Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera; Vespidae), the first record in Marche region

Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera Vespidae), prima segnalazione nella Regione Marche. Viene segnalata per la prima volta nel versante orientale della Penisola italiana, ad Ancona (Regione Marche) la presenza di Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771 (Hymenoptera Vespidae). Dopo un primo avvistamento da parte di un apicoltore, sono stati effettuati dei campionamenti direttamente in apiario e l’identità degli insetti catturati è stata successivamente confermata in laboratorioThe presence of Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771 (Hymenoptera Vespidae) was reported for the first time on the eastern side of the Italian peninsula, in Ancona (Marche Region). After an initial sighting by a beekeeper, sampling was carried out directly in the apiary and the identity of the insects captured was subsequently confirmed in the laborator

Evaluation of Growth Performance and Environmental Impact of Hermetia illucens Larvae Reared on Coffee Silverskins Enriched with Schizochytrium limacinum or Isochrysis galbana Microalgae

Hermetia illucens is a promising insect due to its ability to convert low-value substrates as food chain by-products into highly nutritious feed. Its feeding and nutrition are important issues. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different substrates consisting of coffee silverskin, a by-product of the roasting process, enriched with different inclusions of microalgae (5%, 10%, 20%, and 25%), Schizochytrium limacinum, and Isochrysis galbana, combined with the assessment of environmental sustainability by LCA. In general, the addition of microalgae led to an increase in larval growth performance due to the higher content of protein and lipids, although S. limacinum showed the best results with respect to larvae fed with coffee silverskin enriched with I. galbana. A higher prepupal weight was observed in larvae fed with 10%, 20%, and 25% S. limacinum; shorter development times in larvae fed with 25% of both S. limacinum and I. galbana; and a higher growth rate in larvae fed with 25% S. limacinum. The 10% S. limacinum inclusion was only slightly different from the higher inclusions. Furthermore, 10% of S. limacinum achieved the best waste reduction index. The greater the inclusion of microalgae, the greater the environmental impact of larval production. Therefore, the addition of 10% S. limacinum appears to be the best compromise for larval rearing, especially considering that a higher inclusion of microalgae did not yield additional benefits in terms of the nutritional value of H. illucens prepupae

Fine structure of the external sheaths of the ovipositor of Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The function and structure of the ovipositor in Hymenoptera have been studied intensively, although there is a lack of information on the external sheaths. We provide here a contribution on the structure of the external sheaths of the ovipositor of the parasitic wasp Aphidius ervi, in particular the secretory structure is described for the first time. These glands are made up of a large epithelial structure that consists a single layer of large secretory cells that occupy most of the lumen of the valve and belong to gland cell class 1. Based on the different features of the glands, a lubricating and/or host marking function is hypothesized and discussed

Sensory structures on maxillary and labial palps of Tenebrio molitor

The yellow mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) is an important stored products pest, although its larvae are also one of the most promising for food and feed. Although T. molitor has been widely investigated, there remains a lack of information about the sensory structures on maxillary and labial palps. Here, it was investigated the external morphology and distribution pattern of the sensilla on mouthpart palps of T. molitor larvae using scanning electron microscopy. In T. molitor, the maxillary palp has three segments, whereas the labial palp has two segments. Based on the morphology of the features of the sensilla on the apical articles of both the maxillary and labial palps, we classified them into nine types: sensilla trichoidea types 1 and 2, sensilla digitiformia, sensilla chaetica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla basiconica types 1 and 2, sensilla styloconica types 1 and 2. A total of 23 sensilla on maxillary palps and 13 sensilla on labial palps were found. In particular, the sensilla basiconica form the sensory complex located on the tip of each palp. In T. molitor, the numbers of sensilla present on the sensory complexes do not differ between maxillary and labial palps, as 13 units

Morphology of the mouthparts of the yellow mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is known to be an important stored products pest, even though its larvae are considered one of the most common feed and food edible insect. We investigated the maxillo-labial complex morphology of the last instar larvae, using Electron Microscopy techniques. The maxillary palps are composed by three segments. On the second segment we observed two sensilla supposed to be mechanoreceptors, one dorsally and one externally located. On the third segment we found: a sensory complex composed by four different types of putative olfactory and gustative sensilla, located on the tip; up to four putative chemoreceptors and one putative mechanoreceptor located on the internal side; one digitiform sensilla, supposed to be hygroreceptor, located on the external side. The labial palps are composed by two segments. On the latero-ventral side of the second labial segment we found sensilla supposed to be gustative and on the tip we observed a sensory complex similar to the one described on the maxillary palp tip. The function of most of the sensilla was supposed by morphological similarities with sensilla in closely related insects. For this reason, further ultrastructure investigations are necessary to better describe and understand the function of each sensillum and their correlation with T. molitor food preference behavio

Wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in Ripa Bianca Nature Reserve (Central-Eastern Italy)

Pollination is a basis for the maintenance of biodiversity in agricultural and natural landscapes. Hymenoptera Apoidea, above all, are known to pollinate most of the world‘s wild plant species. The aim of this work was to study wild bees species and their plant hosts in the Ripa Bianca Regional Nature Reserve of the Marche Region (Central-Eastern Italy) located in the Jesi Municipality (district of Ancona)

Antennal morphology and ultrastructure of Philaenus spumarius (L.)

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Hemiptera, Cercopoidea, Aphrophoridae), is a polyphagous insect species known to be a vector of Xylella fastidiosa, a quarantine xylematic bacteria associated with the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome in Southern Italy. There is a lack of knowledge in the host location and recognition, as well as in mating behavior of P. spumarius. In this context, the antennae play a crucial role mediating stimuli coming from the environment and from conspecifics. The antennae of both P. spumarius male and female individuals were investigated using Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy techniques. The antennae consist of three segments: a basal scape, a pedicel and a flagellum composed of a basal bulb-like enlargement (ampulla) and a long arista. Both the scape and the pedicel are cylindrical with a concave apex. The ampulla surface presents several coeloconic sensilla and three large basiconic structures located close to arista base. Ultrastructural investigation revealed in the arista the presence of a mechanosensory structure probably associated with vibrations perception. Basiconic sensilla show the typical organization of olfactory sensilla as regards the cuticular external structure (which presents abundant wall pores) and the internal cellular features. First insights of TEM investigation of coeloconic sensilla clearly revealed the presence at least two type of sensilla: i) double-walled sensilla, that are the most abundant in the flagellar basal area, possibly involved in chemoperception; ii) aporous thick walled sensilla which show features typical of thermo-hygro receptors. A third third type of coeloconic sensillum is still under investigation