New records of Cheloninae (Förster, 1862) and Braconinae (Nees, 1811) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran

The occurrences of Chelonus erythrogaster Lucas, 1848 (Braconidae, Cheloninae) and Glyptomorpha nachitshevanica Tobias, 1976 (Braconidae, Braconinae) are noted here for the first time as members of the fauna of Iran. The specimens were collected from Fars province (Southern Iran). Morphological characters of both species are briefly described together with brief diagnostic comments and discussion about their distribution

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of leaf-spinning moths (Lepidoptera) feeding on Vaccinium uliginosum L. along an ecological gradient in central European peat bogs

Parasitoids of leaf-spinning Lepidoptera associated with two isolated central European peat bogs were investigated. Five families of parasitoid Hymenoptera (Braconidae, lchneumonidae, Eulophidae, Pteromalidae and Encyrtidae) were recorded. Three categories were recognised: (1) primary parasitoids, (2) facultative hyperparasitoids and (3) obligatory hyperparasitoids. Ten species of Braconidae, five species and seven marked morphospecies among lchneumonidae, and three species of Chalcidoidea were identified. Despite of some niche-specific (but less host-specific) parasitoids, all these hymenopterans are likely to be generalists and none of them were confirmed to be habitat and/or host specialists. Unlike their eurytopic (opportunistic tyrphoneutral) parasitoids, the Lepidoptera hosts associated with peat bogs are partially highly stenotopic (tyrphobionts and tyrphophiles). The occurrence of parasitoids compared to their potential hosts was structured along an ecological (mesoclimatic) gradient, so most parasitoids were recorded from margins while stenotopic (narrow habitat adaptation) moths were mostly distributed near the centre of the bog habitat

Diversity and Distribution of Braconidae, a Family of Parasitoid Wasps in the Central European Peatbogs of South Bohemia, Czech Republic

An ecological overview of seven years investigation of Braconidae, a family of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) and a tyrpho-classification of parasitoids in peatbog areas of South Bohemia, Czech Republic are given. A total of 350 species were recorded in investigated sites, but only five tyrphobionts (1.4%) are proposed: Microchelonus basalis, Microchelonus koponeni, Coloneura ate, Coloneura danica and Myiocephalus niger. All of these species have a boreal-alpine distribution that, in Central Europe, is associated only with peatbogs. Tyrphophilous behaviour is seen in at least four (1.1%) species: Microchelonus pedator, Microchelonus subpedator, Microchelonus karadagi and Microchelonus gravenhorstii; however, a number of other braconids prefer peatbogs because they were more frequently encountered within, rather than outside, the bog habitat. The rest of the braconids (342 species, 97.5%) are tyrphoneutrals, many of them being eurytopic components of various habitats throughout their current ranges. Lists of tyrphobiontic braconids and a brief commentary on species composition, distributional picture of actual ranges, and parasitoid association to bog landscape are provided. Being true refugial habitats for populations in an ever-changing world, peatbogs play a significant role in harboring insect communities

Good parasitic wasps gone bad: a short review of two stories of the oceanic and habitat islands

Braconid parasitoid Cotesia glomerata, which was accidentally introduced into Canary Islands became real threat to the Canary Island Large White butterfly (Pieris cheiranthi). The multiple confirmation of the origin of the introduced parasitoid (morphology, DNA, ecology) suggests that these opportunistic parasitoids might be a serious danger to native isolated fauna. Such model relationships can be found in isolated paleorefugial habitats of the central European peat bogs, which are historical habitat islands of unique local taxa. A recent discovery of some opportunistic parasitoids attacking tyrphobiontic Lepidoptera in several isolated bogs of South Bohemia suggest these wasps might invade isolated habitats and cause serious population destruction of paleorefugial hosts

Forest Dependence of Rural Communities in the Republic of Moldova

The high dependency on forest resources and the fact that forests play an important role in the lives of people in poorer rural areas are well known forest characteristics. This depicts a deep connection between people and nature. For the rural communities, forest ecosystems display another important role, namely in alleviating poverty through stable provisions of vital functions and livelihoods. The present study aims to identify what influences the current level of the local communities of the Republic of Moldova’s dependence on forests, who still face poverty-related challenges, and how ecosystem services provided by forests are perceived by the rural population. After six years since the last forest dependency research, this time the level of dependence is investigated using the same methodology, but through improved socio-economic conditions. Although the consumption of non-timber forest products decreased, the pressure on forest resources remained at the same level due to the high dependence of communities on firewood. The highest dependency was found in low-income households, manifested by their necessity to spend an average share of 18.8% from their total income on firewood due to their restricted access to forest resources. Since most Moldovans rely more heavily on subsistence-oriented forest products such as fuelwood, forest management sustainability efforts might not be achieved as long as the need for wood products exceeds the supply, and neither will the living conditions of the poor be improved. Solutions should be sought based on cross-sectoral and long-term approaches by involving all stakeholders, and not neglecting local communities

New records of Cheloninae (Förster, 1862) and Braconinae (Nees, 1811) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran

The occurrences of Chelonus erythrogaster Lucas, 1848 (Braconidae, Cheloninae) and Glyptomorpha nachitshevanica Tobias, 1976 (Braconidae, Braconinae) are noted here for the first time as members of the fauna of Iran. The specimens were collected from Fars province (Southern Iran). Morphological characters of both species are briefly described together with brief diagnostic comments and discussion about their distribution.

Controversy Over Liver Transplantation or Resection for Neuroendocrine Liver Metastasis: Tumor Biology Cuts the Deal.

In patients with neuroendocrine liver metastasis (NELM), liver transplantation (LT) is an alternative to liver resection (LR), although the choice of therapy remains controversial. In this multicenter study we aim to provide novel insight in this dispute. Following a systematic literature search, 15 large international centers were contacted to provide comprehensive data on their patients after LR or LT for NELM. Survival analyses were performed with the Kaplan-Meier method, while multivariable Cox regression served to identify factors influencing survival after either transplantation or resection. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) and propensity score matching was used for analyses with balanced and equalized baseline characteristics. Overall, 455 patients were analyzed, including 230 after LR and 225 after LT, with a median follow-up of 97 (95% CI 85-110) months. Multivariable analysis revealed G3 grading as a negative prognostic factor for LR (HR 2.22, 95%CI 1.04-4.77, P=0.040), while G2 grading (HR 2.52, 95%CI 1.15-5.52, P=0.021) and LT outside Milan criteria (HR 2.40, 95%CI 1.16-4.92, P=0.018) were negative prognostic factors in transplanted patients. IP-weighted multivariate analyses revealed a distinct survival benefit after LT. Matched patients presented a median overall survival (OS) of 197 months (95%CI 143- not reached) and a 73% 5-year OS after LT, and 119 months (95%CI 74-133) and a 52.8% 5-year OS after LR (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.3- 0.9, P=0.022). However, the survival benefit after LT was lost if patients were transplanted outside Milan criteria. This multicentric study in patients with NELM demonstrates a survival benefit of LT over LR. This benefit depends on adherence to selection criteria, in particular low-grade tumor biology and Milan criteria, and must be balanced against potential risks of LT