Supplementary note on the solitary bee fauna from the Suez Canal region of Egypt (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Previous surveys (2011–2013) of the bee fauna from the Suez Canal region, Egypt, recorded a total of 55 species.  Those surveys did not include important floral species among the Asteraceae, a family known to be associated with various oligolectic bees.  The aim of the present note is to report bees visiting four uncultivated species of Asteraceae that are common in the region during the Spring of 2014.  Nine species of bees were recorded from these flowers, these increasing the number of species recorded from the Suez Canal region to 62.  Some species, such as Daypoda sinuata Pérez (Melittidae) and Panurgus dentatus Friese (Andrenidae), are known oligoleges of Asteraceae.

Effect of Nursing Intervention on Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction among Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an extremely common clinical problem, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. Aim: determine the effect of nursing intervention on expected clinical outcomes and satisfaction of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Design: This quasi-experimental design. Setting: was conducted at the emergency department. Sample: a convenience sample 50 adult patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Tools: used for data collection included sociodemographic and medical data sheet, patient clinical outcome and patient satisfaction. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the study and control group after application of nursing intervention regarding patients' clinical outcomes items ( bleeding attack, vital signs, laboratory tests, mental status and medical co-morbidities) at level P= 0.040, 0.000, 0.001, 0.066 and 0.045respectively, highly statistically significant differences were existed between the study and control group after application of nursing intervention regarding level of patients' satisfaction as a total score recorded 77.20±4.24 for the study group while it was 57.68±10.6 for the control group, achievement of the average scores for the most of the checklist items which related to nurses' performance. Conclusions: Findings illustrate that nursing intervention improve patients' expected clinical outcomes and their satisfaction. Recommendations: These findings suggest that generalization of the standardized nursing intervention in form of booklet for patients with UGIB at all hematemsis departments of Mansoura University Hospitals is important to maximize the expected clinical outcomes for patients with UGIB. Keywords: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, Nursing intervention, Patient satisfaction, Outcom

Notes on the Nesting Biology of the Small Carpenter Bee Ceratina smaragdula (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Northwestern Pakistan

The nesting biology and some foraging activities of the familiar, brilliant metallic green, small carpenter bee Ceratina (Pithitis) smaragdula (F.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is documented from the northwestern-most extent of its natural distribution, as the species is a potentially important pollinator of leguminous and cucurbit crops in the region. Numerous nests around the village of Ismaila, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, were observed and sampled from Jun through Aug 2012. Nest details were recorded and foraging times on various floral species were documented, with bees preferentially nesting in wooden stalks of Ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae L.; Poales: Poaceae), life cycles lasting 28 to 32 d, and conditions offering the potential for easy management. The importance of such studies on wild bees in Pakistan is stressed, as are the development of biotic surveys on bees and the training of regional melittologists, coupled with outreach activities. Resumen La biología de la anidación y algunas actividades de forrajeo de la pequeña abeja carpintera Ceratina (Pithitis) smaragdula (F.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) de tipo familiar y brillante color verde metálico está documentado desde el punto mas noroeste de su distribución natural, ya que la especie es potencialmente un importante polinizador de legumbres y cucurbitáceas en la región. Se observaron numerosos nidos alrededor del pueblo de Ismaila, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincia, Pakistán, y se tomaron muestras desde junio hasta agosto del 2012. Los detalles de la anidación fueron registrados y se documentaron los tiempos de forrajeo sobre diversas especies florales, con las abejas preferentemente anidando en los tallos de madera de pasto de Rávena (Saccharum ravennae L.; Poales: Poaceae), los ciclos de vida duran de 28 a 32 dias, y las condiciones que ofrecen el potencial para un fácil manejo. Se destaca la importancia de este tipo de estudio sobre las abejas silvestres en Pakistán, igual que el desarrollo de sondeos bióticos sobre las abejas y la formación de melitólogos regionales, junto con actividades de extensión

Mısırda’ki bakla arı tozlayıcıların bolluğu ve yiyecek arama faaliyetleri üzerine bazı insektisitlerin etkisi: Bir vaka çalışması

Insect pollinators provide many essential ecosystem services including pollination, and many others. However, pollinating insects are currently facing potential threats on an unprecedented scale with many species facing decline. Honeybee Apis mellifera comprise nearly 68% of those affected insect pollinators. Irrational Insecticides application, with special reference to neonicotinoides group is one of the main causes of this decline. The main objective of the current study is to investigate the impact of some insecticides application on the activity of broad bean flower-visiting bees. Tested inseticides were thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, thiacloprid (neonicotinoids), spinosyns A and D, beside some organophosphates. Changes in the daily activity of bees visiting broad bean flowers following insecticide application was recorded and compared to their activity before application, throughout until the end of blooming season.Böcek tozlayıcıları, tozlaşma ve diğerleri dahil olmak üzere birçok temel ekosistem hizmeti sağlar. Bununla birlikte, tozlaşan böcekler şu anda birçok türün düşüşle karşı karşıya kalmasıyla eşi görülmemiş bir ölçekte potansiyel tehditlerle karşı karşıya. Bal arısı Apis mellifera, etkilenen böcek tozlaştırıcılarının yaklaşık %68'ini oluşturur. Neonicotinoides grubuna özel atıfta bulunulan irrasyonel İnsektisit uygulaması bu düşüşün ana nedenlerinden biridir. Mevcut çalışmanın temel amacı, bazı insektisit uygulamalarının bakla çiçeğini ziyaret eden arıların aktivitesi üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Test edilen insektisitler, bazı organofosfatların yanında tiyametoksam, asetamiprid, tiakloprid (neonikotinoidler), spinosinler A ve D. Bakla çiçeklerini insektisit uygulaması sonrasında ziyaret eden arıların günlük aktivitelerinde meydana gelen değişimler kayıt altına alınmış ve çiçeklenme döneminin sonuna kadar uygulama öncesindeki aktiviteleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır

New genera of meliturguline bees from Saudi Arabia and Persia, with notes on related genera and a key to the Arabian fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

A new genus of melitturgine bees (Panurginae: Melitturgini) is described and figured from central Saudi Arabia. Belliturgula najdica Engel, gen. et sp. n., is similar in several respects to the genus Flavomeliturgula Patiny in that both have a greatly elongate glossa that is longer than the face and is truncate apically. The former differs in the greatly elongate and flattened first labial palpomere, the remaining palpomeres unmodified, the greatly protuberant clypeus, and long labrum lacking dense setal patches, among other traits. In addition, remarks are made on the composition of Flavomeliturgula, with Meliturgula deserta Warncke (Iran, Pakistan), removed to Khuzimelissa Engel, gen. n., resulting in the new combination Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n. Khuzimelissa differs from Flavomeliturgula by the unmodified labial palpomeres (lacking the elongate first three labial palpomeres of the latter genus), the acute glossa (broadly truncate in the latter), glossa shorter than head length (greater than head length in the latter), the abundant, white, squamiform setae of the mesoscutum (sparse, erect setae in the latter), cleft pretarsal claws (simple in the latter), presence of metasomal setal bands (lacking in the latter), and apically emarginate pygidial plate (acutely rounded in the latter). The species of Flavomeliturgula are organized into three subgenera, including Koreshomelissa Engel, subgen. n., and Freyamelissa Engel, subgen. n., and these may eventually warrant generic status once phylogenetic work on the tribe has been completed. A key to the Arabian genera of Panurginae is provided, along with an augmented key to the genera of subtribe Meliturgulina

Dasypoda morawitzi Radchenko, 2016, a newly recorded solitary bee species in Hungary (Apoidea: Melittidae)

Until now four species of the genus Dasypoda Latreille, 1802 were known from Hungary: Dasypoda argentata (Panzer, 1809), D. braccata (Eversmann, 1852), D. hirtipes (Fabricius, 1793) and D. suripes (Christ, 1791). Several Dasypoda specimens collected in the National Botanical Garden, Vácrátót and the Dasypoda material in the Hymenoptera Collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum were examined, and Dasypoda morawitzi (Radchenko, 2016), a new species for the Hungarian fauna was found. In this paper we report the first Hungarian records of this species. With 14 figures

A new species of the carpenter bee genus Xylocopa from the Sarawat Mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

A new species of the carpenter bee genus Xylocopa Latreille (Xylocopinae: Xylocopini) is described and figured from two localities in southern Saudi Arabia. Xylocopa (Koptortosoma) sarawatica Engel, sp. n. is a relatively small species similar to the widespread X. pubescens Spinola, but differs in the extent of maculation in males, setal coloration of both sexes, and male terminalia. A revised key to the species of Xylocopa in Saudi Arabia is provided

New genera of meliturguline bees from Saudi Arabia and Persia, with notes on related genera and a key to the Arabian fauna (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

A new genus of melitturgine bees (Panurginae: Melitturgini) is described and figured from central Saudi Arabia. Belliturgula najdica Engel, gen. et sp. n., is similar in several respects to the genus Flavomeliturgula Patiny in that both have a greatly elongate glossa that is longer than the face and is truncate apically. The former differs in the greatly elongate and flattened first labial palpomere, the remaining palpomeres unmodified, the greatly protuberant clypeus, and long labrum lacking dense setal patches, among other traits. In addition, remarks are made on the composition of Flavomeliturgula, with Meliturgula deserta Warncke (Iran, Pakistan), removed to Khuzimelissa Engel, gen. n., resulting in the new combination Khuzimelissa deserta (Warncke), comb. n. Khuzimelissa differs from Flavomeliturgula by the unmodified labial palpomeres (lacking the elongate first three labial palpomeres of the latter genus), the acute glossa (broadly truncate in the latter), glossa shorter than head length (greater than head length in the latter), the abundant, white, squamiform setae of the mesoscutum (sparse, erect setae in the latter), cleft pretarsal claws (simple in the latter), presence of metasomal setal bands (lacking in the latter), and apically emarginate pygidial plate (acutely rounded in the latter). The species of Flavomeliturgula are organized into three subgenera, including Koreshomelissa Engel, subgen. n., and Freyamelissa Engel, subgen. n., and these may eventually warrant generic status once phylogenetic work on the tribe has been completed. A key to the Arabian genera of Panurginae is provided, along with an augmented key to the genera of subtribe Meliturgulina

Production of extracellular alkaline protease by new halotolerant alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. NPST-AK15 isolated from hyper saline soda lakes

Background: Alkaline proteases are among the most important classes of industrial hydrolytic enzymes. The industrial demand for alkaline proteases with favorable properties continues to enhance the search for new enzymes. The present study focused on isolation of new alkaline producing alkaliphilic bacteria from hyper saline soda lakes and optimization of the enzyme production. Results: A new potent alkaline protease producing halotolerant alkaliphilic isolate NPST-AK15 was isolated from hyper saline soda lakes, which affiliated to Bacillus sp. based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Organic nitrogen supported enzyme production showing maximum yield using yeast extract, and as a carbon source, fructose gave maximum protease production. NPST-AK15 can grow over a broad range of NaCl concentrations (0\u201320%), showing maximal growth and enzyme production at 0\u20135%, indicated the halotolerant nature of this bacterium. Ba and Ca enhanced enzyme production by 1.6 and 1.3 fold respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for both enzyme production and cell growth were at 40\ub0C and pH 11, respectively. Alkaline protease secretion was coherent with the growth pattern, started at beginning of the exponential phase and reached maximal in mid stationary phase (36 h). Conclusions: A newhalotolerant alkaliphilic alkaline protease producing Bacillus sp.NPST-AK15 was isolated from soda lakes. Optimization of various fermentation parameters resulted in an increase of enzyme yield by 22.8 fold, indicating the significance of optimization of the fermentation parameters to obtain commercial yield of the enzyme. NPST-AK15 and its extracellular alkaline protease with salt tolerance signify their potential applicability in the laundry industry and other applications