Notes on Leptocampoplex cremastoides (Hymenoptera, lchneumonidae, Campopleginae), a new genus and species to the Finnish fauna

Leptocampoplex cremastoides (Holmgren, 1858) is reported as new to Finland. The taxonomy and the biology of the species is shortly reviewed

The composition of the egg-parasitoid guild of the golden egg bug, Phyllomorpha laciniata (Heteroptera: Coreidae), in Spain

The golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata (Villers)) is a phytophagous insect with an unusual reproductive system. Females use the bodies of conspecifics, both males and females, as oviposition substrates. In addition, a varying fraction of the eggs is laid on the food plant. Egg carrying on conspecifics increases offspring survival. Predators and, especially, hymenopteran parasitoids are themain cause of egg mortality. So far, only the wasp Gryon bolivari (Giard) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) has been reported as an egg parasitoid of P. laciniata in several Mediterranean populations. In this study, three new egg-parasitoid species are recorded from P. laciniata: the primary solitary parasitoids Gryon monspeliense (Picard) and Telenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), and the facultative hyperparasitoid Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). All of these parasitoids have been reared from host eggs being carried by conspecific bugs. We discuss the taxonomy and biology of the individual parasitoid species, as well as ecological and evolutionary aspects of the interactions in this host-parasitoid system

Notes on the biology of Entephria polafa (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

A new food plant, Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum (Hagerup) Böcher, is reported ror Entephria polata.Larvae were observed to live on the buds of the plant in early summer. The find is discussed and the older records reviewed

Taxonomy, habitat choice and distribution of Kimunpsocus flavonimbatus (Rostock, 1879) comb. n. (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Psocidae)

The bark lice Psocus flavonimbatus Rostock, 1879 and Ptycta chubsugulensis Günther, 1982 are assigned to the genus Kimunpsocus Yoshizawa, 2009. The male terminalia of K. flavonimbatus are described for the first time and compared to the corresponding structures of the other known species of the genus. Previously only known from the type locality in Estonia and the municipality of Kuhmo in Finland, K. flavonimbatus is now reported from 13 new sites and as a new species for four municipalities in eastern Central Finland. Analyses of an extensive material strongly suggest that K. flavonimbatus is a habitat-specialist species, confining its occurrence to pristine and semi-natural spruce-dominated forests. Nonetheless, its occurrence seems to be sporadic even in the old-growth forests. Forest structure of a subset of occupied and unoccupied sites is described and the conservation biology of K. flavonimbatus discussed

Notes on the larval biology of Xestia borealis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Observations on a larva of Xestia borealis found in nature are presented. Our findings support the view that the species has a two-year life cycle with two obligatory winter diapauses. Like Xestia sincera, X. borealis seems to prefer buds and fresh shoots of spruce in its diet. Both species overwinter for the first time as large III–IV instar larvae, after overwintering rapidly complete their larval development, and subsequently fall into a long summer diapause. We also discuss some features of larval biology of other boreal Xestia species with a two-year life cycle

Occurrence of Psocoptera in boreal old-growth forests

We aim to assess habitat and host-tree preferences of psocids (Insecta: Psocoptera) sampled in old-growth-forest biodiversity studies conducted during 1997–2003 in central and southern Finland. Thirty-one out of the recognized sixty-nine Finnish species were found in the samples, four of which (Elipsocus abdominalis, Reuterella helvimacula, Stenopsocus lachlani and Trichadenotecnum majus) might be associated with old-growth forests or with old trees. Psocidus flavonimbatus, a rare taiga species only previously known from the 19th century holotype from Estonia, was repeatedly collected in Kuhmo region, eastern Central Finland. This species is possibly associated with boreal spruce-dominated old-growth forests and likely to prefer Norway spruce as a host tree. We also provide new distribution data for several species and discuss their host-tree preferences

A provisional checklist of mosses (Bryophyta) of Friendship Park (Finland)

We provide the first moss checklist of Friendship Park (Kainuu Region, Finland). Data from both own field collections and the literature are compiled. 164 species are listed in total, of which 79 are representing new species records for Friendship Park. Hedwigia mollis and Plagiothecium rossicum are reported for the first time from Finland. Most encountered moss species (75%) are widespread in Finland. Seven species occurring in Friendship Park are listed in the 2019 Red List of Finnish Species: Buxbaumia viridis (EN), Callicladium haldanianum (NT), Hamatocaulis vernicosus (NT), Schistostega pennata (VU), Sphagnum contortum (NT), S. inundatum (EN) and S. subnitens (NT). Further five species, Fontinalis dalecarlica (NT), Helodium blandowii (NT), Scorpidium scorpioides (NT), Splachnum ampullaceum (NT) and Tomentypnum nitens (NT), are included in the 2019 European Red List. The moss species diversity of Friendship Park is compared with that of the adjacent Kostomuksha Strict Nature Reserve (Russia). The total moss species richness of Friendship Park is assessed using nonparametric estimators. It is concluded that the moss species diversity of Friendship Park is relatively well known

Trogus lapidator ( Fabricius) ssp. panzeri Carlson (Hymenoptera, lchneumonidae) in Finland: new rearing records and comments on its distribution

Two new rearing records of Trogus lapidator (Fabricius, 1787) ssp. panzeri Carlson, 1975 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) are reported. In the light of these data we question the hypothesis according to which Trogus lapidator became extinct in Finland in the early 1960s and colonized the country again in the 1970s from the east

Dead standing pine trees in a boreal forest landscape in the Kalevala National park, northern Fennoscandia : amount, population characteristics and spatial pattern

Background: After their death, Scots pine trees can remain standing for decades and sometimes up to 200 years, forming long-lasting and ecologically important structures in boreal forest landscapes. Standing dead pines decay very slowly and with time develop into 'kelo' trees, which are characterized by hard wood with silvery-colored appearance. These kelo trees represent an ecologically important, long lasting and visually striking element of the structure of natural pine-dominated forests in boreal Fennoscandia that is nowadays virtually absent from managed forest landscapes. Methods: We examined and mapped the amount, structural features, site characteristics and spatial distribution of dead standing pine trees over a ten hectare area in an unmanaged boreal forest landscape in the Kalevala National Park in Russian Viena Karelia. Results: The mean basal area of dead standing pine trees in the forested part of the landscape was 1.7 m(2).ha(-1) and the estimated volume 12.7 m(3).ha(-1). From the total number of standing dead pine trees 65% were kelo trees, with a basal area of 1.1 m(2).ha(-1) and volume of 8.0 m(3).ha(-1), the remainder consisting of standing dead pines along the continuum between a recently dead tree and a kelo tree. Overall, standing dead pines were distributed throughout the study area, but there was a tendency towards spatial clustering up to <100 m distances. Standing dead pines were most commonly situated on flat ground or in the mid slope in the local topography. In addition, standing dead pines contributed to substrate diversity also by commonly having charred wood and broken tops. Based on the presence of dead pine snags in different stage of transition from a recently dead pine to a kelo with silvery surface, it seems evident that the process of kelo recruitment was continuously in action in the studied landscape. Conclusions: Kelo trees are an omnipresent feature in natural pine-dominated forest landscapes with important contribution to forest structural and substrate diversity. Because of their longevity and extremely slow turnover dynamics and importance for biodiversity, protection of vulnerable kelo tree populations, and ensuring their continuous recruitment, should be of high priority in forest restoration and sustainable management.Peer reviewe

Optimizing fish structure in angling ponds focusing on white fish

According to new amendments of laws, commercial fishing licenses of natural waters shall not be issued from the calendar year 2016 in Hungary. However, the most settlement of white fish to angler ponds originated from natural waters. Currently, there is no sufficient quantity of fish species belonging to this group available to fulfil the settlement commitments of fish farmers. The aim of this recent study is to develop a breeding and production technology that is suitable for settlement of large quantities of this fish species of appropriate length of (4–5 cm). The following methods are investigated: aquaculture cage system (pond-in-pond system), monoculture and mixed population with different ratio of white fish in fish structure. Due to the different environmental needs of different fish species, many parameters need to be investigated, for example: stocking density, feeding, oxygen level, monoculture or mixed populations, growth potential and mortality. A preliminary experiment was carried out following the artificial propagation of ide (Leuciscus idus) following a 21-day larval rearing experiment in which the effect of different stoking density was investigated for mortality and growth. On the basis of the expected results, the optimal conditions for the aquaculture cage system will be described, regarding to the white fish stock