Two new records of conifer-inhabiting mirid bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae) from Malta

Short correspondence article regarding two new records of conifer-inhabiting mirid bugs which were recently collected in a Malaise trap located in the private grounds of the Verdala Palace, close to Buskett : Orthotylus (Parapachylops) junipericola regularis and Phytocoris (Exophytocoris) parvulus.peer-reviewe

New records of true bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) from the Maltese Islands

A list of 133 species of heteropteran bugs collected from the Maltese Islands is presented; 21 of them are new records for the Maltese archipelago whereas an additional 15 represent new records for individual islands of this archipelago. The new records are of native origin in the Maltese Islands with the exception of Corythauma ayyari which is an Oriental species rapidly expanding its distribution range in Europe and Saudi Arabia. Earlier records of Capsodes gothicus and Gonocerus insidiator from Malta are incorrect and should refer to C. vittiventris and G. imitator respectively. The presence of Tuponia brevirostris in Malta is confirmed since this record was previously based only on the catalogue of Palaearctic Heteroptera without original data. A total of 15 species previously reported from the Maltese Islands are considered as doubtful. Considering the results of the present paper with additions and corrections made to the checklist of Maltese Heteroptera, the total number of confirmed records is augmented to 232 (221 in Malta, 74 on Gozo and 38 on Comino)peer-reviewe

Primi reperti in Sicilia su diffusione e biologia di Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hetroptera: Coreidae), cimice americana dei semi delle conifere

In this paper the first data on the distribution and biology of L. occidentalis in Sicily are reported; this bug, belonging to the family Coreidae, originates from North America, where it is regarded as a serious pest of conifer seed orchards. The first Sicilian specimens of L. occidentalis were found in September 2002 near Gangi (PA), while the first collecting data published until now refer to November 2003 in Niscemi (CL). The coreid is distributed in all Sicily provinces (30 collecting sites), from the sea level to 1.430 m a.s.l. on the mountains; it was collected on cones and plants of Pinus halepensis Miller, P. laricio Poiret, P. pinea L., P. nigra J.F.Arnold and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, and also inside or near buildings. Females fed in laboratory (at 22 °C ± 1 and 80% U.R.) on P. menziesii shoots layed up to 148 eggs, beginning oviposition after 3 days when collected at the end of May and after 73 days when collected in November. In the laboratory the oviposition period lasted 35 days on average; adults were obtained 61 days after oviposition. Our field and laboratory data did not allow to ascertain the number of yearly generations of L. occidentalis in Sicily, but they should not be more than 2

A new Eucalyptus pest in Malta : Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera : Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae)

Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is here recorded for the first time from the Maltese Islands. It represents an alien invasive species originating from Australia which is now almost cosmopolitan in distribution.peer-reviewe

L’eterotterofauna di un’azienda agricola a conduzione biologica del versante ionico calabrese

THE HETEROPTERA OF ORGANIC MANAGED FARM ON THE IONIAN COAST OF CALABRIA The investigated farm, whose extent is about 34 hectares located on the Copanello promontory (province of Catanzaro), was subdivided into six zones differing in environmental and vegetative characteristics and technique of cultivation. Sixtyfour species of Heteroptera were collected, directly on plants, or using pitt-fall and light traps. Most Heteroptera were phytophagous species living on herbaceous plants in a zone of the farm little affected by human activities, where the technique of cultivation was limitated to a yearly tilling. Key words: bugs, vegetation, biodiversity, Southern Italy. L’azienda indagata, di circa 34 ettari, ubicata sul promontorio di Copanello (CZ) è stata suddivisa in 6 aree con caratteristiche paesaggistiche e floristico/vegetazionali differenti, caratterizzate da vari gradi di naturalità e soggette a pratiche colturali diverse. Gli esemplari di Eterotteri censiti, per un totale di 64 specie, sono stati raccolti principalmente tramite cattura diretta, o utilizzando trappole a caduta e/o trappole luminose. Gli Eterotteri, per la maggior parte, sono stati raccolti sulla vegetazione, soprattutto piante erbacee, in alcune aree dell’azienda dove l’impatto antropico è piuttosto limitato. Parole chiave: Cimici, vegetazione, biodiversità, Sud Italia

Case 3724 – <i>Metochus abbreviatus</i> Scott, 1874 (Insecta, Heteroptera): proposed precedence over <i>Rhyparochromus erosus</i> Walker, 1872 (currently <i>Metochus erosus</i>)

The purpose of this application, under Article 23.9.3 of the Code, is to conserve the widely used specific name Metochus abbreviatus Scott, 1874, for a species of rhyparochromid bugs from East Asia. The name is threatened by the senior subjective synonym Rhyparochromus erosus Walker, 1872, which has seldom been used since its first publication. Therefore, precedence of the name Metochus abbreviatus Scott, 1874 over Rhyparochromus erosus Walker, 1872 is proposed.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Hemiptera records from Lake Spechtensee and from Southern Styria (Austria)

Hemiptera records gained in July 2015 in course of the 7th European Hemiptera Congress in Styria are presented. In total, 144 Auchenorrhyncha, 143 Heteroptera, 13 Psylloidea and 2 Aphididae species were collected. Ribautodelphax imitans (Delphacidae), Eurhadina saageri (Cicadellidae), Notonecta maculata (Notonectidae), Notonecta meridionalis (Notonectidae) and Polymerus cognatus (Miridae) are new records for Styria