Taxonomy of <i>Baetis</i> Leach in Israel (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae).

The taxonomy and systematics of the genus &lt;i&gt;Baetis&lt;/i&gt; Leach (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) in Israel is clarified for the first time as part of an ongoing comprehensive survey of the Israeli mayfly fauna. Six clearly defined species are currently recognized in Israel, four of which are described here as new to science. The validity of all species is supported by a molecular analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene. A key for the identification of the Israeli species based on the nymphal stage is provided, as well as data on their distribution patterns and ecology. The local fauna represents four Palearctic species groups, three of which reach their limit of distribution range in Israel. &lt;i&gt;Baetis&lt;/i&gt; species typically inhabit lotic, pristine habitats in northern Israel, with few exceptions for some species that can be found in the Dead Sea area or in ephemeral ponds

God:Do I have your attention?

Religion is commonly defined as a set of rules, developed as part of a culture. Here we provide evidence that practice in following these rules systematically changes the way people attend to visual stimuli, as indicated by the individual sizes of the global precedence effect (better performance to global than to local features). We show that this effect is significantly reduced in Calvinism, a religion emphasizing individual responsibility, and increased in Catholicism and Judaism, religions emphasizing social solidarity. We also show that this effect is long-lasting (still affecting baptized atheists) and that its size systematically varies as a function of the amount and strictness of religious practices. These findings suggest that religious practice induces particular cognitive-control styles that induce chronic, directional biases in the control of visual attention

National records of 3000 European bee and hoverfly species: A contribution to pollinator conservation

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation

Gall midges (Diptera : Cecidomyiidae) infesting Suaeda monoica (Chenopodiaceae) in Israel

Volume: 103Start Page: 561End Page: 58

The Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula

Novoselsky, T., Freidberg, A., Dorchin, N., Meltzer, N., Kerzhner, I. (2014): The Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. Zootaxa 3827 (4): 471-492, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3827.4.

The Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula

Novoselsky, T., Freidberg, A., Dorchin, N., Meltzer, N., Kerzhner, I. (2014): The Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. Zootaxa 3827 (4): 471-492, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3827.4.