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Giovanni Altadonna

  • Biodiversity Journal, 9 (3): 237-240

    Giovanni Altadonna & Ignazio Sparacio
    On the presence of Cyphosoma lawsoniae lawsoniae (Chevrolat, 1838) (Coleoptera Buprestidae) in Sicily, Italy
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2018.9.3.237.240

    ABSTRACT
    Cyphosoma lawsoniae lawsoniae (Chevrolat, 1838) (Coleoptera Buprestidae) had already been reported in the past for Sicily (Italy). however, its presence on the island is doubted due to the lack of recent records. In the present paper, the occurrence of this species in Sicily is confirmed by one finding in Catania’s Plain (Catania province, East Sicily). A short description of the finding locality is given.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (2): 753-762

    Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi & Giovanni Altadonna
    A report on two alien invasive species of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from Sicily, with a brief faunistic update on the native species

    ABSTRACT
    Two alien invasive species of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) were recently found in Sicily: S. caementarium (Drury, 1773) is recorded from Sicily (Messina province) for the first time; S. curvatum (F. Smith, 1870), previously recorded from Sicily only through generic data from literature and only one locality in a web forum of amateurs, is confirmed as definitely established in the Island. The Regional distribution of both alien species in Italy is revised based on data taken from literature and reliable reports from web forums. A brief faunistic account on the three native Sceliphron from Sicily is provided: S. destillatorium (Illiger, 1807) and S. spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758) are both new for the Aeolian Islands (respectively reported for Panarea and Vulcano).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 383-385 - MONOGRAPH

    Antonino Dentici, Giovanni Altadonna & Ferdinando Giovine
    New data on the distribution of Textrix rubrofoliata Pesarini, 1990 (Araneae Agelenidae) in Italy
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.383.385

    ABSTRACT
    The spider Textrix rubrofoliata Pesarini, 1990 (Araneae Agelenidae), species known in Italy only in Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige, was found and identified in Campo Calabro, province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria (Italy). This is the first record of the species for Calabria. Additional notes on taxonomy, distribution and biology are provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 14 (2): 0273-0274
    Giovanni Altadonna
    Alicudi Island (Aeolian Archipelago)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.2.I.II
  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0531-0585 - MONOGRAPH

    Pietro Lo Cascio, Giovanni Altadonna & Philippe Ponel
    Diversity and distribution of beetles in a Mediterranean volcanic archipelago: an updated checklist of the Coleoptera of the Aeolian Islands (Sicily, Italy)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.531.585

    ABSTRACT
    This paper provides a faunal inventory of the Coleoptera of the Aeolian Islands, including both the list of 669 species so far recorded and its update with 192 new records for the archipelago. Sericoderus brevicornis Matthews, 1890 (Corylophidae) is new for Italy; for Anthicus crinitus La Ferté-Sénectère, 1849 (Anthicidae) the second record in Italy is given; Pangus scaritides (Sturm, 1818), Tachyura curvimana (Wollaston, 1854) (Carabidae), Arthrolips convexiuscula (Motschulsky, 1849) (Corylophidae), Dignomus irroratus (Kiesenwetter, 1851) (Ptinidae), Megaloscapa punctipennis (Kraatz, 1856) (Staphylinidae), Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933, Cryphalus numidicus Eichhoff, 1878 and Hypothenemus leprieuri (Perris, 1866) (Curculionidae) are new for Sicily; Migneauxia crassiuscula (Aubé, 1850) (Latridiidae) and Phloeotribus cristatus (Fauvel, 1889) (Curculionidae) are confirmed for this region. For 193 species new distributional data are also given; among these latter, some concern the narrow endemics Firminus massai Arnone, Lo Cascio et Grita, 2014 (Scarabaeidae), Catomus aeolicus Ponel, Lo Cascio et Soldati, 2020, Leptoderis zelmerloewae Ferrer, 2015, Nalassus pastai Aliquò, Leo et Lo Cascio, 2006 (Tenebrionidae) and Pseudomeira aeolica Bellò, Pesarini et Pierotti, 1997 (Curculionidae). The inventory highlights an increasing abundance of alien species, some of which have only recently been reported at national or regional scale, that evidently spread rapidly even in isolated environments such as an archipelago. Some biogeographical considerations on the beetle fauna of these islands are given in the discussion.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (3): 717-750

    Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi, Giovanni Altadonna, Pietro Lo Cascio, Vittorio Nobile & Marco Selis
    Contribution to the knowledge of Hymenoptera from the  Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily), emphasizing Aculeata
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.3.717.750

    ABSTRACT
    This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the Order Hymenoptera, emphasizing Aculeata, for the Aeolian archipelago, based on recent field investigations and examination of several collections. A total of 169 species belonging to 19 families are recorded: Evaniidae (1 species), Aulacidae (2 species), Gasteruptiidae (3 species), Ichneumonidae (1 species), Leucospidae (1 species), Chrysididae (8 species), Tiphiidae (3 species), Scoliidae (6 species), Mutillidae (13 species), Pompilidae (6 species), Vespidae (14 species), Sphecidae (6 species), Crabronidae (24 species), Formicidae (14 species), Colletidae (4 species), Andrenidae (8 species), Halictidae (29 species), Megachilidae (12 species), Apidae (14 species). Most part of species are newly recorded for the Aeolian Archipelago, the following being new records for Sicily: Dryudella esterinae Pagliano, 2001, Nysson quadriguttatus Spinola, 1808, Miscophus aetoni Saunders, 1903, Miscophus lusitanicus Andrade, 1952, Cerceris circularis dacica Schletterer, 1887 (Crabronidae), and Lasioglossum (Dialictus) semilucens (Alfken, 1914) (Halictidae); Miscophus lusitanicus is also newly recorded for Italy. Combining the available data, a total of 218 species of Hymenoptera are currently known for the Aeolian Archipelago. The Hymenoptera fauna of these islands is dominated by widespread Mediterranean or West Palaearctic species, and most of them are also found in the Western Mediterranean Basin. The study briefly highlights some key points regarding biogeographical and conservation of this group and its significant role in the management of ecosystems in the Aeolian Archipelago.