Pheidole symbiotica Wasmann, 1909, an enigmatic supposed social parasite, is a nematode-infested form of Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Pheidole symbiotica Wasmann, 1909 hitherto known only from type series collected in Portugal is recorded from Italy for the first time. Dissection of abdomen of this supposed social parasite of Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849) showed that it is infested by a large mermithid nematode. That allows us to conclude that Pheidole symbiotica is only a teratological form of Pheidole pallidula. In consequence, we propose synonymy of Pheidole symbiotica Wasmann, 1909 under Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849). High quality photographs of this form are presented for the first time and an illustration of its parasite is also given

Comments to distribution of several Greek Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Based on studied material three Tetramorium species are recorded from Greece for the first time: Tetramorium indocile Santschi, 1927, Tetramorium staerckei Kratochvíl, Novák & Snoflák, 1944 and Tetramorium sulcinode Santschi, 1927. Additionally, distribution records of recently revised members of the Tetramorium caespitum group are reexamined and assigned to proper taxa. Tetramorium rhodium Emery, 1922 is recorded from the East Aegean Islands for the first time

A new species of the ant genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804 from Crete (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Lasius tapinomoides sp. n. from Crete, Greece, is described and illustrated. It belongs to L. turcicus complex and is well characterized by very small body, extremely shallow metanotal groove and presence of suberect to erect setae on the apical part of scape. New records of Cretan members of the genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804 are provided, their checklist is updated, and the key to their determination is presented

Badanie metodą jednostopniowej amplifikacji kwasu nukleinowego węzłów chłonnych w raku brodawkowatym tarczycy — porównanie z badaniem histopatologicznym i badaniem PCR w czasie rzeczywistym

Introduction: The significance of lymph node metastases and the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy remain matters of controversy in papillary thyroid cancer. This study was designed to assess the feasibility and reliability of OSNA and real-time PCR for CK19 and TG mRNA in papillary thyroid cancer lymph nodes evaluation compared to standard histopathology.Material and methods: Each of 92 randomised lymph nodes from 32 papillary thyroid cancer patients were divided into representative parts and assessed using the three studied methods.Results: Eighteen (19.6%) lymph nodes from ten (31.3%) patients were positive according to histopathology. When the cut-off value distinguishing metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes in the OSNA assay was set at 250 copies per microlitre, the results were positive in 16 (17.4%) lymph nodes from 11 (34.4%) patients. Twenty three (25%) lymph nodes were tested positive in real-time PCR for TG mRNA. Real-time PCR for CK19 mRNA was positive in 18 (19.6%) lymph nodes from 13 (40.6%) patients. No statistically significant differences were noted between the diagnostic accuracy of either molecular method compared to the histopathological examination (p = 0.81). Overall, 20 positive molecular biology results were noted in patients with negative histopathology results. Conversely, in 18 lymph nodes, despite a metastasis finding in histopathology, at least one molecular test yielded a negative result.Conclusions: It was revealed that OSNA is a reliable technique for the evaluation of lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer. This method was shown to have equivalent accuracy to histopathology and real-time PCR. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 422–430)Wstęp: Znaczenie przerzutów do węzłów chłonnych oraz optymalny zakres limfadenektomii w raku brodawkowatym tarczycy pozostaje przedmiotem kontrowersji. Celem pracy była ocena wykonalności oraz zgodności wyników jednostopniowej amplifikacji kwasu nukleinowego oraz PCR w czasie rzeczywistym dla CK19 i TG mRNA w badaniu węzłów chłonnych w raku brodawkowatym tarczycy w porównaniu z rutynowym badaniem histopatologicznym.Materiał i metody: Każdy z 92 węzłów chłonnych pochodzących od 32 pacjentów z rakiem brodawkowatym tarczycy został podzielony na reprezentatywne części i zbadany trzema metodami.Wyniki: Osiemnaście (19,6%) węzłów chłonnych od 10 (31,3%) pacjentów miało dodatni wynik badania histopatologicznego. Przyjmując wartość odcięcia 250 kopii w mikrolitrze, różnicującej węzły chłonne zmienione przerzutowo od niezmienionych, w badaniu jednoetapowej amplifikacji kwasu nukleinowego, stwierdzono dodatni wynik badania w 16 (17,4%) węzłach chłonnych od 11 (34,4%) pacjentów. Uzyskano dodatni wynik badania PCR w czasie rzeczywistym dla TG mRNA w 23(25%) węzłach chłonnych, natomiast dla CK19 mRNA w 18 (19,6%) od 13 (40,6%) pacjentów. Nie stwierdzono istotnej statystycznie różnicy pomiędzy zgodnością wyników obu metod molekularnych z wynikiem badania histopatologicznego (p = 0,81). Ogólnie stwierdzono 20 dodatnich wyników badania molekularnego z węzłów chłonnych, przy ujemnym wyniku badania histopatologicznego. Natomiast w 18 węzłach, pomimo znalezienia przerzutów w badaniu histopatologicznym, uzyskano ujemny wynik w przynajmniej jednym badaniu molekularnym.Wnioski: Badanie jednostopniową amplifikacją kwasu nukleinowego jest właściwą metodą oceny obecności przerzutów w węzłach chłonnych w raku brodawkowatym tarczycy. Technika ta ma zbliżona wiarygodność do badania histopatologicznego i badania PCR w czasie rzeczywistym. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (6): 422–430

One of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Detected in Cyprus

Native to the Neotropics, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863) has been unintentionally introduced around the world, heavily impacting native ant biodiversity, societies, and economies as well as human and animal health due to its potentially dangerous stings. Herein we report on the first record of W. auropunctata in Cyprus. Specimens were collected from plant nurseries and tourist facilities in Paphos and Limassol district. Wasmannia auropunctata is believed to spread via the horticultural pathway to locations with sufficient humidity. Further research is necessary to determine the distribution and assess possible negative impacts of W. auropunctata to native biodiversity, society, the economy and human health in Cyprus

Alien ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) on a quest to conquer Greece: a review including an updated species checklist and guidance for future research

Biological invasions represent one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss with adverse impacts on human societies, economies and public health. More than 500 ant species have been transported outside their native range with the help of humans, while the majority of them have managed to establish viable populations in the wild. Nevertheless, data from the Mediterranean region suggest that most alien ants occupy anthropogenic habitats with little spread in semi-natural and natural habitats. Research on biological invasions of ants in Greece had previously identified a total of 15 alien ant species. In this article, an extensive literature investigation and material examination provide a revised checklist of the alien myrmecofauna of Greece. Although the number of alien ant species remains the same, the checklist’s composition is largely altered to provide an up-to-date overview of the country’s alien myrmecofauna in order to enhance management decisions and future research. The presence and distribution of alien ants within Greek administrative divisions, NATURA 2000 sites and Corine Land Cover types are analysed and presented. In particular, the species richness of alien ants seems to be highest in the Aegean Archipelago (Crete and Southern Aegean Islands) probably due to uneven collecting efforts and increased climatic suitability. Alien ant species are mostly associated with anthropogenic habitats including urban and agricultural areas, although a significant percentage has managed to spread into forest and semi-natural areas, including protected NATURA 2000 sites. Future research directions enhancing the monitoring of alien ants and their impacts are indicated to safeguard native ant biodiversity and conservation efforts of rare and endemic taxa

Charidotella sexpunctata

Key to Charidotella sexpunctata group [colour photos of all species are available in Borowiec and Świętojańska (2002)] 1. Pronotal disc at base with black trapezoidal spot........................................................................................ 2. -. Pronotum at base immaculate or with brown to black figure never forming trapezoidal spot................... 3. 2. Elytral disc with pale ring in the middle and black bands along sides. Ecuador...... Ch. ecuadorica (Bor.) -. Elytral disc without pale ring in the middle and without black pattern on dorsal surface, the pattern form large black ring with pale circular median spot. From Nicaragua to Peru ............ Ch. circumnotata (Boh.) 3. Elytra strongly convex to almost gibbous. Species exclusively from Antilles.......................................... 4. -. Elytra slightly to moderately convex. Species mostly outside Antilles...................................................... 6. 4. Each elytron with only single dark spot..................................................................................................... 5. -. Each elytron with two dark spots. Cuba, Puerto Rico and Lesser Antilles ........... Ch. quadrisignata (Boh.) 5. Each elytron with dark, round spot in posterior half of disc. Dominican Rep., Haiti and Jamaica....................................................................................................................................................... Ch. praeusta (Boh.) -. Each elytron with dark band along side, constricted at middle. Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman.................. .................................................................................................................................... Ch. latevittata (Boh.) 1 1. Ch. quadrisignata jamaicensis Blake, 1966 is probably its synonym.Published as part of Borowiec, Lech, 2007, Two new species of Charidotella Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini), with a key to Charidotella sexpunctata group, pp. 59-66 in Zootaxa 1586 on page 64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27391

Charidotella moraguesi Borowiec, 2007, sp. nov.

Charidotella moraguesi sp. nov. Etymology Dedicated to Gerard Moragues (Marseille, France) for his great contribution to the knowledge of Cassidinae of French Guyana (see Borowiec and Moragues 2005). Diagnosis A member of nominotypical subgenus. Charidotella moraguesi is very close to Ch. zona (Fabricius, 1801) and Ch. ecuadorica (Borowiec, 1989). The three species are the only within Ch. sexpunctata group with pale pattern on ventral side of elytra forming in the middle more or less regular yellow ring. Ch. ecuadorica distinctly differs in the black pattern of the elytra being present on both the dorsal and ventral surface, while in Ch. moraguesi and Ch. zona the black pattern occurs only on the ventral surface of elytra. Ch. zona differs in the presence of a more or less visible dark pattern on the base of the pronotal disc (no pattern in Ch. moraguesi) and only the apical segment of antennae infuscate (four apical segments infuscate to black in Ch. moraguesi). The punctation of the disc in Ch. moraguesi is distinctly coarser than in Ch. zona, especially the punctures in the middle of the sides of the disc are very coarse, distinctly coarser than punctures on top of the disc while in Ch. zona the punctures on the sides of the disc are only slightly coarser than on the top of the disc. Black areolae around punctures in Ch. moraguesi are larger than in Ch. zona. In Ch. moraguesi the pale ring on the disc in posterior part is distinctly wider than on sides, and in anterior part it is interrupted along the second row of punctures while in Ch. zona the ring is more regular, the same width in all parts and complete. Description Length 5.1–5.6 mm, width 4.2–4.65 mm, length of pronotum 1.8 –2.0 mm, width of pronotum 3.1–3.35 mm, length/width ratio 1.20–1.23, width/length ratio of pronotum 1.65–1.78. Body broadly oval, sexual dimorphism indistinct (fig. 1). Pronotum and scutellum uniformly yellow. Elytra yellow, on underside with black pattern occupying a great part of elytral surface, except marginal interval, anterior part of humerus, a large yellow ring in centre of disc, and yellow sutural intervals between scutellum and the yellow ring. Each elytral puncture with black centre and black areola, elytra appear distinctly black punctate. Clypeus yellow with black basal corners. Prothorax yellow except black external margins of procoxal cavities. Mesothorax yellow, metathorax in the middle black, at sides with large yellow spots. Epimera and episterna of mesothorax yellow except black margins, lateral plates of metasternum brown to black. Abdomen in the middle black, sides and apex broadly yellow. Coxae partly infuscate to black, trochanters yellow, legs uniformly yellow. Antennal segments 1–7 yellow, 8– 11 brown to black, segments 10 and 11 ventrally paler than dorsally. Pronotum moderately broad, 1.65–1.78 times as wide as long. Anterior margin forms distinct arch, sides narrowly rounded, maximum width of pronotum in basal 2 / 5 length. Whole surface of pronotum smooth, shiny, explanate margin with honeycomb structure. Scutellum triangular, without sulci or impressions. Base of elytra distinctly wider than base of pronotum. Humeri rounded, moderately protruding anterad. Elytral disc distinctly, almost regularly convex with the top of convexity in postscutellar point (fig. 2). Punctation of disc regular, on top of disc moderately coarse, in the middle of sides coarse, punctures gradually decreasing from top of disc to slope. Punctures on sides of disc approximately thrice coarser than in two sutural rows. Interspaces 1–3 broad, three to four times as wide as rows, lateral interspaces partly only twice as wide as rows. Surface of intervals flat, smooth, and mirror. Principal impression distinct, moderately deep with 4–6 coarse punctures. Explanate margin of elytra broad, in widest part slightly wider than half width of disc of elytron, moderately declivous. Surface of the margin smooth, mirror, with honeycomb structure. Apex of elytral epipleura bare. Clypeus moderately broad, approximately 1.3 times as wide as long. Clypeal lines fine, well visible from base to 1 / 3 length of clypeus (fig. 3). Margins of clypeal plate slightly elevated, surface of clypeal plate from base to apex gradually impressed thus apex of clypeal plate distinctly elevated. Anterior margins of clypeal plate converging in soft arch. Surface of clypeal plate impunctate, shiny. Eyes large, occupying whole sides of head, gena invisible. Labrum very shallowly emarginate. Antennae moderately long, length ratio of antennal segments: 100: 50: 39: 55: 50: 44: 50: 47: 47: 50: 97. Segment 2 almost 1.3 times longer than segment 3, segment 4 approximately 1.43 times as long as segment 3, segments 9 and 10 slightly longer than wide. Prosternal collar short, forms regular arch. Prosternal process typical for the genus Charidotella, broad, not constricted in the middle, apex only slightly expanded laterally, central part shallowly impressed. Surface of prosternal process regular, smooth, without punctures. All claws with large basal tooth. Type material Holotype: “ Guyane Fr. NE, 20 km SSE of Roura, Fourgassie, 3.II. 2006, Šárovec & Houška lgt.”; two paratypes: the same data; 6 paratypes “ Guyane Fr. NE, 15 km SSE of Roura, Fourgassie, 17.I. 2006, Šárovec & Houška lgt.” (holotype and 3 paratypes preserved at the Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Taxonomy, Zoological Institute, University of Wrocław, Poland; 4 paratypes in private collection of M. Sniżek, Česke Budejovice, Czech Republic; one paratype in private collection of Gerard Moragues, Marseille, France).Published as part of Borowiec, Lech, 2007, Two new species of Charidotella Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini), with a key to Charidotella sexpunctata group, pp. 59-66 in Zootaxa 1586 on pages 60-62, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27391