PRESENCE OF MANTIBARIA SEEFELDERIANA (DE STEFANI) (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE) IN CROATIA: A PSEUDOPARASITOID OF PRAYING MANTIS

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

FIRST RECORD OF BATHYTHRIX FORMOSA (DESVIGNES) (ICHNEUMONIDAE: CRYPTINAE) IN SERBIA

Bathythrix formosa (Desvignes, 1860) is a new finding of the ichneumonid wasp for the Serbian fauna. It was recorded on the locality Bojanine vode, Suva mt. Serbia from the host species Agroeca sp (Aranea: Liocranidae)

A REVIEW OF HOMOLOBINAE (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

This work presents the first retrospective of Homolobus species registered in Serbia and Montenegro. The following species are recorded: H. (Phylacter) annulicornis, H. (Homolobus) discolor, H. (Chartolobus) infumator and H. (Apatia) truncator

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

DIPHYUS QUADRIPUNCTORIUS (MÜLLER, 1776) (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE: ICHNEUMONINAE): THE FIRST RECORDS FROM SERBIAN CAVES

Here we present new findings of the hymenopteran Diphyus quadripunctorius (Müller, 1776) from three cave localities in Serbia. We examined a total of five overwintering female specimens collected during 2016, 2019 and 2020 in caves – Devojačka Pećina Cave, Sisevačka Pećina Cave in eastern Serbia and Ogorelička Pećina Cave in southeastern Serbia. Additionally, a short description of D. quadripunctorius females is provided. Its phenology, tentative host association and adaptations to cave life are also discussed

Redescription of two species of Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from high mountain areas of south-eastern Europe, with biological and biogeographical notes on co-occurring guild members

Praon spinosum Mackauer, 1959 reared from Thrzpsaphis verrucosa Gillette,1917 on Carex nigra and Diaeretellus macrocarpus Mackauer, 1961 reared from the conspecific aphid on Carex rostrata association from Mt. Durmitor Biosphere Reserve in Serbia and Montenegro are redescribed, diagnosed and illustrated with photographs from SEM and line drawings. The taxonomic position of P. spinosum within the genus Praon is discussed. Furthermore, some rare and endemic aphid — aphid-parasitoid associations from high-montane areas of southeastern Europe are reviewed and their distribution and origin is discussed

Predicting Finite-Bias Tunneling Current Properties from Zero-Bias Features: The Frontier Orbital Bias Dependence at an Exemplar Case of DNA Nucleotides in a Nanogap

The electrical current properties of single-molecule sensing devices based on electronic (tunneling) transport strongly depend on molecule frontier orbital energy, spatial distribution, and position with respect to the electrodes. Here, we present an analysis of the bias dependence of molecule frontier orbital properties at an exemplar case of DNA nucleotides in the gap between H-terminated (3, 3) carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes and its relation to transversal current rectification. The electronic transport properties of this simple single-molecule device, whose characteristic is the absence of covalent bonding between electrodes and a molecule between them, were obtained using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's functions. As in our previous studies, we could observe two distinct bias dependences of frontier orbital energies: the so-called strong and the weak pinning regimes. We established a procedure, from zero-bias and empty-gap characteristics, to estimate finite-bias electronic tunneling transport properties, i.e., whether the molecular junction would operate in the weak or strong pinning regime. We also discuss the use of the zero-bias approximation to calculate electric current properties at finite bias. The results from this work could have an impact on the design of new single-molecule applications that use tunneling current or rectification applicable in high-sensitivity sensors, protein, or DNA sequencing

Tritrophic associations of Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) in Serbia

One hundred and eighty-six tritrophic parasitoid-aphid plant associations were established between Lysiphlebus fabarum and 64 aphids with 148 different plant species from the territory of Serbia. We identified 18 aphid genera of which the genus Aphis was represented by 38 species. The most frequent interactions between the parasitoid and the hosts were the ones of Aphis fabae, A. craccivora and A. ruborum on various plants comprising one third of the total trophic interactions listed here

New records of Cheloninae (Förster, 1862) and Braconinae (Nees, 1811) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran

The occurrences of Chelonus erythrogaster Lucas, 1848 (Braconidae, Cheloninae) and Glyptomorpha nachitshevanica Tobias, 1976 (Braconidae, Braconinae) are noted here for the first time as members of the fauna of Iran. The specimens were collected from Fars province (Southern Iran). Morphological characters of both species are briefly described together with brief diagnostic comments and discussion about their distribution

Aphidius geranii sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Southeast Europe – a new member of the Aphidius urticae s. str. group

Aphidius geranii Tomanovic and Kavallieratos, sp. n., is described as an additional member of the Aphidius urticae s. str. group from high-mountain habitats of Southeast Europe. The new species was reared from Amphorophora sp./Geranium coeruleatum associations. Parasitoid guilds associated with G. coeruleatum are discussed. Key for identification Aphidius spp. on Geranium plants in Europe is given