Taxonomic identification and biological traits of Platystethynium triclavatum (Donev & Huber, 2002), comb. n. (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), a newly recorded egg parasitoid of the Italian endemic pest Barbitistes vicetinus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

The little known fairyfly (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), Platystethynium (Platystethynium) triclavatum (Donev & Huber, 2002), comb. n. from Pseudocleruchus Donev & Huber, 2002, is newly recorded as an egg parasitoid of Barbitistes vicetinus Galvagni & Fontana, 1993 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae). This bush-cricket is endemic to northeastern Italy (mainly Euganean Hills of Veneto Region), where it has recently become an economically significant agricultural and forest pest. Data on discovery, distribution, and some remarkable biological traits of this gregarious egg parasitoid are presented. Its identification and availability of many well-preserved fresh specimens have made possible to re-define Pseudocleruchus Donev & Huber, 2002 syn. n., with type and the only described species Pseudocleruchus triclavatus Donev & Huber, 2002, as a synonym of Platystethynium Ogloblin, 1946 and its nominate subgenus, P. (Platystethynium), and also to describe the brachypterous male of P. (Platystethynium) triclavatum. It is the first known male for the entire genus. Enlarged mandibles of the megacephalous males are used to chew holes in the hard chorion of the host egg, allowing fully winged females, whose mandibles are strongly reduced and do not cross over, to emerge after mating with the males inside it. Up to 136 individual parasitoids (about 77 on average) can hatch from a single egg of B. vicetinus, with their sex ratio being strongly female biased (80–97% females per egg)

Technology and technique for left ventricular assist device optimization: A Bi-Tech solution

Background We investigated the synergistic effect of the new cone-bearing design of Jarvik 2000 (Jarvik Heart Inc., NY) together with a minimally-invasive approach to outcomes of LVAD patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients from 5 institutions involved in the Jarvik 2000 Italian Registry, from October 2008 to October 2016. Patients were divided into three groups according to pump design and implantation technique: pin-bearing design and conventional approach (Group 1); cone-bearing and conventional approach (Group 2); cone-bearing and minimally-invasive implantation (Group 3). Results A total of 150 adult patients with end-stage heart failure were enrolled: 26 subjects in Group 1, 74 in Group 2, and 50 in Group 3. Nineteen patients (73%) in Group 1, 51 (69%) in Group 2, and 36 (72%) in Group 3 were discharged. During follow-up, 22 patients underwent transplantation, while in 3 patients the LVAD was explanted. The overall 1-year survival was 58 +/- 10%, 64 +/- 6%, and 74% +/- 7% in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.034). The competing-risks-adjusted cumulative incidence rate for adverse events was 42.1 [27-62.7] per 100 patient-years in Group 1, 35.4 [25.3-48.2] in Group 2, and 22.1 [12.4-36.4] in Group 3 (p = 0.046 for Group 1 vs. 3). Conclusions The association of the modern cone-bearing configuration of Jarvik 2000 and minimally invasive surgery improved survival and minimized the risk for cardiovascular events, as a result of combining technology and technique

Climate and landscape composition explain agronomic practices, pesticide use and grape yield in vineyards across Italy

Context Worldwide, organic farming is being promoted as one of the main alternatives to intensive conventional farming. However, the benefits of organic agriculture are still controversial and need to be tested across wide environmental gradients. Objective Here, we carried out an observational study to test how agronomic practices, pest management, environmental impact and yield of conventional and organic vineyards changed along wide climatic and landscape gradients across Italy. Methods We used a block design with 38 pairs of conventional and organic vineyards across Italy. Results and conclusions Most agronomic practices did not differ between conventional and organic vineyards. By contrast, landscape composition and climate were strong predictors of management in both systems. First, increasing semi-natural areas around the vineyards reduced pesticide pressure and related environmental impacts, but was also associated with lower yield. Second, irrespective of the farming system, a warm and dry climate was associated with reduced fungicide pressure. Conventional farming had a yield gain of 40% in cold and wet climate compared to organic but the yield gap disappeared in the warmest regions. Significance In both farming systems, we observed a large variability in management practices that was mainly explained by climate and landscape composition. This large variability should be considered when evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of different farming systems under contrasting environmental contexts

Biologia e ecologia degli ortotteri tipici degli ecosistemi naturali e agrari: dalla gestione delle infestazioni alla conservazione della biodiversità

Orthopterans occur in most terrestrial habitats and their order includes the grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and their relatives. They could have an ecological and economic importance, as pivotal elements in trophic food webs and as pests, causing devastating damages to agricultural and forest crops. There are two different management responses: reducing population levels in pest management and maintaining or increasing population levels in conservation management. While the phenomenon of outbreak in Orthoptera is well known worldwide especially for Caelifera suborder, less studied are the outbreaks of Ensifera. The recent and unexpected outbreaks of the bush-cricket Barbitistes vicetinus in the north-east of Italy, gave me the possibility to unravel some significant questions about this forest pest. Firstly, we confirmed the endemic origin of this species, suggesting that environmental factors rather than genetic factors could have a role in the demographic fluctuations of this orthopteran. Secondly, we clarified the role of temperature on survival and diapause, demonstrating how summer temperatures experienced by eggs after oviposition can affect their development, potentially shifting life-cycle from pluriannual to annual. Morevoer, we discovered a native egg parasitoid providing biological, taxonomical and distributional data that could be useful regarding its potential use in biological control against B. vicetinus. Another goal of this thesis was to implement conservation strategies to preserve different Orthoptera species with different ecological requirements. In particular, because agricultural intensification is widely considered a major threat to biodiversity, we investigated wether extensively managed perennial crops such as vineyards and olive groves could represent surrogate habitats for orthopterans. In addition, we focused on the endangered bush-cricket Anonconotus italoaustriacus, analysing genetic populations diversity among its small distribution area in the Alps to improve conservation strategies and prevent extinction.Orthopterans occur in most terrestrial habitats and their order includes the grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and their relatives. They could have an ecological and economic importance, as pivotal elements in trophic food webs and as pests, causing devastating damages to agricultural and forest crops. There are two different management responses: reducing population levels in pest management and maintaining or increasing population levels in conservation management. While the phenomenon of outbreak in Orthoptera is well known worldwide especially for Caelifera suborder, less studied are the outbreaks of Ensifera. The recent and unexpected outbreaks of the bush-cricket Barbitistes vicetinus in the north-east of Italy, gave me the possibility to unravel some significant questions about this forest pest. Firstly, we confirmed the endemic origin of this species, suggesting that environmental factors rather than genetic factors could have a role in the demographic fluctuations of this orthopteran. Secondly, we clarified the role of temperature on survival and diapause, demonstrating how summer temperatures experienced by eggs after oviposition can affect their development, potentially shifting life-cycle from pluriannual to annual. Morevoer, we discovered a native egg parasitoid providing biological, taxonomical and distributional data that could be useful regarding its potential use in biological control against B. vicetinus. Another goal of this thesis was to implement conservation strategies to preserve different Orthoptera species with different ecological requirements. In particular, because agricultural intensification is widely considered a major threat to biodiversity, we investigated wether extensively managed perennial crops such as vineyards and olive groves could represent surrogate habitats for orthopterans. In addition, we focused on the endangered bush-cricket Anonconotus italoaustriacus, analysing genetic populations diversity among its small distribution area in the Alps to improve conservation strategies and prevent extinction

Increasing temperatures affect multiyear life cycle of the outbreak bush-cricket Barbitistes vicetinus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

Although outbreaks of rare species are unusual, several insect species have become emerging pests probably due to the ongoing environmental changes. Barbitistes vicetinus was first described in 1993 as an endemic bush-cricket of north-east Italy and was considered rare until 2008, when it became an established pest, causing severe damages to forests and crops. The possible role of temperature in changing its life cycle has still to be fully understood. Here, we explored the effect of summer temperature on egg diapause and the effect of winter temperature on egg survival. Field observations showed that the proportion of embryos that can complete development at the end of summer ranged from zero to nearly 90% depending on summer temperatures. A substantial shift in the rate of development from 20% to nearly 80% occurred in a thermal range of about 1 degrees C. On the contrary, overwinter egg survival was high and constant (90%) across a wide range of winter temperatures that go well beyond both the cold and warm thermal limits of the current species range. Overall, the results suggest a potential key role of summer temperature warming on the outbreak propensity of this species that is able to switch from a multiyear to an annual life cycle with just a 1-2 degrees C warming

Two new host records for Centrodora italica Ferrière (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from eggs of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera) in northeastern Italy

The egg parasitoid Centrodora italica Ferrière is reported for the first time from sentinel eggs of two species of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), Pachytrachis gracilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl) and Eupholidoptera schmidti (Fieber). In Italy, only two hosts of this parasitic wasp are known, one of which is a tettigoniid species. Exposure of sentinel eggs represented a useful method to detect new host associations of this parasitoid species that can search for their host’s eggs in the ground. The parasitoids were identified by comparing our specimens with those of the type series, and the original description of C. italica

Can extensively managed perennial crops serve as surrogate habitat for orthopterans typical of dry calcareous grasslands?

Both agricultural intensification and abandonment are considered among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially for species typical of semi-natural grasslands. In the Mediterranean regions, semi-natural grasslands are often abandoned or replaced by perennial crops such as vineyards and olive groves with potential negative consequences on the associated diversity. However, when these crops are managed under low-intensity practices, their inter-row grass cover can potentially provide suitable habitats for grassland specialists. Here, we analysed the effects of land use on orthopterans by sampling 67 sites belonging to four different habitats (vineyards, olive groves, semi-natural grasslands and abandoned semi-natural grasslands) along a landscape composition gradient. Overall, species richness was highest in abandoned grasslands, while vineyards presented the lowest diversity. Semi-natural grasslands and olive orchards presented intermediate and similar species richness. However, this effect was significant only for Ensifera species, while species richness of Caelifera did not differ between the four habitats. Increasing forest cover within a scale radius of 500 m also increased Ensifera species richness probably providing undisturbed refugia at the margins. Orthopteran abundance was higher in semi-natural grasslands than in abandoned grasslands and vineyards. Despite the differences in species richness, we observed large overlap in species composition between olive groves and semi-natural grasslands suggesting that perennial crops managed under traditional, non-intensive practices can provide suitable habitats for orthopterans typical of semi-natural grasslands. In particular, olive groves appeared to be a better surrogate habitat than vineyards for the conservation of both Ensifera and Caelifera

Honeybees use various criteria to select the site for performing the waggle dances on the comb

After returning to the hive, successful honeybee foragers dance on the surface of the comb, where they interact with dance followers. It has been shown that bees establish a specific site for their waggle dances that is likely marked with chemical signals. By recording the site where dances take place on the comb in a single-frame observation hive, we investigated the relative importance of three different criteria for the selection of the dance floor by bees, including the distance from the hive entrance, the cell filling, and the chemical marking by bees and found that all these criteria play a role, albeit their importance does not seem to be equal

The first full host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: tribe Xyleborini LeConte, 1876

Xyleborini is the largest tribe of Scolytinae accounting for about 1300 species worldwide; all species are primarily xylomycetophagous, developing on symbiotic fungi farmed in plant woody tissues. Xyleborini wood-boring action, associated with the inoculum of symbiotic fungi, can lead, sometimes, to the emergence of host plant dieback, wood damage and death; for this reason, multiple Xyleborini are major pests on both cultivated, forest and ornamental trees. Many Xyleborini are invasive worldwide and great effort is expended to manage their biological invasions or prevent new arrivals. Imports of host plants often have a primary role as a pathway for introduction and are frequently responsible for the establishment of species in non-native environments. In this context, data availability on Xyleborini host plants is a major limiting factor in the development of effective detection and monitoring strategies as well as a fundamental variable to consider in risk assessment of plant pests and invasive species. This contribution provides updated host records and the hosts economic categorization for the 1293 Xyleborini known worldwide to date