Composición de especies y periodo de vuelo de las avispas de la madera (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) en los bosques de coníferas del País Vasco, con la confirmación del asentamiento de la especie exótica Urocerus albicornis (Fabricius, 1781) en el norte de España

Species composition and flight periods of horntails wasps in Basque Country pine forests in northern Spain are studied in order to determine if alien invasive species have been introduced and established. Panel traps baited with Contech Inc. Sirex noctilio lures were erected at sites in six distinct Basque Country forest regions (Menagarai and Gordoa forests in Alava Province, Orio and Zegama forests in Gipuzkoa province and Carranza and Muxika forests in Bizkaia province). Traps were monitored throughout 2011 and 2012. At the same time in January, ten dead logs with oviposition holes from the same localities were collected and reared in emergence cages for wasp collection. In the pheromone traps three autochthonous, Palaearctic species were found: Sirex noctilio Fabricius, 1773, and Urocerus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758), and one exotic species Urocerus albicornis (Fabricius, 1781) was detected. From logs, the same three species plus U. augur (Klug, 1803) were obtained with a collection of parasitoids. Sirex noctilio, Urocerus gigas and Urocerus albicornis were found in all provinces of the Basque Country. Trapping results show flight occurs from late June to September. The establishment of U. albicornis, an exotic species from North America, is confirmed in northern Spain.El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la composición de especies y el periodo de vuelo de las avispas de la madera en los bosques de coníferas del País Vasco (norte de España), para conocer si especies invasoras previamente introducidas se habían establecido. Trampas de interceptación tipo Panel cebadas con dispositivos Contech específicos para Sirex noctilio fueron colocadas en seis diferentes areas forestales del País Vasco (Menagarai y Gordoa en la provincial de Álava, Orio y Zegama en Gipuzkoa y Carranza y Muxika en Bizkaia). Las trampas fueron monitoreadas a lo largo de 2011 y 2012. Al mismo tiempo en enero, se recogieron de las mismas localidades 10 trozas con agujeros de oviposición y se mantuvieron en trampas de emergencia para la recolección de avispas. En las trampas de feromonas se encontraron dos especies autoctonas de distribución paleartica: Sirex noctilio Fabricius, 1773, Urocerus gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) y una especie exótica: Urocerus albicornis (Fabricius, 1781). De las trozas se encontraron las mismas tres especies más la especie U. augur (Klug, 1803) junto con una colección de parasitoides. Sirex noctilio, Urocerus gigas y Urocerus albicornis fueron encontrados en todas las provincias del País Vasco. Los resultados del trampeo mostraron que los sirícidos vuelan desde últimos de junio a septiembre. Se confirma el asentamiento de U. albicornis, una especie exótica de Norteamérica, en España

Seasonal abundance and biology of sporophagous thrips and notes on other thrips (Insecta, Thysanoptera) on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L. in, Navarra (N Spain)

This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia.This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia.This paperrecords the seasonal abundance of four species of sporophagous thrips collected on the Mediterranean oak, Quercus rotundifolia L., in the Mediterranean area of Navarra (N Spain). The life cycles of Cornpsothrips albosignatus (Reuter), Priesneriella clavicornis (Knechtel); Megalothrips bonannii Uzel and Cryptohrips nigripes (Reuter) are reported, and notes given about habitat specificity and wing development. Notes about host specific Terebrantia thrips of the Mediterranean oak are also reported. Key words: Thysanoptera, Tubulifera, Seasonal abundance, Life cycle, Sporophagous thrips, Quercus rotundifolia

Bluetongue Virus Serotype 1 Outbreak in the Basque Country (Northern Spain) 2007–2008. Data Support a Primary Vector Windborne Transport

BACKGROUND: Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne disease of ruminants that has expanded its traditional global distribution in the last decade. Recently, BTV-1 emerged in Southern Spain and caused several outbreaks in livestock reaching the north of the country. The aim of this paper was to review the emergence of BTV-1 in the Basque Country (Northern Spain) during 2007 and 2008 analyzing the possibility that infected Culicoides were introduced into Basque Country by winds from the infected areas of Southern Spain. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We use a complex HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model to draw wind roses and backward wind trajectories. The analysis of winds showed September 28 to October 2 as the only period for the introduction of infected midges in the Basque Country. These wind trajectories crossed through the areas affected by serotype 1 on those dates in the South of the Iberian Peninsula. Additionally meteorological data, including wind speed and humidity, and altitude along the trajectories showed suitable conditions for Culicoides survival and dispersion. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: An active infection in medium-long distance regions, wind with suitable speed, altitude and trajectory, and appropriate weather can lead to outbreaks of BTV-1 by transport of Culicoides imicola, not only over the sea (as reported previously) but also over the land. This shows that an additional factor has to be taken into account for the control of the disease which is currently essentially based on the assumption that midges will only spread the virus in a series of short hops. Moreover, the epidemiological and serological data cannot rule out the involvement of other Culicoides species in the spread of the infection, especially at a local level

Antennal sense cone variation in Teuchothrips species of New Caledonia, with one new generic combination (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)

Mound, Laurence A., Goldarazena, Arturo (2022): Antennal sense cone variation in Teuchothrips species of New Caledonia, with one new generic combination (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae). Zootaxa 5124 (2): 238-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5124.2.

The role of thrips in pollination of Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi

6 páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla.Because of the low availability of insects other than thrips as potential pollinators in arctic environments, early botanists of the twentieth century proposed that thrips pollination would be important in many plants, especially those of the Ericaceae family. However, this was an object of controversy that continues today. In this article, we combined experimental evidence and a broad regional survey to analyze the role of thrips in flower pollination of the Ericaceae Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi. We conducted exclusion experiments, nectar measures, and observation of thrips in plants during 2 yr at four populations in southwestern Europe. We found that flower pollination by thrips seems to be a common element in the studied populations of A. uva-ursi that accounts for similar to 20% of the total pollination. We found seven species of thrips visiting the flowers of similar to 50% of the individuals of A. uva-ursi. The most abundant species were Ceratothrips ericae, previously cited as a potential pollinator of many Ericaceae in northern Europe, and Haplothrips setiger, a widely distributed Mediterranean Phlaeothripidae commonly cited in flowers of Asteraceae. We also discuss the role of spontaneous self-pollination in the reproductive success of A. uva-ursi and nectar consumption by thrips.We thank Jorge Sellés, Cota Marqués, and Jaime and Juan García‐Fayos for their aid with fieldwork, and Vicent Adall (Fredes) and the Rocher‐Pérez and Dobón‐Pérez (Bronchales) families for their warm support and for generously allowing use of logistic facilities. Jorge Sellés also aided in the laboratory, and Cota Marqués kindly sewed all the bags. Daniel García, Miguel Verdú, and Jaume Tormo generously aided with statistical analysis and the R package. Alfredo Lacasa (Polytechnic University of Cartagena) kindly aided with the determination of several samples of thrips. We also thank three anonymous reviewers and Dr. Laurence Mound (CSIRO Entomology, Australia) for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. We are also grateful to Dr. Mound for his English revision. This work was partially supported by the Spanish National I+D+i Research Programme (ECOFIARB, REN2000‐0163‐P4‐05), and field facilities in Mas del Peraire Biological Reserve were provided by the Fundación Enrique Montolíu.Peer reviewe

Nomenclatural problems among Thysanoptera (Insecta) of Costa Rica

We present data to argue that several recent papers on the Thysanoptera of Costa Rica are affected by unsatisfactory technical procedures, including failure to recognize intraspecific structural variation. Fourteen new synonyms are recognized for Costa Rica Thysanoptera, nine generic and five specific

A new species of predatory Scolothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) feeding on Raoiella mites (Tenuipalpidae) in Australia

Mound, Laurence A., Tree, Desley J., Goldarazena, Arturo (2010): A new species of predatory Scolothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) feeding on Raoiella mites (Tenuipalpidae) in Australia. Zootaxa 2620: 63-68, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27603

Scolothrips Hinds

Scolothrips Hinds The genus Scolothrips currently includes 18 described species (Mound, 2010), and these are well known as predators of mites on various agricultural crops (Gilstrap, 1995). The common species, such as S. sexmaculatus Pergande, are white with small dark markings on the forewings, and are referred to as the 6 - spotted thrips. In contrast, S. asura from eastern Asia and Australia is brightly coloured, with the head, pterothorax and abdominal segments VI–VIII brown in contrast to the white colour of the pronotum, legs and abdominal segments I–V and IX–X. Moreover, the brown areas have bright red internal pigments. Despite this, S. asura shares with the widespread white-bodied species the habit of mite predation, and also most details of the body structure. All members of the genus have six pairs of long and usually slightly barbed setae on the pronotum, also one pair of similar setae on the head arising between the ocelli, and a series of similar setae on the banded forewings. The purpose of this paper is to describe the new species of Scolothrips from Australia that has been found feeding on Raoiella mites. Although similar to S. asura in most character states, this species has a reduced cephalic chaetotaxy that is unique within the genus, and is also unusual within the family Thripidae.Published as part of Mound, Laurence A., Tree, Desley J. & Goldarazena, Arturo, 2010, A new species of predatory Scolothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) feeding on Raoiella mites (Tenuipalpidae) in Australia, pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 2620 on page 64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27603

Scolothrips ochoa Mound, Tree & Goldarazena, 2010, sp. n.

Scolothrips ochoa sp. n. Female macroptera. Body mainly brown with red internal pigment (Fig. 3); tarsi and apices of tibiae yellow; head, metanotum and abdominal segments brown, pronotum and mesonotum paler; abdominal segments III– VI with clear areas laterally, VIII–IX darkest; antennal segments IV–V much paler than remaining segments (Fig. 4); major setae hyaline, but dark on pigmented areas of forewings; forewings with two dark transverse bands. Head wider than long, cheeks short and slightly incut behind large eyes. Ocellar triangle strongly elevated; ocellar setae pairs I and II, also postocular setae, absent; ocellar setae III long and finely barbed, arising within triangle; vertex transversely reticulate (Fig. 8). Compound eyes each with four pigmented facets ventrally; frons with seven pairs of setae; maxillary palps 2 -segmented (Fig. 9). Antennae 8 -segmented (Fig. 10), with few or no microtrichia; segment I without paired dorso-apical setae; III–IV also V–VI broadly joined; III and IV each with forked sensorium. Prosternal basantra without setae, ferna slender and widely separated, prospinasternum reduced to small median triangle (Fig. 13); meso and metafurca each with strong median spinula. Pronotum transverse, surface transversely but irregularly reticulate (Fig. 8), with no discal setae; five pairs of long, barbed major setae present (anteromarginal, anteroangular, posteromarginal, and two pairs posteroangular); four pairs of minor, weakly barbed, setae present (two pairs of anteromarginals, one (or two) pair of posteromarginals, one pair of midlaterals). Mesonotum transversely striate/reticulate; no anterior campaniform sensilla; median setal pair arising near middle of sclerite, lateral pair small. Metanotum longitudinally and narrowly reticulate; median setal pair wide apart near lateral pair and at anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent (Fig. 14). Forewing relatively broad with apex pointed; dark areas finely tuberculate (Fig. 11); costal setae long with apices barbed, costal cilia small and present only medially; first vein with 10–11 long barbed setae in irregular continuous row, second vein with 6–8 long barbed setae; clavus with 3 veinal and 1 discal barbed setae; posteromarginal cilia strongly undulated. Tergites without craspedum; tergite I transversely reticulate (Fig. 15), II–VIII with sculpture markings only laterally and not extending to campaniform sensilla; median setae small and wide apart; VIII with neither comb nor craspedum. Suture between tergites and pleurotergites weakly developed, pleurosternites weakly sclerotised. Tergite IX elongate (Fig. 12), without anterior pair of campaniform sensilla, mid-dorsal paired setae well developed; tergite X short with no longitudinal split. Sternites reticulate laterally, with three pairs of marginal setae, no discal setae; sternite VII posterior margin eroded medially. Ovipositor well developed and serrated. Measurements of holotype female in microns. Body length 1150. Head, length 65; width 150; ocellar setae III 65. Pronotum, length 75; width 200; major setae 60–65. Forewing length 750. Tergite IX setae, S 1 55; S 2 75. Antennal segments I–VIII length 15, 30, 25, 18, 20, 48, 15, 15. Male not known. Larva II. In life with red-brown body contents (Fig. 5); cleared specimens with no cuticular pigment, except faintly grey at base of all femora and tibiae, and base of antennal segments I–IV. Major setae all long, weakly capitate and barbed; 2 pairs on head, 6 pairs on pronotum; thorax and abdominal tergites with finely tuberculate sculpture. Specimens studied. Holotype female, Australia, Queensland, Brisbane, The Gap, Walton Bridge Reserve, from Lophostemon suaveolens (Myrtaceae) in association with an unidentified Raoiella species, 14.vi. 2009 (D.J.Tree 945). Paratypes: 2 females taken with holotype, also 3 larvae; same locality, 2 females with one larva, Lophostemon confertus, 16.v. 2009 (Jenny Beard); same locality, 1 female from Lophostemon confertus, 15.v. 2008 (Beard & Ochoa). Western Australia, 27km north of Narrogin, 1 female from Eucalyptus wandoo (Myrtaceae), 9.v. 2008 (Beard & Ochoa). New South Wales, 20km west of Narrandera, 1 female from Callitris glaucophylla (Cupressaceae), 25.iv. 1995 (LAM 2647). Relationships. Adult females of this new species share most character states with the other species of Scolothrips. Moreover, the body colour, and the sculpture of the metanotum and first abdominal tergite are similar to that of S. asura (Figs 17–18). The major structural differences from previously described Scolothrips species are (1) loss of the two pairs of pre-ocellar setae, (2) reduction of the paired pronotal midlateral setae, and (3) compact form of the antennal segments (cf. Figs 10, 16). Although these character state differences are striking, most details of the body structure, the long barbed setae, the fasciate forewings, as well as the biology of this species as a mite predator, are strikingly similar to those found in the other Scolothrips species. It seems more likely that S. ochoa evolved within this genus, rather than that it is sistergenus to Scolothrips or even more distantly related. We therefore conclude that a new genus is not warranted.Published as part of Mound, Laurence A., Tree, Desley J. & Goldarazena, Arturo, 2010, A new species of predatory Scolothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) feeding on Raoiella mites (Tenuipalpidae) in Australia, pp. 63-68 in Zootaxa 2620 on pages 64-66, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27603

Thrips on honey bees: more than hitchhikers?

Thrips (Thysanoptera) are opportunistic organisms that exhibit a wide range of life histories. Although easily overlooked because of their small size, they have been recorded from many types of ecosystems worldwide (Mound 2005). The thysanopteran fauna comprises~6,000 species and is more abundant and diverse in thetropics than in temperate regions (Mound and Marullo1996).Peer reviewe