Anthrenus (Florilinus) loebli n. sp. (Coleoptera, Dermestidae, Anthrenini) from the Middle East

A new species Anthrenus (Florilinus) loebli from Israel, Lebanon and Jordania is described, illustrated and compared with the similar species classified within the subgenus Florilinus Mulsant & Rey, 1868. The new species is characterized by oval eyes, eight-segmented antenna and subtriangular, occasionally triangular, scales on the dorsum. The yellowish/light brown scales are present on the anterior and terminal part of the elytra and create three irregular, transverse bands. Antennal segment eight are at least 4.8 to 5x longer than segment 7 in male, 2.1x longer in female. The new species is most similar to A. (F.) museorum (Linnaeus, 1761); A. (H.) fuscus Olivier, 1789 and A. (F.) flavidus Solsky, 1876. An identification key to externally similar species of the genus is given. The most distinctive taxonomic characteristics concern the male genitalia and antenna (in ratio of length of segments of antennal club) and are also described

Environmentally vulnerable noble chafers exhibit unusual pheromone-mediated behaviour

Conserving populations of environmentally vulnerable insect species requires a greater understanding of the factors that determine their abundance and distribution, which requires detailed knowledge of their population and community ecology. Chemical ecological tools such as pheromones can be used for non-destructive monitoring of scarab beetle populations, enabling European countries to detect and, in some cases, map the range of some of these species, proving a valuable technique for monitoring elusive saproxylic beetles. In this paper, we investigated the behavioural and chemical ecology of the noble chafer, Gnorimus nobilis L., a model insect species of conservation concern across a Europe-wide distribution, and a red-listed UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. We identified a potential pheromone of adult beetles using electrophysiological recordings, behavioural measurements and field trials in the UK. Gnorimus nobilis is highly unusual in that although both sexes produce, at high metabolic cost, the natural product 2-propyl (E)-3-hexenoate, it only attracts males. This pattern of chemical signalling makes the classification of the compound, based on current semiochemical terminology, somewhat problematic, but in our view, it should be termed an aggregation pheromone as a consequence of the production pattern. Since both sexes emit it, but apparently only males respond positively to it, 2-propyl (E)-3-hexenoate may reflect an intermediate evolutionary stage towards developing into a sex-specific signal. From an applied perspective, our study provides a model for the non-invasive surveillance of cryptic vulnerable insect species, without the need for habitat searching or disturbance, and continuous human monitoring

Identification of female sex pheromone for monitoring the barred tooth striped moth, trichopteryx polycommata, a priority conservation species

Pheromone-baited traps can be excellent tools for sensitive detection of insects of conservation concern. Here, identification of the sex pheromone of Trichopteryx polycommata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), an under-recorded UK priority species, is reported. In analyses of extracts of the pheromone glands of female T. polycommata by gas chromatography coupled to electroantennographic recording from the antenna of a male moth, a single active component was detected. This was identified as (Z,Z)-6,9-nonadecadiene (Z,Z6,9-19:H) by comparison of its mass spectrum and retention times with those of the synthetic standard. In a pilot field trial in Kent, UK, T. polycommata males were caught in pheromone traps baited with lures loaded with 1 mg and 2 mg (Z,Z)-6,9-19:H. Optimum lure loading was identified in a further five trials in Kent, Sussex and Lancashire where lures of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mg loadings were tested. Traps baited with 1 to 10 mg of ZZ6,9-19:H caught significantly more T. polycommata than traps baited with 0 mg and 0.001 mg. In a pilot survey of T. polycommata using pheromone lures around Morecambe Bay, UK, T. polycommata males were captured at 122 new sites within the three counties where trials took place, demonstrating the potential of pheromone monitoring to increase knowledge of abundance, distribution and ecology of this elusive species

Revealing hidden species distribution with pheromones: the case of Synanthedon vespiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) in Sweden

Synanthedon vespiformis L. (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is considered a rare insect in Sweden, discovered in 1860, with only a few observations recorded until a sex pheromone attractant became available recently. This study details a national survey conducted using pheromones as a sampling method for this species. Through pheromone trapping we captured 439 specimens in Southern Sweden at 77 sites, almost tripling the number of previously reported records for this species. The results suggest that S. vespiformis is truly a rare species with a genuinely scattered distribution, but can be locally abundant. Habitat analyses were conducted in order to test the relationship between habitat quality and the number of individuals caught. In Sweden, S. vespiformis is thought to be associated with oak hosts, but our attempts to predict its occurrence by the abundance of oaks yielded no significant relationships. We therefore suggest that sampling bias and limited knowledge on distribution may have led to the assumption that this species is primarily reliant on oaks in the northern part of its range, whereas it may in fact be polyphagous, similar to S. vespiformis found as an agricultural pest in Central and Southern Europe. We conclude that pheromones can massively enhance sampling potential for this and other rare lepidopteran species. Large-scale pheromone-based surveys provide a snapshot of true presences and absences across a considerable part of a species national distribution range, and thus for the first time provide a viable means of systematically assessing changes in distribution over time with high spatiotemporal resolution

Pheromones and Other Semiochemicals for Monitoring Rare and Endangered Species

As global biodiversity declines, biodiversity and conservation have become ever more important research topics. Research in chemical ecology for conservation purposes has not adapted to address this need. During the last 10-15 years, only a few insect pheromones have been developed for biodiversity and conservation studies, including the identification and application of pheromones specifically for population monitoring. These investigations, supplemented with our knowledge from decades of studying pest insects, demonstrate that monitoring with pheromones and other semiochemicals can be applied widely for conservation of rare and threatened insects. Here, I summarize ongoing conservation research, and outline potential applications of chemical ecology and pheromone-based monitoring to studies of insect biodiversity and conservation research. Such applications include monitoring of insect population dynamics and distribution changes, including delineation of current ranges, the tracking of range expansions and contractions, and determination of their underlying causes. Sensitive and selective monitoring systems can further elucidate the importance of insect dispersal and landscape movements for conservation. Pheromone-based monitoring of indicator species will also be useful in identifying biodiversity hotspots, and in characterizing general changes in biodiversity in response to landscape, climatic, or other environmental changes

When can an investor obtain a decision on compulsory access to a neighbouring property?

Planując wykonanie określonego rodzaju robót budowlanych, takich jak postawienie budynku czy przeprowadzenie remontu, wielokrotnie okazuje się, iż bez wejścia na teren sąsiedniej nieruchomości postawienie rusztowań, wykonania wykopów czy dokonanie transportu materiałów budowlanych nie jest możliwe. I zdarza się, że inwestor nie jest w stanie samodzielnie uzyskać zgody właściciela sąsiedniej nieruchomości na czasowe jej zajęcia celem wykonania planowanych prac. Ustawodawca przewidział możliwość wystąpienia takiego problemu i stworzył alternatywę w postaci „przymusowego” wejścia na teren sąsiedniej nieruchomości w celu wykonania tych robót. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest wskazanie kto i do jakiego organu oraz w jakich okolicznościach może o wydanie takiej decyzji wystąpić.In planning the execution of certain types of construction works, such as the erection of a building or carrying out of renovation, it often transpires that it would not be possible to install scaffolding or deliver building materials without gaining access to a neighbouring property. It may also be the case that the investor is not able to obtain, voluntarily, the consent of the neighbouring property’s owner for temporary occupation of that property for the purpose of the works. With regard to such situations, the law provides for the alternative possibility of compulsory access to a neighbouring property for the purpose of carrying out such works. This article provides information about who may apply for such a decision and in what circumstances, and to which authority the application should be made

Copying of product as act of dishonest competition. Part 2

Kopiowanie produktu może stanowić czyn nieuczciwej konkurencji. Niniejszy artykuł określa środki ochrony prawnej o charakterze karnoprawnym jakie przysługują pokrzywdzonemu przedsiębiorcy. W artykule opisano zarówno podstawy materialnoprawne dochodzenia roszczeń, jak również prawnoprocesowe, w tym aspekty praktyczne na jakie musi zwrócić uwagę pokrzywdzony przedsiębiorca decydując się na zainicjowanie postępowania karnego.Copying a product may constitute an act of unfair competition. This article describes the measures of legal protection of criminal law nature attributable to the injured entrepreneur. This paper describes the legal and material basis for claiming compensation, as well as procedural ones, including practical aspects which must be taken into consideration by the injured entrepreneur deciding to initiate criminal proceedings

Copying of product as act of dishonest competition. Part 1

Kopiowanie produktu może stanowić czyn nieuczciwej konkurencji. Niniejszy artykuł określa środki ochrony prawnej o charakterze cywilnoprawnym jakie przysługują poszkodowanemu przedsiębiorcy. W artykule opisano zarówno podstawy materialno-prawne dochodzenia roszczeń, jak również prawnoprocesowe, w tym aspekty praktyczne na jakie musi zwrócić uwagę poszkodowany przedsiębiorca decydując się na zainicjowanie postępowania cywilnego.Copying a product may constitute an act of unfair competition. This article describes the measures of legal protection of civil law nature attributable to the injured entrepreneur. This paper describes the legal and material basis for claiming compensation, as well as procedural ones, including practical aspects which must be taken into consideration by the injured entrepreneur deciding to initiate civil proceedings