First record of Spilomena mocsaryi Kohl, 1898 (Hymenoptera) from Malta with a check-list of Maltese Crabronidae

Until now the Crabronidae fauna of the Maltese Islands comprised 45 species in 5 subfamilies. Recently, one of us (EX) while studying insect visitors on flowers of Capparis orientalis found a new crabronid species from Malta, Spilomena mocsaryi Kohl, 1898. A check-list of the 46 species of Crabronidae so far recorded from the Maltese Islands is provided.peer-reviewe

New records of Crabronidae (Hymenoptera : Apoidea) from the Maltese Islands with an updated checklist

Eight species of Crabronidae are recorded from the Maltese Islands for the first time: Cerceris flavilabris (Fabricius), Miscophus niger Dahlbom, Oxybelus trispinosus (Fabricius), Passaloecus brevilabris Wolf, Trypoxylon scutatum Chevrier, Prosopigastra creon (Nurse), Mimumesa unicolor (Vander Linden) and Nitela lucens Gayubo & Felton. Of these, Prosopigastra creon is recorded from Europe for the first time. A checklist of the fifty-four species of Maltese Crabronidae is also provided.peer-reviewe

DNA Barcoding of Central European Gasteruptiidae and the rarely-collected families Evaniidae, Stephanidae, Trigonalidae, and Aulacidae (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

The study presents DNA barcoding results of five families of Hymenoptera in Germany. DNA barcodes are provided for 24 of the 25 species of Gasteruption occurring in Central Europe, including 18 of the 19 species recorded from Germany. The genetic diversity was higher than expected, with five species exhibiting two or more Barcode Index Number (BINs), whereas BIN sharing occurred in four species. Gasteruption foveiceps Semenov, 1892, stat. nov. is removed from synonymy with G. nigrescens Schletterer, 1885 and treated as a distinct species

Symptoms Compatible With Long Coronavirus Disease (COVID) in Healthcare Workers With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection-Results of a Prospective Multicenter Cohort.

BACKGROUND The burden of long-term symptoms (ie, long COVID) in patients after mild COVID-19 is debated. Within a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs), frequency and risk factors for symptoms compatible with long COVID are assessed. METHODS Participants answered baseline (August/September 2020) and weekly questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) results and acute disease symptoms. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 serology was performed; in March, symptoms compatible with long COVID (including psychometric scores) were asked and compared between HCWs with positive NPS, seropositive HCWs without positive NPS (presumable asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic infections), and negative controls. The effect of time since diagnosis and quantitative anti-spike protein antibodies (anti-S) was evaluated. Poisson regression was used to identify risk factors for symptom occurrence. RESULTS Of 3334 HCWs (median, 41 years; 80% female), 556 (17%) had a positive NPS and 228 (7%) were only seropositive. HCWs with positive NPS more frequently reported ≥1 symptom compared with controls (73% vs 52%, P 6 months ago; anti-S titers correlated with high symptom scores. Acute viral symptoms in weekly questionnaires best predicted long-COVID symptoms. Physical activity at baseline was negatively associated with neurocognitive impairment and fatigue scores. CONCLUSIONS Seropositive HCWs without positive NPS are only mildly affected by long COVID. Exhaustion/burnout is common, even in noninfected HCWs. Physical activity might be protective against neurocognitive impairment/fatigue symptoms after COVID-19

Risk and symptoms of COVID-19 in health professionals according to baseline immune status and booster vaccination during the Delta and Omicron waves in Switzerland-A multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND Knowledge about protection conferred by previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and/or vaccination against emerging viral variants allows clinicians, epidemiologists, and health authorities to predict and reduce the future Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) burden. We investigated the risk and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 (re)infection and vaccine breakthrough infection during the Delta and Omicron waves, depending on baseline immune status and subsequent vaccinations. METHODS AND FINDINGS In this prospective, multicentre cohort performed between August 2020 and March 2022, we recruited hospital employees from ten acute/nonacute healthcare networks in Eastern/Northern Switzerland. We determined immune status in September 2021 based on serology and previous SARS-CoV-2 infections/vaccinations: Group N (no immunity); Group V (twice vaccinated, uninfected); Group I (infected, unvaccinated); Group H (hybrid: infected and ≥1 vaccination). Date and symptoms of (re)infections and subsequent (booster) vaccinations were recorded until March 2022. We compared the time to positive SARS-CoV-2 swab and number of symptoms according to immune status, viral variant (i.e., Delta-dominant before December 27, 2021; Omicron-dominant on/after this date), and subsequent vaccinations, adjusting for exposure/behavior variables. Among 2,595 participants (median follow-up 171 days), we observed 764 (29%) (re)infections, thereof 591 during the Omicron period. Compared to group N, the hazard ratio (HR) for (re)infection was 0.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22 to 0.50, p < 0.001) for V, 0.25 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.57, p = 0.001) for I, and 0.04 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.10, p < 0.001) for H in the Delta period. HRs substantially increased during the Omicron period for all groups; in multivariable analyses, only belonging to group H was associated with protection (adjusted HR [aHR] 0.52, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.77, p = 0.001); booster vaccination was associated with reduction of breakthrough infection risk in groups V (aHR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85, p = 0.001) and H (aHR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.00, p = 0.048), largely observed in the early Omicron period. Group H (versus N, risk ratio (RR) 0.80, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.97, p = 0.021) and participants with booster vaccination (versus nonboosted, RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.88, p < 0.001) reported less symptoms during infection. Important limitations are that SARS-CoV-2 swab results were self-reported and that results on viral variants were inferred from the predominating strain circulating in the community at that time, rather than sequencing. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that hybrid immunity and booster vaccination are associated with a reduced risk and reduced symptom number of SARS-CoV-2 infection during Delta- and Omicron-dominant periods. For previously noninfected individuals, booster vaccination might reduce the risk of symptomatic Omicron infection, although this benefit seems to wane over time

Clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection during the Omicron period in relation to baseline immune status and booster vaccination-A prospective multicentre cohort of health professionals (SURPRISE study).

The effects of different types of pre-existing immunity on the frequency of clinical symptoms caused by the SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection were prospectively assessed in healthcare workers during the Omicron period. Among 518 participants, hybrid immunity was associated with symptom reduction for dizziness, muscle or limb pain and headache as compared to vaccination only. Moreover, the frequencies of dizziness, cough and muscle or limb pain were lower in participants who had received a booster vaccine dose. Thus, hybrid immunity appeared to be superior in preventing specific symptoms during breakthrough infection compared to vaccination alone. A booster vaccine dose conferred additional symptom reduction

Ammatomus vanharteni SCHMID- EGGER, sp. nov.

Ammatomus vanharteniSCHMID-EGGERsp. nov. (figs 29-34) Holotype: female United Arab Emirates, 26.vi.-25.vii.2006 Al Aijban 24.36N 50.01E leg. A.v.Harten in Mailaise trap (coll CSE). Paratypes: Oman: female 25.v.2004, Muscat; Oman male 13.v.2004, Muslimat (leg. et coll. Schlaefle). Iran: 3 males 19.vii.2012 Fars, Darab 1126 m, 28̕42̕N 54̕34̕E; Iran 2 males 26.vi.2012 Fars, Darab, Navayegan 1511 m, 28̕40̕N 54/59̕E (leg. A. Haghigi, coll CSE). Yemen: male 20.x.2005 Wadi Dawan, NW Mukalla 950 m (leg. J. Halada, coll. OLL). D i a g n o s i s: A. vanharteni belongs to the A. mesostenus lineage and can be recognized by the following character combination: T 1 is red and has apically a complete yellow band before the transparent apical margin. Body colour is whitish yellow. T 1 is longer than in remaining species (see key for details). D e s c r i p t i o n o f h o l o t y p e, f e m a l e: Body length 8.0 mm. Colour: whitish yellow are: Basal half of mandible, labrum, clypeus, space below antennal socket, short band on lower eye margin, AS I-III, pronotal lobe, spot each on mesoscu- tum laterally in basal and apical corner, metanotum, apical band on T 1, medially with Vshaped interruption, bands on T 2- T 5, bands on tergites IV and V does not reach tergal margin, triangular spot on S2, apical part of fore- and midfemora, tibiae, tarsi. AS X-XII, basal half of fore- and midfemora, hindfemora and large spot on innerside of hindfemora apically reddish. Apical half of hindtarsomere V and claws black. Wing venation reddish, wings transparent. Morphology: Face including clypeus and vertex, lower mesopleuron and propodeal declivity with dense, silver pilosity, T 1 1.3x, mesoscutum with coarse punctation, punctures 0,3-3 diameters apart. Otherwise similar to M. mesostenus (see PULAWSKI 1973). Paratype females agree with holotype. D e s c r i p t i o n o f m a l e: Body length 7.0-8.0 mm. Agree in general aspects with the female. Yellow band on T 1 large, T 7 with medial yellow spot. T 1 1.7x as long as maximum width. Yellow colour pattern of mesosoma variable: most males with lateral band on mesosoma in whole length, pronotal apex with thin band, scutellum with medial spot or band. Male from Oman has mesosoma and scutellum black. E t y m o l o g y: The species is named in honour of Antonius v. Harten, for his enormous contribution to the knowledge of Hymenoptera and other arthropods in the United Arab Emirates. D i s t r i b u t i o n: United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Iran.Published as part of Schmid-Egger, Christian, 2019, Review oI the genus Ammatomus A. COSTA, 1859 (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) Irom the Palearctic region with description oI Iour new species, pp. 437-457 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (1) on pages 446-447, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.375840

Sphex flavipennis Fabricius 1793

Key to Sphex flavipennis group in northwest Africa For definition of S. flavipennis group, see MENKE & PULAWSKI (2000). Distribution and characters only refer to North Africa. Key to females 1 Petiole wider than long, 2/3 as long as hindtarsomere III. [Abdomen black or first tergites red. Wings dark brownish with yellowish shimmer. Mesonotum with erect dense brownish setae. A very large and broad species]. 25-35 mm. Morocco to Libya........................................................................................................................ S. afer LEPELETIER - Petiole at least 1.5x as long as wide....................................................................................2 2 Abdomen black. Wings darkly infumate, apex as dark as remaining wing. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia................................................................................ S. libycus de BEAUMONT - First abdominal segments red (in S. flavipennis also black). Wings greyish or with yellow shimmer, apex of forewing darker than remaining wing.........................................3 3 Legs all black, foretibia may be dark red. Erect setae of face yellowish-brown. Ouarzazate region in southern Morocco..................... S. schlaeflei SCHMID- EGGER, nov.sp. - All legs with red parts. Erect setae of face white.................................................................4 4 Pronotal collar and mesoscutum with adpressed white and golden setae (fig. 19). Wings yellowish with grey apical band. [First tergites red, abdomen may be all black in specimens from western Morocco]. 24-32 mm. Whole area.......... S. flavipennis FABRICIUS - Pronotal collar and mesoscutum without adpressed setae. Wings greyish darkened. Smaller species [T 1-3 red, T4 partly red or black]. 16-26 mm...........................................5 5 Hindtibia all red. Colour of leg and abdomen orange reddish. Tunisia (can also be expected from other regions).................................................... S. funerarius GUSSAKOVSKIJ - Hindtibia black, or with some dark red on underside. Colour of leg and abdomen darker red than in previous species. Southern Morocco.... S. maroccanus SCHMID- EGGER, nov.sp. Key to males 1 Abdomen black...................................................................................................................2 - First abdominal segments red..............................................................................................3 2 AS 7-8 with placoids (fig. 6). S7 with short erect pilosity, setae 0,5x-0.8 as long as hindocellar diameter. Petiole 1.7x as long as wide. 20-22 mm. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia................................................................................................................ S. libycus de BEAUMONT - AS 6-8 with placoids (placoids in direct comparison narrower than in S. libycus, fig. 5). S7 with long erect pilosity, setae 1.5-2x as long as hindocellar diameter. Petiole 1.0x as long as wide. [Petiole laterally with dense pilosity, longest setae longer than diameter of petiole, fig. 20]. 20-26 mm. Morocco to Libya................................... S. afer LEPELETIER 3 AS without large placoids. AS 7-8 with narrow placoids, which are 0,3x as large as width of AS (fig. 2). [Wings yellowish apart from grey apex.]. 18-26 mm. Whole area.............................................................................................................. S. flavipennis FABRICIUS - At least AS 6-8 with large placoids, nearly as large as width of AS...................................4 4 AS 6-8 with placoids (fig. 8). T 1-4 red, apex of T4 sometimes black. Apex of S8 rounded, with medial point. Ouarzazate region in Southern Morocco...................................................................................................................... S. schlaeflei SCHMID- EGGER, nov.sp. - At least AS 5-8 with placoids. T 1-3 red, T4 at least laterally red. Apex of S8 with clear angle....................................................................................................................................5 5 S8 with right angle apically (fig. 17). AS 5-10 with placoids (fig. 7). Southern Morocco................................................................. S. maroccanus SCHMID- EGGER, nov.sp. - S8 with acute angle apically (fig. 13). AS 5-8 or 5-9 with placoids (fig. 4). Tunisia (can also be expected from other regions)........................................ S. funerarius GUSSAKOVSKIJPublished as part of Schmid-Egger, Christian, 2019, A review oI the Sphex flavipennis species group (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in northwest AIrica with description oI two new species and a discussion oI a species Irom Sardinia, pp. 459-471 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (1) on page 461, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.375842

A Revision of Entomosericus Dahlbom 1845 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae) with Description of a New Species

Volume: 9Start Page: 352End Page: 36

Ammatomus rufonodis in Schmid-Egger 2011

Ammatomus rufonodis (RADOSZKOWSKI,1877) (figs 20-26) Hoplisus rufonodis RADOSZKOWSKI, 1877: 41, male. Holotype or syntypes: male, Tajikistan: Zeravshan valley (ZMMU). S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d: Turkey: male, female 13.vi.2000 Birecik 37.02N 37.95E (CSE); Uzbekistan: female male 5.vii.1999 W Zeravshan Mts, Dzhindydaria valley 39.12N 67.27E; 2 females 2 males 27.vii.1999 Ugan Mt. R., Sidzhaksai valley, 41.68N 70.05E; male 5.viii.1999 Tchatkal Mts., Bashkyzylsai riv. 41.18N 69.83E; male 15.vii.1999 Hissar Mt., Tashkurgan, 38.76N 67.26E (OLL). Tajikistan: male 25.6.1976; 9 males 10.6.1970, male 10.6.1990 Nurek (OLL). Oman: male 16.iv.2013 17 km W Sur (OLL); female 10.xi.2018, male female 6.v.2018 Al Mudhaibi, Samad Ashan, Aswareg 22.8259N 58.1522E (Ali Al-Jahdhami). R e m a r k: A detailed examination of specimens formerly identified as A. rufonodis with the key of PULAWSKI (1973) revealed that A. rufonodis consists of three species. Recognition is based mainly on shape of T1, and in details of colour pattern. Each species has a different distribution area: A. saharae in Algeria, A rufonodis s.str. in Turkey, Central Asia and Oman and A. grandcourti in Arabia, Israel and Sudan, with the exception of a small overapping of A rufonodis and A. grandcourti in Oman. There are some similarities with the A. mesostenus-lineage, which is divided into four species, and each species also with a different distribution areas (and some overlapping). D i a g n o s i s:See A. grandcourti and A. saharae for recognition of the species. D i s t r i b u t i o n: Turkey, Armenia, Central Asia (PULAWSKI 1973), Oman. P r e y: Ali Al-Jahdhami (pers. comm.) observed a predation of Dubas Bugs (Ommatissus lybicus, Homoptera: Tropiduchidae), what is a common pest on date palms in Oman.Published as part of Schmid-Egger, Christian, 2019, Review oI the genus Ammatomus A. COSTA, 1859 (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) Irom the Palearctic region with description oI Iour new species, pp. 437-457 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (1) on page 445, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.375840