Nuevos datos sobre la esfecidofauna ibèrica (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). III

S'estudia material esfecidològic de la península Ibèrica pertanyent a les subfamilies Crabroninae, Nyssoninae i Philanthinae (sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976); s'han identificat un total de 82 espècies i subspècies. De totes s'amplia llur distribució geogràfica, posant en relleu les citacions d'Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915, Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) i Bembecinus Pulchellus (Mercet, 1906). Es comenta la variació cromàtica d'Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834).Specimens coming from different parts of the Iberian peninsula are studied. 82 species (belonging to the subfamilies Crabroninae, Nyssoninae and Philanthinae sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976), have been identified, increasing the extant knowledge on their distribution. From the faunistic point of view the presence of Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915, Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) and Bembecinus pulchellus (Mercet, 1906) stands out. The chromatic variation in Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) is discussed.Se estudia material esfecidológico de la península ibérica perteneciente a las subfamilias Crabroninae, Nyssoninae y Philanthinae (sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976); se ha identificado un total de 82 especies y subespecies. De todas se amplía su distribución geográfica, resaltando las citas de Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915; Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956; Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) y Bembecinus pulchellus (Mercet, 1906). Se comenta la variación cromática de Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et BruIle, 1834)

Importance of feeding behaviour on life cycle in the zoophytophagous bug Dicyphus geniculatus

Dicyphus geniculatus (Fieber) (Heteroptera Miridae) is a Mediterranean mirid that has been observed in public green areas in towns of eastern and western provinces of Spain feeding on whiteflies and thrips on Dianthus caryophyllus L. carnations. In this article, the relative importance of feeding behaviour with respect to the duration of nymphal development and nymphal survival, as well as reproduction, was investigated. Nymphs of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), larvae of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and carnation plants introduced into a 50 × 50 × 50 cm methacrylate box, together with adults mirids, in a climate-controlled chamber (25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% HR, 16:8 h L:D photoperiod) were used to analyse feeding behaviour. In particular, data on realised fecundity, sex ratio and adult longevity were analysed. Realised fecundity differed significantly with respect to prey availability (F1, 267 = 44504.92; p ≤ 0.001). The sex ratio did not differ from 1(♂♂):2(♀♀+♂♂) with respect to feeding regimes [“with B. tabaci prey” (37/53+37 = 0.41), χ2 = 1.434, df 1, p = 0.231, “with F. occidentalis prey” (42/50+42 = 0.46), χ2 = 0.200, df 1, p = 0.655] or prey type (B. tabaci or F. occidentalis, χ2 = 0.564, df 1, p = 0.453). Adult longevity differed significantly in terms of prey availability (F2, 534 = 58.89, p ≤ 0.001) and longevity differed for each sex within each feeding regime (F1, 534 = 14.13; p ≤ 0.001). D. geniculatus can survive on a host plant diet exclusively but could not complete its development in the absence of supplemental prey food, indicating that D. geniculatus requires an animal component in its diet. Other zoophytophagous dicyphines are successfully used as beneficials in integrated pest management in horticultural crops. Thus, D. geniculatus has a potential role in the biological control of carnation pests, and therefore may be a promising pest biological control agent, thus contributing to urban area sustainability

Influence of natal host on parasitism by Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is sold commercially as a biocontrol agent of fi lth fl ies, including the house fl y, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). For this reason, S. cameroni is mass-reared for inundative releases to control harmful fl ies. However, the mass-rearing protocols include very little information on the infl uence of natal host on subsequent host selection by parasitoids with more than one potential host as in the genus Spalangia. Here, we report on the use of S. cameroni against M. domestica. The S. cameroni were reared using Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) (natal host) pupae for several generations. Freeze-killed fl y pupae were used in assays to determine the fecundity, number of adult progeny and sex-ratio of this parasitoid. Realized fecundity and number of adult progeny were greater when provided with house fl y pupae than Mediterranean fruit fl y pupae. Thus S. cameroni parasitized more house fl y pupae than C. capitata pupae, even though the parasitoid was reared on Mediterranean fruit fl y for many generations. These results indicate that S. cameroni reared on C. capitata can be successfully used in inundative releases against both fruit fl ies (agriculture) and house fl ies (livestock farming)

The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agroecosystem services across Europe

Managing agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services is a key aim of a sustainable agriculture. However, how the spatial arrangement of crop fields and other habitats in landscapes impacts arthropods and their functions is poorly known. Synthesising data from 49 studies (1515 landscapes) across Europe, we examined effects of landscape composition (% habitats) and configuration (edge density) on arthropods in fields and their margins, pest control, pollination and yields. Configuration effects interacted with the proportions of crop and non‐crop habitats, and species’ dietary, dispersal and overwintering traits led to contrasting responses to landscape variables. Overall, however, in landscapes with high edge density, 70% of pollinator and 44% of natural enemy species reached highest abundances and pollination and pest control improved 1.7‐ and 1.4‐fold respectively. Arable‐dominated landscapes with high edge densities achieved high yields. This suggests that enhancing edge density in European agroecosystems can promote functional biodiversity and yield‐enhancing ecosystem services

Base de datos de abejas ibéricas

Las abejas son un grupo extremadamente diverso con más de 1000 especies descritas en la península ibérica. Además, son excelentes polinizadores y aportan numerosos servicios ecosistémicos fundamentales para la mayoría de ecosistemas terrestres. Debido a los diversos cambios ambientales inducidos por el ser humano, existen evidencias del declive de algunas de sus poblaciones para ciertas especies. Sin embargo, conocemos muy poco del estado de conservación de la mayoría de especies y de muchas de ellas ignoramos cuál es su distribución en la península ibérica. En este trabajo presentamos un esfuerzo colaborativo para crear una base de datos de ocurrencias de abejas que abarca la península ibérica e islas Baleares que permitirá resolver cuestiones como la distribución de las diferentes especies, preferencia de hábitat, fenología o tendencias históricas. En su versión actual, esta base de datos contiene un total de 87 684 registros de 923 especies recolectados entre 1830 y 2022, de los cuales un 87% presentan información georreferenciada. Para cada registro se incluye información relativa a la localidad de muestreo (89%), identificador y colector de la especie (64%), fecha de captura (54%) y planta donde se recolectó (20%). Creemos que esta base de datos es el punto de partida para conocer y conservar mejor la biodiversidad de abejas en la península ibérica e Islas Baleares. Se puede acceder a estos datos a través del siguiente enlace permanente: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6354502ABSTRACT: Bees are a diverse group with more than 1000 species known from the Iberian Peninsula. They have increasingly received special attention due to their important role as pollinators and providers of ecosystem services. In addition, various rapid human-induced environmental changes are leading to the decline of some of its populations. However, we know very little about the conservation status of most species and for many species, we hardly know their true distributions across the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we present a collaborative effort to collate and curate a database of Iberian bee occurrences to answer questions about their distribution, habitat preference, phenology, or historical trends. In total we have accumulated 87 684 records from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands of 923 different species with 87% of georeferenced records collected between 1830 and 2022. In addition, each record has associated information such as the sampling location (89%), collector and person who identified the species (64%), date of the capture (54%) and plant species where the bees were captured (20%). We believe that this database is the starting point to better understand and conserve bee biodiversity in the Iberian Peninsula. It can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6354502Esta base de datos se ha realizado con la ayuda de los proyectos EUCLIPO (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-028360/EUCLIPO) y SAFEGUARD (ref. 101003476 H2020 -SFS-2019-2).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nuevos datos sobre la esfecidofauna ibèrica (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). III

S'estudia material esfecidològic de la península Ibèrica pertanyent a les subfamilies Crabroninae, Nyssoninae i Philanthinae (sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976); s'han identificat un total de 82 espècies i subspècies. De totes s'amplia llur distribució geogràfica, posant en relleu les citacions d'Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915, Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) i Bembecinus Pulchellus (Mercet, 1906). Es comenta la variació cromàtica d'Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834).Specimens coming from different parts of the Iberian peninsula are studied. 82 species (belonging to the subfamilies Crabroninae, Nyssoninae and Philanthinae sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976), have been identified, increasing the extant knowledge on their distribution. From the faunistic point of view the presence of Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915, Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956, Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) and Bembecinus pulchellus (Mercet, 1906) stands out. The chromatic variation in Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) is discussed.Se estudia material esfecidológico de la península ibérica perteneciente a las subfamilias Crabroninae, Nyssoninae y Philanthinae (sensu Bohart & Menke, 1976); se ha identificado un total de 82 especies y subespecies. De todas se amplía su distribución geográfica, resaltando las citas de Encopognathus braunsi Mercet, 1915; Lindenius major Beaumont, 1956; Crossocerus (Blepharipus) nigritus (Lepeletier et Brulle, 1834) y Bembecinus pulchellus (Mercet, 1906). Se comenta la variación cromática de Ectemnius dives (Lepeletier et BruIle, 1834)

The preimaginal stages and development of Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The development and morphology of the immature phases of Spalangia cameroni Perkins, 1910 (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae) are described from a laboratory rearing culture maintained on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera, Tephritidae), using microscopic techniques, including light and scanning electron microscopy. The surface of the chorion of the egg is smooth and the micropyle occurs at the anterior end. The immature larvae are similar to the mature larva, differing mainly in the size of the head capsule and mandibles. The mature larva displays tubercules on the body segments as well as a pleurostoma and superior and inferior mandibular processes. On completion of its larval development, an adecticous and exarate pupa is produced. The mandibles of the pupa, as for the adult, are toothed. Three larval instars are recorded based on statistical analyses of the sizes of the larval mandibles and head capsules, in combination with such characters as the number of exuviae and excretion of the meconium. There are significant positive correlations between mandible length and width of larval head capsule with the number of instars, thus indicating that the mandible length and width of larval capsule are good predictors of the number of instars in this parasitoid. Developmental time from egg to adult emergence was similar to 33-34 days for females and similar to 28-29 days for males at 21-26 degrees C, 55-85 RH and a L16:D8 photoperiod. Our results show that the eggs and different instars of S. cameroni can be unambiguously identified only by SEM. Therefore, characterization of the immature stages of Spalangia species using SEM should be done before subsequent routine identifications using a binocular microscope or stereomicroscope