Climate warming in Europe affects mosquito distribution, leading to their northward expansion. This paper presents first records of thermophilic mosquito species – Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 – for Poland. One female specimen of Uranotaenia sp. was photographed in the allotment gardens in Łódź (central Poland) during the light-attracting and four females of Uranotaenia unguiculata were caught using BG-Pro traps in the nearby Orientarium Zoo Łódź. The collected specimens’ identification was confirmed molecularly based on COI gene sequences. The molecular data also revealed that populations of Ur. unguiculata in Central Europe share haplotypes with populations from the Apennine Peninsula, suggesting postglacial recolonisation from the Apennine macrorefugium. The results of this study suggest that northward range expansion of Ur. unguiculata in Europe is recent but natural, likely linked to the climate change.
The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) attacks maize (Zea mays Linneaus, 1753) plants in all their stages, and causing severe damage. This study was aimed to evaluate the toxicological, biochemical, and biological effects of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (HSNps) on S. frugiperda with 4 concentrations (500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm). Also, the biochemical effects of LC50 on maize plants under semi field conditions were evaluated. Results showed that LC50 values were 127.88, 136.96 and 875.18 ppm for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd larval instar after 7 days of treatment, respectively. HSNps prolonged duration of the larval and pupal stages and pre-oviposition period. On opposite, HSNps decreased both of pupal weight, adult longevity, number of eggs/female, incubation period and hatchability %. Moreover, HSNps have a negative effect on larval digestive and defensive enzymes such as proteases, lipase, amylase, B-glucosidases, and carboxylesterase enzymes. But, HSNps increased chitinase, phenoloxidase enzymes and total amount of proteins. Foliar spraying of HSNps stimulate activity of antioxidant enzymes and increases the amount of total proteins, carbohydrates, and nitrogen (N). But inhibit total phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) of maize plants. These results provide evidence that HSNps have the potential for use as a safe alternative to control the fall armyworm.
Bruchidius siliquastri Delobel, 2007 was described relatively recently based on specimens from France and China. The species is associated with various species of the genus Cercis L. It is currently known from China and 19 European countries, including those bordering Poland: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Two males of Bruchidius siliquastri were reared from pods of Cercis siliquastrum L. collected in the Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław (south-western Poland). Given the popularity of Cercis siliquastrum as an ornamental tree, this species may also occur in other parts of the country, particularly in parks, botanical gardens, and arboreta where species of this tree are cultivated.
The first mention of Micrococcus silvestrii (Leonardi, 1907) in Algeria dates back to 1936, when Balachowsky reported receiving colonies from M. P. de Peyerimhoff, collected from Tapinoma sp. nests in the Djurdjura Mountains. However, the exact collection site was not specified, no other documentation since then has confirmed its presence. In this work, we confirm the presence of M. silvestrii in the Djurdjura National Park in north-central Algeria, and make the first mention of it in the north-western region, specifically in the Theniet El Had National Park. Myrmecological surveys conducted between January 2023 and February 2025 enabled manual identification of several colonies of M. silvestrii, in symbiosis with the ant Tapinoma simrothi Krausse, 1911, under large stones and on host plants of the Poaceae family. These observations confirm the insect's presence and its range extension in Algeria.
The authors present dragonfly data collected mainly in central and northern Finland during the summer season in 2023-2025. A total of 27 species were recorded at 65 sites, including 16 species north of the Arctic Circle. This is a significant addition to the knowledge of the fauna of some poorly explored regions in Finland. From a zoogeographical perspective, the most significant is the first record of Onychogomphus forcipatus beyond the Arctic Circle and 270 km north of the current northernmost site. Also Lestes sponsa and Cordulia aenea were found outside the previously known range, and the records of Coenagrion armatum, C. pulchellum, Aeshna grandis, A. serrata, and Somatochlora flavomaculata are crucial for refining the boundaries of their distribution areas. The records of 13 threatened or near threatened species in Europe and the European Union are also valuable.
