Are ecosystem services provided by insects “bugged” by micro (nano)plastics?

Although the study of the effects of microplastics increased in the last years, terrestrial ecosystems remain less studied. In fact, the effects of microplastics in insects, the most abundant group of animals and major providers of key Ecosystem Services, are not well known despite the potential cascading negative effects on the ecosystems functioning in the habitats where they occur. In this paper, a revision on available studies on microplastics contamination is provided and potential consequences to major Ecosystem Services provided by insects are discussed, using the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) methodology. The revision underpinned probable and potential impacts for all tree CICES divisions, i.e.: Provision, Regulation and Maintenance and Cultural Services. The available studies seem to show that different groups react differently to microplastics contamination, which clearly indicates that the effects in Ecosystem Services provided by insects need a more empirical and targeted approach.publishe

El raro chinche de las marismas Teratocoris antennatus (Boheman, 1852) (Hemiptera, Miridae), nueva especie para Portugal

Ria de Aveiro costal lagoon is a socio-ecological system framed between the land and the sea. The lagoon is embedded in a biodiversity rich landscape mosaic comprising beaches, dunes, sandflats, mudflats, seagrasses, and small water channels, and is one of the largest saltmarsh areas in Portugal and in Europe, supporting coastal food webs and providing nursery areas for several species. Despite being a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site and integrating the Natura 2000 network, few systematic studies have been carried on its entomofauna. In this work, field collections were carried in seven locations along Ria de Aveiro saltmarsh areas by sweep-netting the dominating halophyte vegetation in September 2020. From these collections, Teratocoris antennatus (Boheman, 1852), a rare marsh bug, is reported for the first time for Portugal

An annotated checklist of ladybeetle species (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos

Research ArticleA comprehensive annotated checklist of the ladybeetle species of Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, is presented. The Coccinellidae fauna comprises a total of 101 species: 83 from the Mainland, 39 from Madeira, and 32 from the Azores. The listed species are distributed among 2 sub-families and 13 tribes: within the subfamily Microweiseinae, Madeirodulini (1 species), Serangiini (2 species), and within the subfamily Coccinellinae, Azyini (1 species), Chilocorini (4 species), Coccidulini (7 species), Coccinellini (30 species), Epilachnini (4 species), Hyperaspidini (7 species), Noviini (2 species), Platynaspini (1 species), Scymnini (37 species), Stethorini (3 species), and Sticholotidini (2 species). The Portuguese fauna comprises 10 exotic species: 5 present in the Mainland, 7 in Madeira, and 6 in the Azores. Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) from Madeira, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Azores, Delphastus catalinae (Horn, 1895) from the Azores and Madeira, Nephus (Geminosipho) reunioni (Fürsch, 1974) and Nephus (Nephus) voeltzkowi Weise, 1910 from Madeira and Microserangium sp. from the Mainland, are reported for the first time. Some species are considered doubtful records, as explained in the text. These results were obtained by compiling information on the available literature regarding ladybeetle species on the Portuguese mainland and insular territories, and original datainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio