fecal chamber lasted for 28.5 days. The active period of the immature represented about 45% of its total development time. This Chlamisus sp. appears to be monophagous in a broader sense, completing its development on related species and genera of Malvaceae (Hermannieae) and probably having more than one generation per year. The larvae exhibit a novel behavior in their case-construction, cutting off and discarding part of the case before pupation. The pupal chamber appears to be a novelty, mimicking the dried inflorescence of its Malvaceae host plants (in the genera Waltheria Linnaeus and Melochia Linnaeus).
We present Araneae.it 2.0, the updated and expanded digital platform for documenting the Italian spider fauna. The catalog currently includes 1,735 species, with taxonomic data aligned with the World Spider Catalog (Version 26). Distribution maps are now available at regional and provincial levels for all species, and at point-based resolution for endemics, aliens and other relevant species with an indication of the coordinate precision. Although georeferencing is still in progress, at the time of publication, major improvements in spatial resolution are given for 219 species-comprising 154 endemics/sub-endemics, 22 alien, and 43 species of conservation concern, of medical interest or of limited occurrence. This online resource provides a solid foundation for future assessments of extinction risk, as well as for evaluating biodiversity and knowledge levels of spiders-and to a lesser extent, other arachnids-in Italy, with particular emphasis on Italian endemic spider species. Moreover, it supports the ongoing development of a comprehensive trait database, which will enable ecological and conservation-focused studies on Italian arachnids. These efforts will enhance our capacity to assess species vulnerability, analyze functional diversity, and guide evidence-based conservation strategies for the Italian arachnid fauna.
Cicadetta albipennis was described 150 years ago, yet no data on its ecology, acoustic behaviour, distribution and conservation have been published. This cicada species, notable for its distinct morphology, is among the smallest in Europe. We investigated the taxon within its presumed endemic range in Sicily and present the first data on its habitat preferences, acoustic behaviour and current distribution. Additionally, we provide the first photographs of live males and females. Cicadetta albipennis is an early-emerging species, active at least from mid-late May to the beginning of June. Its song consists of a monotonous series of short, purring echemes characterized by a supposedly very slow syllable rate and one of the highest frequency ranges among European cicadas. The species was found scattered in southern Sicily, although specimens from the north of the island (labelled - maybe erroneously - "Palermo" and "Messina") exist in historical collections. The species is associated with grassland habitats shaped by herbivores. We discuss habitat availability across prehistoric and historic times, and suggest that C. albipennis is threatened by the disappearance of large wild herbivores and the decline of traditional, extensive grazing practices.
