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Franco Strumia

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (4): 0997-1009

    Franco Strumia & Toshko Ljubomirov
    On the interference color variations in the Hedychridium roseum species-group (Hymenoptera Chrysididae) from Bulgaria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.4.997.1009

    ASBTRACT
    A number of the Hedychridium roseum species-group individuals (Hymenoptera Chrysididae), captured mainly in Bulgaria hare here studied. We discovered that the presence/absence on metasoma of red interference color is a variable and unstable feature both in the males and the females of this species-group. The body interference colors are directly connected to the cuticle inner structure and thus to body features. As a consequence, the variable metasoma coloration is a valid taxonomic feature ultimately related to the DNA of single individuals. In the case of Hedychridium roseum species-group the taxonomy is complex and often based on subtle features. A review including also the influence of interference colors is discussed and integrated with the most recent taxonomy. In addition, the presence in Bulgaria of the following six species is confirmed: Hedychridium sculpturatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1877); H. scutellare (Tournier, 1878); H. rossicum Gussakovskij, 1948; H. roseum (Rossi, 1790); H. insulare Balthasar, 1953; H. caputaureum G. Trautmann et W. Trautmann, 1919. The lognormal distribution of above species is entirely positive thus statistic inference shows that in Bulgaria all species of Hedychridium roseum species-group have been captured and studied.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 0825-0836

    Franco Strumia & Antonius van Harten
    An overview of the Hymenoptera Chrysididae from humid urban zones near Abu Dhabi (UAE)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.825.836
    https://www.zoobank.org/References/124fc2d1-3d8c-41e7-935c-ab49371dba94

    ABSTRACT
    The Chrysididae Hymenoptera of the Abu Dhabi territory has ben studied by means of Malaise Traps. The comparison between humid and dry zones reveals the richer biodiversity preserved even in small humid zones. Two new species are discovered and described, namely: Hedychridium caerulescens n. sp. and Chrysis houbaraeensis n. sp. In the humid zones the uncommon Adelopyga huberi Kimsey, 1988 is discovered and illustrated.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (3): 655-661

    Franco Strumia
    Estimating biodiversity through extrapolation: a better function
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.3.655.661

    ABSTRACT
    A more general hyperbolic function is proposed for interpolating the number of accumulated species when observations are extended to long time intervals. The suggested function take also in account the insects phenology and the rate in the species accumulation number.