APHIDS UNDER STRESS. SPECIES GROUPS AND ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONAL GROUPS OF APHIDS DEFINE HEAVY METAL GRASSLANDS OF CENTRAL EUROPE

Interest in trace metals and the environmental effects of their deposition significantly increased recently. Ecological communities formed on soils with a high concentration of heavy metals are characterised by a particular composition of plants and invertebrates in response to unfavourable physical and chemical conditions and under a strong selective pressure. Calaminarian grasslands as well as other dry grasslands are fragile habitats, very rare in Central Europe; such areas are often protected within nature reserves. This paper is the first comprehensive study of aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha) of the metalliferous areas in Central Europe. It helped to describe the species diversity of aphid communities related to the plants of heavy metal grasslands, define the level of relationships between aphids and plants of heavy metal habitats and determine diagnostic aphid species for assemblages forming in such post-industrial landscapes. On the basis of ecological groups determined for aphids, also the number and percent of the species which form them and their ratios structure aphid communities and their condition was defined. An elevated heavy metal content in the soil does not limit the species richness of such an aphid community in comparison with those of other dry grasslands. However, these aphid communities possess specific features resulting from the mixture of species arriving from dry calcareous and sandy grasslands. The concept of ecological functional groups for analysis of aphid communities is introduced. Such an approach is useful for describing aphid communities in time and the directions of their changes, thus helping to monitor successive changes and the habitat stat

First records of gall-inducing aphid Pemphigus populi (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea, Eriosomatidae) in Poland with gall-based key to Central and North European species of the genus

The paper presents first records of Pemphigus populi Courchet, 1879 (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea, Eriosomatidae) from Poland with a short description of the morphological characteristics of its fundatrix and fundatrigenia. Special attention is paid to the characteristics which distinguish this species from other Polish as well as the Central and North European representatives of this genus on poplars (Populus spp.). Information on the biology and distribution of P. populi in the world are given. A key to Central and North European species of Pemphigus , based on their galls formed on the primary host plants is also provided

On foreign land: the conquest of Europe by Cinara curvipes (Patch, 1912)

Cinara curvipes (Patch, 1912), a Nearctic aphid species first recorded in Europe at the turn of the millenium, has invaded almost one quarter of the continent during the past 15 years. This communication gives information about the first reports from Poland, summarises the species’ conquest of Europe and gives forecasts and possible explanations for such a rapid expansion. An identification key to aphid species on Abies is provided to help monitor its further expansion, as well as for the benefit of forestry and phytosanitary services

Notes on some Aphids with nomenclatorial change proposal (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha)

A new name for the extant aphid genus, Neomariaella nom. nov., is proposed to replace praeoccupied name Szelegiewiczia Özdikmen & Demir, 2007. The nomenclatorial problems of this name are discussed. An overview of the generic name Shaposhnikovia Kononova, 1976, is given, and the content of the extinct families Shaposhnikoviidae and Szelegiewicziidae is briefly discussed.Note sur des Aphidiens et proposition de changements nomenclaturaux (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha). Un nouveau nom pour un genre actuel d'aphidien, Neomariaella nom. nov., est proposé pour remplacer le genre préoccupé Szelegiewiczia Özdikmen & Demir, 2007. Les problèmes nomenclaturaux posés par ce nom sont discutés. Une vue d'ensemble du nom de genre Shaposhnikovia Kononova, 1976, est donnée, et le contenu des familles Shaposhnikoviidae et Szelegiewicziidae est brièvement discuté.Szwedo Jacek, Osiadacz Barbara. Notes on some Aphids with nomenclatorial change proposal (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aphidomorpha). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 115 (2),2010. pp. 215-218