The first interception record of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), an invasive true bug and serious threat, in Israel

Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), native to East Asia, an invasive broad-polyphagous pest in the West Palaearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical and Australasian Regions, has been recently intercepted in Israel.   Novoselsky, T., & Rittner, O. 2023. The first interception record of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae), an invasive true bug and serious threat, in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 57–61. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1050709

Does the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Odonata: Libellulidae) avoid perching on vegetation?

The perching substrate choice of the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Brauer, 1865) was recorded during a long-term (2013–2021) Odonata survey in the Dead Sea area, Israel. The data were collected at two streams in the Dead Sea oases, Nahal Bokek and Nahal Arugot, by walking monthly along the permanent watercourses (fixed transects). Among 872 observations on O. ransonnetii, there were records of neither males nor females using vegetation (live plants) for perching. The Desert Skimmer clearly prefers perching on stones or bare ground. The stone preference of O. ransonnetii for perching has been noted in the literature on Odonata for a long time, but the presented data demonstrate this phenomenon as a total preference. To cite: Blecher, M. 2023. Does the Desert Skimmer Orthetrum ransonnetii (Odonata: Libellulidae) avoid perching on vegetation? Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 97–103. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1069411

Horia fabriciana Betrem 1929 (Meloidae: Nemognathinae: Horiini), new record for Israel

A large and spectacular Afrotropical blister beetle Horia fabriciana Betrem, 1929, associated with the carpenter bee Xylocopa pubescens Spinola, 1838 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is recorded here for the first time from Israel. This is the first record of the tribe Horiini and the genus Horia Fabricius, 1787 specifically from Israel, and the northernmost point of the distribution of these taxa. To cite: Friedman, A.-L.-L. 2023. Horia fabriciana Betrem 1929 (Meloidae: Nemognathinae: Horiini), new record for Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 51–55. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1044611

The first records of Amorphocephala coronata (Germar, 1817) and Amorphocephala piochardi (Bedel, 1878) (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brentidae) in Iraq

Amorphocephala coronata and A. piochardi are newly recorded from Iraq. A checklist and a key for the Brentidae species recorded from Iraq and a distribution map are given. To cite: Orbach, E. & Khidhir Belbas, A.-Q. S. 2023. The first records of Amorphocephala coronata (Germar, 1817) and Amorphocephala piochardi (Bedel, 1878) (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Brentidae) in Iraq. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 35–39. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1043247

A review of the saproxylic weevil subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Israel

Nine species of the saproxylic cossonine weevils are recorded from Israel. A key to genera and species, as well as distributional and biological data are provided. The genera Melicius Alonso-Zarazaga, 2002 and Rhyncolus Germar, 1817 (represented by Melicius gracilis (Rosenhauer, 1856) and R. sculpturatus Waltl, 1839 correspondently) are recorded for the first time in Israel. Pseudomimus avocadi Folwaczny, 1972, described from Israel and previously considered as an endemic Israeli species of Afrotropical origin, is here considered a junior subjective synonym of Caulophilus oryzae (Gyllenhal, 1838), a widespread stored grain pest of Neotropical origin, which develops mainly in the rotten seeds of avocado, but also in wet and damaged stored products. Friedman, A.-L.-L. 2023. A review of the saproxylic weevil subfamily Cossoninae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 75–96.  DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1062360

Endelus barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae: Aphanisticini) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, with lectotype designations in the Endelus marseuli species-group

A new species of jewel beetle, Endelus (s.str.) barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Bup­restidae), belonging to E. (s.str.) marseuli Deyrolle, 1864 species-group, is described from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Lectotypes are designated for E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864, E. scintillans Deyrolle, 1864 and E. modiglianii Kerremans, 1896. An updated key of species within this group is provided, including Endelus lunatus Fisher, 1921, Endelus barclayi Kalashian, 2011, Endelus splendens Kalashian, 2011, and Endelus nairaarum Kalashian, 2011.ԱՄՓՈՓՈՒՄԻնդոնեզիայի Սուլավեսի կղզուց նկարագրվում է E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864 տեսակային խմբին պատկանող Endelus (s.str.) barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) նոր տեսակը: Լեկտոտիպեր են նշանակվում E. marseuli Deyrolle, 1864, E. scintillans Deyrolle, 1864 և E. modiglianii Kerremans, 1896 տաքսոնների համար: Տրվում է խմբի տեսակների նորացված որոշիչ, որն ընդգրկում է նաև Endelus lunatus Fisher, 1921, Endelus barclayi Kalashian, 2011, Endelus splendens Kalashian, 2011 and Endelus nairaarum Kalashian, 2011տեսակները:ՀԻՄՆԱԲԱՌԵՐ: Կենսաբազմազանություն, Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Aphanisticini, նոր տեսակ, լեկտոտիպեր, Հնդ-Մալայան տարածաշրջան, Ինդոնեզիա, Սուլավեսի, տաքսոնոմոնիա: To cite: Kalashian, M.Y. 2023. Endelus barriesi n. sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae: Aphanisticini) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, with lectotype designations in the Endelus marseuli species-group. Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 21–28. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1036175

Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer (1926–2022)

Dr Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer, an Israeli myrmecologist, was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 20 September 1926. He survived Holocaust, and at age of twenty repatriated to Israel. Yaakov started as a member in several kibbutzim throughout Israel. Despite having no matriculation diploma he was able to complete his education, starting at Oranim College, then in Tel Aviv University, and received his MSc and PhD degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, studying various ecological and biological aspects of ants (Formicidae). For most of his career Ofer taught biology in the Kibbutzim College, Tel Aviv, and continued his myrmecological research, until final withdrawal in 2011. His studies resulted in several publications on the ecology and biology of various ants, particularly harvester ants (Messor) and weaver ants (Polyrachis), and culminated in the book on the ants of Israel, published in both Hebrew and English. One of Yaakov's important inventions was the namlul, a special cage for establishing and raising of artificial ant nests in captivity. Yaakov passed away on 19 June 2022, at the age of 96, in Herzliya, Israel, and has been survived by his children, grand- and great-grandchildren. To cite: Friedman, A.L.L. 2023. Yaakov (Jacob) Ofer (1926–2022). Israel Journal of Entomology 52: 1–7. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1021406

First record of the broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus (Stål, 1858) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Alydidae) from Greece and Cyprus

The broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus (Stål, 1858), distributed across Africa, the Near East, southern Iberian Peninsula and Sicily, is recorded from Greece and Cyprus for the first time. Habitus photographs of the recorded specimens are presented, and the status of the species as invasive in the two countries is discussed. ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Το Ημίπτερο Nemausus sordidatus (Stål, 1858), με εξάπλωση στην Αφρική, στη Μέση Ανατολή, στη νότια Ιβηρική χερσόνησο και στη Σικελία, καταγράφεται για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα και την Κύπρο. Η παρούσα μελέτη παρουσιάζει φωτογραφίες των καταγεγραμμένων ατόμων, και συζητά την πιθανότητα το είδος αυτό να έχει εισαχθεί ανθρωπογενώς στις δύο χώρες. ΛEΞΕΙΣ-ΚΛΕΙΔIA: Ημίπτερα, Alydinae, νέα καταγραφή, είδος εισβολέας, Ακακία, Ελλάδα, Κρήτη, Κύπρος, Παλαιαρκτική.   To cite: Davranoglou, L.-R., Cheiladakis, N. & Makris, Ch. 2021. First record of the broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus (Stål, 1858) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Alydidae) from Greece and Cyprus. Israel Journal of Entomology 51: 1–6. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4661939 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5B369D1E-A43B-48DD-9527-11540428817

Redescription of the lost and found male holotype of Ummidia gandjinoi (Andreeva, 1968) (Araneae: Ctenizidae)

The poorly known Central Asian trap-door spider Ummidia gandjinoi was described by Andreeva (1968) from a single male as a representative of Pachylomerus Ausserer, 1871 (preoccupied in Coleoptera). Brignoli (1983) transferred this species to Ummidia Thorell, 1875, and Zonstein (2008) described the conspecific females. Although the male holotype had been described fairly adequately to distinguish U. gandjinoi from its closest congeners, its depository for a long time was considered unknown, and the specimen was assumed to be lost. However, the holotype has been quite unexpectedly detected by Dr W. Wawer, the curator of the spider collection deposited at the Museum and Institute of Zoology, Warsaw, Poland (MIZW), who sorted and prepared the loan requested for a revision of the cyrtaucheniid Anemesia Pocock, 1895. It was found among the vials with the paratypes of Brachythele karatauvi Andreeva, 1968, and with some other representatives of Anemesia. The redescription of the borrowed and examined holotype of U. gandjinoi is provided below.   Cite as: Zonstein, S.L. 2018. Redescription of the lost and found male holotype of Ummidia gandjinoi (Andreeva, 1968) (Araneae: Ctenizidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 48 (1): 17–20. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1219368 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FCD9D626-5641-4D7D-8161-A7DB7839707B &nbsp

First records of Phradonoma cercyonoides and Reesa vespulae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae: Megatomini) in Greece

Phradonoma cercyonoides Reitter, 1887 and Reesa vespulae (Milliron, 1939) (Megatominae: Megatomini) are reported for the first time from Greece. Distribution, invasiveness and status of both species are discussed. Phradonoma cercyonoides is tentatively suggested as alien to the country. An updated list of the non-native Dermestidae of Greece is provided, supplementing our knowledge on the alien Dermestidae of Europe. ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Τα κολεόπτερα Phradonoma cercyonoides Reitter, 1887 και Reesa vespulae (Milliron, 1939) (Megatominae: Megatomini) καταγράφονται για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. Η εξάπλωσή, εισβλητικότητα και η κατάσταση και των δύο ειδών συζητούνται. Παρατίθεται μια ενημερωμένη λίστα των μη-ιθαγενών Dermestidae της Ελλάδας, συμπληρώνοντας τις γνώσεις μας για τα ξενικά Dermestidae της Ευρώπης. ΛΕΞΕΙΣ ΚΛΕΙΔΙΑ: Κολεόπτερα, Dermestidae, ξενικά είδη, μη-ιθαγενή είδη.   To cite: Koutsoukos, E., Demetriou, J. & Háva, J. 2021. First records of Phradonoma cercyonoides and Reesa vespulae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae: Megatomini) in Greece. Israel Journal of Entomology 51: 67–72. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5063023 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A6197444-3FAF-4288-8B0B-72D924E9E49