HABITAT PREFERENCES AND ABUNDANCE OF THE DOLICHOPODIDAE (DIPTERA) FROM INNER WEST ANATOLIA

In this study, the habitat preferences and abundance of Dolichopodidae species in the Inner West Anatolia (Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Uşak) were investigated by means of a hand net during the years 2009 to 2011. A total number of 4,327 specimens were gathered belonging to 77 species. The majority of identified species in the study area prefer moist and shaded habitats such as fenlands, reedbeds, moist coniferous woodland and moist grasslands, depending on habitat preference. Almost 45 % of the total number of collected specimens belonged to one species (Syntormon pallipes). Other abundant species were Hydrophorus balticus and Poecilobothrus regalis

SIX NEWLY RECORDED SPECIES OF PLANT BUGS (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE) IN SERBIA

Heteropteran fauna of Serbia has increased by six newly recorded species: Macrolophus costalis Fieber, 1858, Macrolophus rubi Woodroffe, 1957, Charagochilus spiralifer Kerzhner 1988, Maurodactylus albidus Kolenati, 1845, Phoenicocoris dissimilis (Reuter, 1878), and Plesiodema pinetella (Zetterstedt, 1828). All of them belong to the family Miridae

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF MAJOR VECTOR MOSQUITOES OF BANGLADESH

Mosquito-borne diseases are considered major contributors to vector-borne diseases, threatening more than eighty per cent of the global population. Pest management depends on proper identification techniques. The barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene of mitochondrial DNA has recently been proposed as a systematic tool, functional in taxonomy and evolutionary study for species definition. This work is the first attempt to identify the main vector mosquito species from Bangladesh based on the MT-COI gene. Eleven vector mosquitos were identified. AT content (69%) was found to be higher than GC content (31%) at the COI barcode region of the mosquito. The interspecific genetic divergence range of medically important mosquitoes was 0.01-0.21. Haplotype analysis revealed that Mansonia annulifera diverged highly from its immediate ancestor by the highest mutational steps (59). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that species belonging to the same family were in the same major clade. Overall, our findings contribute to a better method of identifying major vector mosquito species by COI genes and for implementing management measures against mosquito pests in Bangladesh

NEW RECORDS OF ACONTIA CANDEFACTA (HUBNER, 1831) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) FROM CROATIA, SLOVENIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

In this paper, we present new records of Acontia candefacta in Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. From the time of the first records in Croatia in 2019, the species has spread across much of the country and has also become very common in its northern regions. The first observations have been reported for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Slovenia, the species has been recorded at two localities near the Croatian border, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the species has been recorded in two far-apart regions, indicating that it is more widespread in the country

APHIDIUS NEES (HYMENOPTERA, BRACONIDAE, APHIDIINAE) IN SERBIA: KEY TO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION INCLUDING PARASITOID – APHID HOST LIST

This study offers a comprehensive guide to the identification of 34 Aphidius species that were found in the territory of Serbia. Also, for all Aphidius species, a total of 97 aphid hosts were represented. Aphidius linosiphonis Tomanović & Starý and Aphidius balcanicus Tomanović & Petrović were described from Serbia. Aphidius ericaphidis Pike & Starý and A. banksae Kittel are allochthonous species in Serbia of North American and Asian origin, respectively. For both allochthonous species, the first records for the fauna of Europe were from Serbia

THE SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF FIVE INSECTICIDES ON HABROBRACON HEBETOR SAY PARASITISM ON EPHESTIA KUEHNIELLA ZELLER LARVAE BASED ON PHENOLOXIDASE ENZYME ACTIVITY

Ephestia kuehniella is an important cereal pest and Habrobracon hebetor is its efficient biocontrol control worldwide. The enzyme phenoloxidase is one of the major components of the insect immune system. This enzyme catalyzes the quinones and other reactive intermediates to reduce parasitoid invasion. In this study, the effects of five commercial insecticides in Iran on the parasitism percentage of H. hebetor and on the activation of phenoloxidase in the hemolymph of host larvae as an important indicator were investigated. The results showed that the percentage of parasitism was significantly lower in insecticide treatments compared to the control (F5, 42= 6.471). There were significant differences in total protein content among the control and insecticides treatments, as well as in the phenoloxidase activity in the host larvae. Accordingly, the highest activity was in the control (0.3924±0092 μM/min/mg protein) and the lowest when larvae were treated with propargite (0.1927±0.0169 μM/min/mg protein). The results confirmed that the insecticides palizin and buprofezin do not have serious negative effects on H. hebetor parasitism when combined in integrated pest management

FIRST RECORDS OF PLINACHTUS IMITATOR (REUTER, 1891) (HETEROPTERA: COREIDAE: COREINAE) IN CROATIA, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA AND MONTENEGRO, WITH NOTES ON NEW HOST-PLANT RECORDS

The paper mentions the first findings of the bug Plinachtus imitator (Reuter, 1891) in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. All the findings were recorded in localities along the Adriatic coast, most often on Pistacia lentiscus, a plant that was already known as a host. Plinachtus imitator was recorded for the first time on a new host plant - Pistacia terebinthus in Trsteno, Croatia

FIRST RECORD OF DREPANOSIPHONIELLA FUGANS REMAUDIЀRE & LECLANT (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE: DREPANOSIPHINAE) ON THE BALKAN PENINSULA

Apterous viviparous females, an alate female, males, and oviparous females of Drepanosiphoniella fugans Remaudiѐre & Leclant, 1972 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Drepanosiphinae) were found in eastern Serbia (Bor, Zaječar, Stara Planina) in 2022. Drepanosiphoniella is a new genus for Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula. D. fugans is a holocyclic and monoecious species on Acer monspessulanum L. Its main morphological and biological characteristics and distribution are given. A photograph of the apterous viviparous female, line drawings, and slide photographs of the apterous viviparous female, alate viviparous female, oviparous female, and male are also included

ADDITIONAL SPIDER RECORDS FROM MT. FRUŠKA GORA (SERBIA) WITH A FIRST INSIGHT INTO WINTER SPECIES

Monitoring spiders with pitfall traps often only includes data collected during the vegetation period. Herein, we present the results of long-term sampling at Erdelj, Fruška Gora Mountain, over 19 months in 2011/2012. Special emphasis was placed on the winter period. At three sampling sites, a meadow, an area of shrubs and a deciduous forest, 1113 adult spiders of 116 species were identified. Thirty-four species are new records for the mountain; six of them are new to Serbia. The meadow yielded the highest number of species (59), with a high proportion (40%) of species collected only in this habitat type. Eleven species were found to be active mostly or exclusively in winter. Four of them were so-called rare spiders and two of them are new records for Serbia. Of all recorded species, five are on the list of strictly protected spiders in Serbia and could be used as an additional argument for environmental protection

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT OF CARABUS HUNGARICUS (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) IN SERBIA AND RECOMMENDATION FOR MONITORING

The distribution of Carabus hungaricus in Serbia has not been summarized so far. There are only a few published records of this beetle in Serbia. Due to new findings, it was necessary to update the distribution of this species in Serbia. Recent field research revealed that the largest suitable habitat is the Deliblato Sands in the South Banat District, where this species is common. Other important areas are located near the Romanian border in the vicinity of the city of Vršac and near Mužlja (in the neighborhood of the city of Zrenjanin, Central Banat District), where the northernmost population in Serbia is located. In addition to this overview of distribution, we propose monitoring methodology for C. hungaricus. We believe that regular monitoring can bring the necessary attention to the disappearing steppe habitats and that the results can help to manage them appropriately in the future