On the occurrence of Crocidura Suaveolens Pallas (Mammalia, Insectivra) in the Maltese Islands with notes on other Maltese shrews

Crocidura suaveolens Pallas, 1811 is recorded definitely for the first time from the Maltese Islands. Previous records of this species are reviewed and are shown to refer to other species or else to be unconfirmed. Besides C. suaveolens, two other shrews inhabit the Maltese Islands. Sunclts e"ruscus (Savi) is distributed in both Malta and Gozo while both C. suaveolens Pallas and C. russula (Hermann) appear to be restricted to the island of Gozo. The latter species has not, however, been recorded in this study.peer-reviewe

A note concerning the scorpions (Arachnida : Scorpiones) of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

All scorpions collected from the islands of Malta, Gozo, Camino and St. Paul's belonged to Euscorpius (s.str.) carpathicus (linnaeus, 1773) ssp. candiota Birula, 1903 as used by Kinzelbach (1975) for populations showing a complex of morphological characters intermediate between E.carpathicus carpathicus and E.mesotrichus Hadzi. Similar intermediate populations are found in several eastern Mediterranean localities (Greece, some Greek islands and Crete)" however the Maltese populations are more heterogenous than any other so far studied. The literature contains records of other species of scorpion from the Maltese Islands whereas the collections of the British Museum (Natural History), London include specimens of Mesobuthus gibbosus (Brulle) reportedly collected from Malta. These records are discussed and it is postulated that they are either errors of identification or labelling, or else represent introduced exotics now locally extinct.peer-reviewe

On the occurrence of Agama agama (L.) (Reptilia : Agamidae) in the Maltese Islands

A live female specimen of Agama agama (L.) was found amongst crates of imported beer at Marsa, Malta in October 1979. This lizard was probably transported to Malta from North Africa with cargo.peer-reviewe

Nymphalis polychlorus L. (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae) in the Maltese Islands

BORG (1932) in his list of Maltese Lepidoptera included, among several other 'exotic' species, NymphaLis poLychLorus, the Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly. Borg's list is considered unreliable by most local entomologist's and therefore this species has up to now been unconfirmed (VALLETTA, 1972; SAMMUT, 1984).peer-reviewe

Notes on the subspecies of Ronisia barbara (Hymenoptera : Mutillidae) in the Maltese Islands

Ronisia barbara occurs as two distinct subspecies in the Maltese Islands. R. b. barbara, previously thought to occur only in Gozo and Camino, is here reported fo~ the first time from Malta where it has been found at the northern tip of Marfa Ridge. The second subspecies, R. b. brutia occurs south of this locality. Males of R. barbara identical to the subspecies R. b. torosa were observed in close prox- imity with female R. b. orutia and possibly courting them. On this and other evidence it is suggested that R. b. torosa is actually the male of R. b. brutia. The latter name has precedence.peer-reviewe

A preliminary list of the Ichneumonidae of the Maltese Islands (Hymenoptera)

The Ichneumonidae of the Maltese Islands have not been previously studied. All the species mentioned in this paper therefore, are essentially new records. AIthough no systematic faunal investigations were carried out, it was felt that publication of a preliminary list of species would be useful. The material studied here was mainly collected between the years 1974 and 1979, and in general represents species encountered more or less accidentally during the course of other entomological investigations.peer-reviewe

Notes on the Orthoptera of the Maltese Islands : the genus Myrmecophilus (Orthoptera : Gryllidae)

Two species of MyrmecophiLus have been recorded from the Maltese Islands: M. ochraceu8 and the endemic M. baronii. New distrib- ution data for both species are given. This is the first time that M. baronii has been collected again af~er its original descript- ion by Baccetti in 1967. A key to the Malteses species is included.peer-reviewe

Daphnis nerii L. (Lepidoptera : Sphingidae) in Malta

A specimen of the Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii L.) was handed to the author on 24 July 1984. This large moth was taken from Zurrieq (southern Malta) where it had entered a house, presumably having been attracted to light. The hawk moth was in good cond- ition when captured but due to mishandling it reached the author in a very battered state. However identification was readily made.peer-reviewe

New records of the genus Pachygrapsus (Crustacea : Decapoda) from the central Mediterranean Sea with a review of its Mediterranean zoogeography

The occurrence of Pachygrapsus maurus and Pachygrapsus transversus is reported from the Maltese Islands for the first time on the basis of one specimen of P. maurus collected in 1990 and numerous recent specimens, and the distribution of the two species is mapped. The controversial presence of P. maurus in Italy is confirmed and two new sites for this species are reported, including the first for the mainland of Italy. The examination of the historical specimen of P. maurus from the Genova area revealed a misidentification of P. transversus; this record could be a result of ship-mediated transport. First notes on the habitat of P. maurus in the central Mediterranean Sea are given. Updated maps of the distribution of P. maurus and P. transversus in the Mediterranean are provided and the zoogeography of these species is revisited.peer-reviewe

IX Malta Medical School Conference

Abstracts of papers presented at the 9th Malta Medical School Conference held at the Hilton Malta Hotel, Portomaso, St. Julians between 3rd and 5th December 2015.peer-reviewe