New Records of Yponomeutoid Moths (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae, Plutellidae) from Israel

Ten species of moths belonging to families Plutellidae and Yponomeutidae are newly recorded from Israel: Yponomeuta albonigratus Gershenson, Y. cagnagellus (Hübner), Y. meridionalis Gershenson, Kessleria saxifragae (Stainton), Ypsolopha asperella (Linnaeus), Y. dentella (Fabricius), Y. instabilella Mann, Y. mucronella (Scopoli), Y. persicella (Fabricius), and Plutella porrectella (Linnaeus). The majority of these species were collected at the “Evolution Canyon”, Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel.Впервые для фауны Израиля указаны 10 видов молей из семейств Plutellidae и Yponomeutidae: Ypo-nomeuta albonigratus Gershenson, Y. cagnagellus (Hubner), Y. meridionalis Gershenson, Kessleria saxifragae (Stainton), Ypsolopha asperella (Linnaeus), Y. dentella (Fabricius), Y. instabilella Mann, Y. mucronella (Scopoli), Y. persicella (Fabri-cius), and Plutella porrectella (Linnaeus). Большинство видов собрано в «Evolution Canyon», Нижний Нахал Орен, г. Кармел, Израиль

The Bostrichidae of the Maltese Islands (Coleoptera)

The Bostrichidae of the Maltese Islands are reviewed. Ten species are recorded with certainty from this Archipelago, of which 6 namely, Trogoxylon impressum (Comolli, 1837), Amphicerus bimaculatus (A.G. Olivier, 1790), Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse, 1884), Sinoxylon unidentatum (Fabricius, 1801), Xyloperthella picea (A.G. Olivier, 1790) and Apate monachus Fabricius, 1775 are recorded for the first time. Two of the mentioned species (H. aequalis and S. unidentatum) are alien and recorded only on the basis of single captures and the possible establishment of these species is discussed. Earlier records of Scobicia pustulata (Fabricius, 1801) from Malta are incorrect and should be attributed to S. chevrieri (A. Villa & J.B. Villa, 1835). A zoogeographical analysis and an updated checklist of the 12 species of Bostrichidae recorded from the Maltese Islands and neighbouring Sicilian islands (Pantelleria, Linosa and Lampedusa) are also provided. Rhizopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) form granulipennis Lesne in Beeson & Bhatia, 1937 from Uttarakhand (northern India) was overlooked by almost all subsequent authors. Its history is summarized and the following new synonymy is established: Rhizopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) form granulipennis Lesne in Beeson & Bhatia, 1937 = Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792), syn. n. Finally, records of Amphicerus bimaculatus from Azerbaijan, of Bostrichus capucinus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Jordan and Syria, of Scobicia chevrieri from Jordan and Italy, of Xyloperthella picea from Italy, and of Apate monachus from Corsica (France) and Italy, are also provided.peer-reviewe

Scorpion Biodiversity and Interslope Divergence at “Evolution Canyon”, Lower Nahal Oren Microsite, Mt. Carmel, Israel

BACKGROUND: Local natural laboratories, designated by us as the "Evolution Canyon" model, are excellent tools to study regional and global ecological dynamics across life. They present abiotic and biotic contrasts locally, permitting the pursuit of observations and experiments across diverse taxa sharing sharp microecological subdivisions. Higher solar radiation received by the "African savannah-like" south-facing slopes (AS) in canyons north of the equator than by the opposite "European maquis-like" north-facing slopes (ES) is associated with higher abiotic stress. Scorpions are a suitable taxon to study interslope biodiversity differences, associated with the differences in abiotic factors (climate, drought), due to their ability to adapt to dry environments. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Scorpions were studied by the turning stone method and by UV light methods. The pattern observed in scorpions was contrasted with similar patterns in several other taxa at the same place. As expected, the AS proved to be significantly more speciose regarding scorpions, paralleling the interslope patterns in taxa such as lizards and snakes, butterflies (Rhopalocera), beetles (families Tenebrionidae, Dermestidae, Chrysomelidae), and grasshoppers (Orthoptera). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results support an earlier conclusion stating that the homogenizing effects of migration and stochasticity are not able to eliminate the interslope intra- and interspecific differences in biodiversity despite an interslope distance of only 100 m at the "EC" valley bottom. In our opinion, the interslope microclimate selection, driven mainly by differences in insolance, could be the primary factor responsible for the observed interslope pattern

Arthropods in the mounds of mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies, in Israel

A complex of invertebrates (mites, Collembola, earthworms, snails, Diplopoda, Myriapoda, Chilopoda, Isopoda and insects) was uncovered in large breeding mounds made by the blind subterranean mole rat (belonging to the species Spalax carmeli Nevo & Ivanitskaya & Beiles, 2000 of the Spalax ehrenbergi (Nehring, 1898) superspecies) in the Haifa region, situated in the Northern Coastal Plain of Israel. The described properties of this complex were based on the 56 beetle species found there, mostly collected from the outer compact wall of the breeding mounds by forceps and exhausters. Most of the recorded beetle species were xerophiles or mesophiles and carnivores or detritivores. Only few species were phytophages, coprophages or necrophages. Since the invertebrate complex derives from the unique breeding mounds architecture, the mole rats can be considered as ecological architects of this microscale ecosystem.Un complexe d’invertébrés (mites, collemboles, vers de terre, escargots, diplopodes, myriapodes, chilopodes, isopodes et insectes) a été mis au jour dans de grands monticules de reproduction construits par le rat-taupe souterrain aveugle (appartenant à l’espèce Spalax carmeli de la super-espèce Spalax ehrenbergi) dans la région de Haïfa, située dans la plaine côtière septentrionale d’Israël. Les caractéristiques de ce complexe ont été décrites à partir des 56 espèces de coléoptères trouvées à cet endroit, pour la plupart dans la paroi extérieure compacte des monticules d’élevage. La majorité des coléoptères recensés sont xérophiles ou mésophiles et carnivores ou détritivores. Seules quelques espèces sont phytophages, coprophages ou nécrophages. Étant donné que le complexe d’invertébrés est le produit de l’architecture unique en son genre des monticules de reproduction, les rats-taupes peuvent être considérés comme des architectes écologiques de ce micro-écosystème.Pavlíček Tomás, Chikatunov Vladimir, Nevo Eviatar. Arthropods in the mounds of mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies, in Israel. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 31,2005. pp. 5-13

Seasonal and spatial distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera) in “Evolution Canyon”, Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel

Twenty five species recorded from the microsite “Evolution Canyon ” (“EC”), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel represent 18% of the 138 butterfly species known in Israel. The majority of the species from “EC” are widely distributed in the Palearctic region, or even beyond its border. Only the distribution o/Tseudotergumia pisidice and Thymelicus hyrax and six subspecies (Anthocharis cardamines phoenissa, Gonepteryx cleopatra taurica, Lasiom-mata maera orientalis, Polyommatus icarus zelleri, Melitaea tri¬ via syriaca, and Neohipparchia fatua sichaea) is limited to the East Mediterranean sub-region. Our results indicate that species distributed over larger geographic areas might have larger local occurrences in comparison with species geographically less distri¬ buted. At “EC”, a significantly higher number of species was recor¬ ded on the “savanna-like” south-facing slope which is warmer, drier and microclimatically more fluctuating than the north-facing slope covered by a typical Mediterranean dense maquis. Apart of a general tendency for higher butterflies occurrence at the tops of both slopes, changing the biotope preferences was recorded during the year in Artogeia rapae, Colias croceus, Pieris brassicae and Pontia daplidice. The distribution of butterflies was significantly negatively correlated with the tree and bush cover. Differences in the possibility for butterflies of sun basking or in their host plant accessibility and quality seem to be interesting factors that might influence butterfly distribution and which are waiting for future evaluation.Les vingt-cinq espèces de papillons dénombrées dans le “Canyon de lEvolution” (“EC”) à Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israël, représentent 18% des 138 espèces connues en Israël. La majorité des espèces recensées dans le Canyon est largement distribuée dans la région paléarctique et même au-delà de ses limites. Seule la distribution de Pseudotergumia pisidice, celle de Thymelicus hyrax, ainsi que celle de six sous-espèces (Anthocharis cardamines phoenissa, Gonepteryx cleopatra taurica, Lasiommata maera orientalis, Polyommatus icarus zelleri, Melitaea trivia syriaca et Neohipparchia fatua sichaea) est limitée à la sous-région de la Méditerranée orientale. Nos résultats semblent indiquer que les espèces distribuées sur de grandes aires géographiques pourraient être localement plus largement représentées que les espèces à distribution géographique moindre. Dans I“EC”, un nombre significativement plus élevé d'espèces a été observé sur le versant exposé au sud qui a une végétation de type savane, est plus chaud, plus sec et présente plus de fluctuations sur le plan microclimatique que le versant exposé au nord qui est couvert d'un maquis dense typiquement méditerranéen. A part une tendance générale à une occurrence plus élevée de papillons au sommet des deux versants, des modifications des préférences au niveau du biotope ont pu être observées au cours de l'année pour Artogeia rapae, Colias croceus, Pieris brassicae et Pontia daplidice. La distribution des papillons était corrélée négativement de façon significative à la couverture arborée et arbustive. Les différences au niveau de la possibilité pour les papillons de “se dorer” au soleil ou celles relevant de l'accessibilité et de la qualité des plantes-hôtes semblent être des facteurs intéressants pouvant influer sur la distribution des papillons et qui devraient faire l'objet d'une étude plus poussée.Kravchenko Vasiliy, Pavlíček Tomás, Chikatunov Vladimir, Nevo Eviatar. Seasonal and spatial distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera) in “Evolution Canyon”, Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 28 n°1, 2002. pp. 99-112

The tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae) of Israel and adjacent lands

Based on field studies, museums collections and literature sources, the current knowledge of the tiger beetle fauna of Israel and adjacent lands is presented. In Israel eight species occur, one of them with two subspecies, while in the Sinai Peninsula nine species of tiger beetles are now known. In the combined regions seven genera from two tribes were found. The Rift Valley with six cicindelids species is the most specious region of Israel. Cylindera contorta valdenbergi and Cicindela javeti azari have localized distributions and should be considered regional endemics. A similarity analysis of the tiger beetles faunas of different regions of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula reveal two clusters of species. The first includes the Great Rift Valley and most parts of the Sinai Peninsula, and the second incorporates most regions of Israel together with Central Sinai Foothills. Five distinct adult phenological groups of tiger beetles can be distinguished in these two clusters: active all-year (three species), spring-fall (five species), summer (two species), spring-summer (one species) and spring (one species). The likely origins of the tiger beetle fauna of this area are presented. An annotated list and illustrated identification key of the Cicindelinae of Israel and adjacent lands are provided