Little Egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) (Pelecaniformes Ardeidae) and Eurasian crag martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris (Scopoli, 1769) (Passeriformes Hirundinidae), two new breeding species for the Egadi Islands (W-Sicily, Italy)

For the first time, the nesting of Eurasian crag martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris (Scopoli, 1769) (Passeriformes Hirundinidae) and Little egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) (Pelecaniformes Ardeidae) in the Aegadian Islands (W-Sicily, Italy) is reported. Of particular interest is the nesting of the Little egret on the island of Maraone resulting in the first report for Sicily of a heronry on a marine island. Although this nesting environment has already been established in Sardinia, it should be emphasized that until now the establishment of a heronry has never been detected on an islet so far from the mainland

spermophora senoculata on sicily italy araneae pholcidae

The pholcid spider Spermophora senoculata (Duges, 1836) is recorded for the first time on the Mediterranean Island of Sicily (Italy) from indoor heated and non-heated habitats of two cities. This species is associated with mostly anthropogenic habitats around the globe. Uncertainty remains about where its native distribution range is located

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 11 Aclista alticollis; 12 Mycomya (Mycomya) prominens; 13 Empis (Leptempis) confusa; 14 Sciapus platypterus; 15 Myopa picta; 16 Diaea dorsata; 17 Franklinothrips megalops; 18 Dasyhelea bilineata; 19 Forcipomyia (Synthridomyia) murina; 20 Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) psilonota; 21 Incertana drepanensis

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 11 Aclista alticollis; 12 Mycomya (Mycomya) prominens; 13 Empis (Leptempis) confusa; 14 Sciapus platypterus; 15 Myopa picta; 16 Diaea dorsata; 17 Franklinothrips megalops; 18 Dasyhelea bilineata; 19 Forcipomyia (Synthridomyia) murina; 20 Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) psilonota; 21 Incertana drepanensi

Araneofauna (Arachnidae: Araneae) of Monte Pellegrino (Sicily, Italy): Fourth contribution to the knowledge of the Sicilian spider fauna

This work is a preliminary checklist of spiders living in Monte Pellegrino, near Palermo (Sicily, Italy). Monte Pellegrino, together with the Parco della Favorita, has a high  biodiversity and the different vegetation types together with the particular geomorphology of the soil offers a great variety of flora and fauna.The samples were obtained over several years, with a large number of specimens. Up to date, 74 species from 63 genera and 26 families are listed. Four species new for Sicily: Segestria bavarica C.L. Koch, 1843 (Segestridae), Monaeses paradoxus (Lucas, 1846) and Ozyptila confluens (C.L. Koch, 1845) (Thomisidae), and Episinus algiricus Lucas, 1846 (Theridiidae). Moreover, Tibellus Simon, 1875 (Philodromidae), a new genus from Sicily, was also found at Monte Pellegrino. The studies currently carried out were mainly aimed at known areas of the mountain, such as the Gorgo di Santa Rosalia, the area around the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia and the Addaura Caves, but other interesting areas of this locality could add new data

The spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) community of an agroecosystem

The agricultural areas, especialy the orchards, of more ancient cultivation, are characterized by having plant and animal communities of great interest. Plant and vertebrate communities are well studied in theese agroecosystems, but the same cannot be said for invertebrates. Among these are generally known taxonomic groups of agricultural interest, including also beetles (Coleoptera) and moths (Lepidoptera). Little known are other arthropods such as those belonging to the Arachnida. In a historic orchard of the Conca d'Oro, the plain around Palermo city, systematic observations and catches of Arachnidae have been conducted, with particular interest in spiders (Araneae) but also involving other orders such as Opiliones and Pseudoscorpionida. The surveys showed a great species richness. It is in fact a historic orchard characterized by the presence of numerous species of fruit trees (Citrus spp., Loquat Eriobotrya japonica, etc.) interspersed with small vegetable garden surfaces. Many of the individuals found are in the process of being determined, but it is so far the community is exceeding sixty species. The research is ongoing and will further aim to clarify the ecological relationships between the different species and the other components of the agro-ecosystem

On some new reports on the spider fauna of Italy and Sicily (Arachnida Araneae)

New spiders (Arachnida Araneae) from Sicily (Italy) are reported, some new for Italy, in this paper. Particularly, twelve genera and sixteen new species are examined: Agelena orientalis C.L. Koch, 1837; Cyclosa algerica Simon, 1885; Larinia lineata (Lucas, 1846); Argenna patula (Simon, 1874), Lathys arabs Simon, 1910, Marilynia bicolor (Simon, 1870), Canariphantes zonatus (Simon, 1884), Cresmatoneta mutinensis (Canestrini, 1868), Diplocephalus graecus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873), Lepthyphantes leprosus (Ohlert, 1865), Ostearius melanopygius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1880), Pelecopsis bucephala (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875), Pelecopsis inedita (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875), Lasaeola convexa (Blackwall, 1870), Neottiura uncinata (Lucas, 1846) and Ruborridion musivum (Simon, 1873). Additional biological and taxonomic notes are also provided

Sulla presenza di Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae) nella Riserva Naturale di Isola delle Femmine (Palermo, Sicilia)

[On the presence of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in the Nature Reserve of Isola delle Femmine (Palermo, Sicily, Italy)] The presence of a living population of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) (Gastropoda: Helicidae), endemic species of the coastal strip of the Palermo Mountains (Sicily), from Isola delle Femmine or Isola di Fuori (Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve) is confirme

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 3 Hermetia illucens; 4 Ancylolomia tripolitella; 5 Gavia immer; 6 Bucanetes githagineus; 7 Clubonia terrestris

SICILIAN NATURALISTIC NEWS: 3 Hermetia illucens; 4 Ancylolomia tripolitella; 5 Gavia immer; 6 Bucanetes githagineus; 7 Clubonia terrestri