Biodiversity Journal - For wildlife research and environmental studies

Ignazio Sparacio

Biodiversity Journal, 8 (4): 957-961

Pierpaolo Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio
A new species of genus Agapanthia Serville, 1835 (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) from Lampedusa Island (Sicily Channel, Italy)

ABSTRACT
In this paper, a new species of Agapanthia Audinet-Serville, 1835, subgenus Epoptes Gistel, 1857 (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) from Lampedusa Island (Sicily Channel, Italy) is described. This new species belongs to the A. asphodeli (Latreille, 1804) species group. Taxonomic, biological and geonemic notes on A. lopadusae n. sp. are provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 8 (4): 927-936

Fabio Liberto, Andrea Corso, Roberto Viviano, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
A new species of the genus Milax Ellis, 1926 (Gastropoda Pulmonata Milacidae) from Lampedusa Island (Sicilian Channel, Italy)

ABSTRACT
Milax lopadusanus n. sp. (Gastropoda Pulmonata Milacidae) is described from Lampedusa Island, the biggest of the islands of the Pelagie Archipelago (Sicilian Channel, Italy). The new species is characterized by: greyish-brown body, with distinct yellowish keel; conical, smooth stimulator, with a raised crest along one side and spermatophore characterized by conic anterior part, covered on one side by bifurcated spines with the two apexes thorny; posterior part cylindrical, covered by smaller and most dense spines on all sides. Additional faunistic, biological and taxonomical notes are provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 279-310 - MONOGRAPH

Ignazio Sparacio, Tommaso La Mantia, Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano & Salvo Giglio
Qanat, Gebbie and water source: the last refuge for the malacologica freshwater fauna in Palermo (Sicily, Italy)

ABSTRACT
The surroundings of Palermo were characterized, over the centuries, by the presence of many natural environments of great ecological and faunal importance. These environments were placed in a context characterized by minimal and sustainable urban development and large agriculture areas, dedicated to the development of tree crops such as citrus and orchards. These crops were supported by an imposing irrigation system that, using natural resources such as watercourses, wells and springs, collected and distributed water in soils through tanks, gebbie, qanat, irrigation channels (saje), etc. Fresh water mollusks, like many other animal and vegetable organisms, spread from the natural freshwater environments in this artificial water system, thus creating a unique and varied ecosystem. The subsequent urban development of the city of Palermo and the destruction of many of those natural environments has further enhanced the ecological role of the artificial freshwater systems as an important refuge for the native fauna and flora. In the present study, we report on freshwater molluscs observed in the territory of Micciulla, a large relict area occupied almost entirely by an old citrus, now located inside the city of Palermo. In this area there are some springs, an extensive array of artificial freshwater to irrigate the crops, and the qanat Savagnone located in the “Camera dello Scirocco”. The results obtained by census of different populations of freshwater mollusks confirm the importance of these environments and the growing role they play as the last refuges for fauna and flora originally linked to natural humid environments.
Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 365-384

Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
Two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

ABSTRACT
In the present paper the Authors describe two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy): Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. from SE-Sicily and Siciliaria calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. from W-Sicily. The two new species are described by virtue of their distinctive conchological and anatomical features. Additional biological and taxonomic notes are provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 6 (3): 757–760

Ignazio Sparacio
On the presence of Buprestis (Buprestis) magica Laporte et Gory, 1837 (Coleoptera Buprestidae) in Italy

ABSTRACT
The present study confirmed the presence of Buprestis (Buprestis) magica Laporte et Gory, 1837 (Coleoptera Buprestidae) in Italy based on a male specimen preserved at the Museum of Natural History of Genoa (Italy), which, for some peculiar morphological characteristics, is described as a new subspecies: B. magica doderoi n. ssp. from Sardinia. The new subspecies is illustrated and compared with related taxa.
Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 481-490 - MONOGRAPH

Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata (Pfeiffer, 1857) (Pulmonata, Clausiliidae)
Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th-5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

ABSTRACT
The door snail Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata (L. Pfeiffer, 1856) (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) is redescribed. The species is endemic to Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy) and it is the only one of the genus Siciliaria Vest, 1867 living in this island. Siciliaria scarificata can be morphologically identified by the presence of a high columellar lamella, ascending in a double “S” curve, a wide anterior upper palatal plica, long basal plica, sulcalis present; clausilium plate distally less narrowed; genitalia are characterized by very short bursa copulatrix duct; short diverticulum of bursa copulatrix; penial papilla conic and short. Notes about its taxonomy, biology and conservation status are also provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 401-411 - MONOGRAPH

Maria Stella Colomba, Armando Gregorini, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1894: new molecular evidence
Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

ABSTRACT
In this paper we report on new molecular data (COI sequences) of different and representative populations of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori et Jan, 1832), E. cephalaeditana Giannuzzi-Savelli, Oliva et Sparacio, 2012 and E. insolida (Monterosato, 1892) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora, Helicidae). Present results are compared with those from recent literature and the current knowledge on phylogenetic relationships among Helicidae pulmonate gastropods is reviewed. Obtained results suggest that: i) Cornu Born, 1778 and Cantareus Risso, 1826 are separate and well distinct from Helix Linnaeus, 1758; ii) Erctella Monterosato, 1894 is a valid and independent genus rather than a subgenus of Cornu; iii) Cornu aspersum (O.F. Müller, 1774) is a group of species (i.e. "aspersum" group) whose taxonomic status needs to be defin further studies; iv) Cornu, Cantareus and Erctella might belong to the same tribe that, still, remains to be defined.
Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 107-114

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio
New taxonomic data on some populations of Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae)

ABSTRACT
In this work we give new taxonomic data on some, little known, populations of Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae). In particular, C. morbillosus lampedusae Born,1925 described from Lampedusa Island (Sicilian Channel, Italy) is reconsidered a valid subspecies and are designated the lectotype and paralectotypes. Similarly, Carabus morbillosus bruttianus Born, 1906 described from Southern Calabria is considered a distinct subspecies, including the populations of C. morbillosus from North-Eastern Sicily.
Biodiversity Journal, 5 (2): 359-366

Ignazio Sparacio
Taxonomic notes on the genus Pseudoapterogyna Escalera, 1914 (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea Melolonthidae) in Sicily

ABSTRACT
All Sicilian records of the genus Pseudoapterogyna Escalera, 1914 (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea Melolonthidae) are revised. As a result four species are reported to occur in Sicily: P. euphytus lamantiai n. ssp. (for the populations of Pantelleria Island, previously attributed to P. euphytus s.l.), P. vorax (Marseul, 1878) from Lampedusa Island, P. pellegrinensis (Brenske in Ragusa, 1893) from Western Sicily (to which all P. euphytus records from Sicily need to be attributed), and P. michaelis n. sp. from Western Sicily.
Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 571-580

Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Rosario Grasso, Davide Di Franco & Ignazio Sparacio
On the presence of Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) and Sinanodonta woodiana woodiana (Lea, 1834) in Sicily (Mollusca Bivalvia)

ABSTRACT
In this paper we report on the presence of two non-native and invasive species of bivalve mollusks in Sicily: Sinanodonta woodiana woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia Unionidae) native to East Asia and Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) (Bivalvia Dreissenidae) native to the Ponto-Caspian area, with a particular focus on how the presence of these alien species can lead to imbalances in the delicate equilibrium of Sicilian freshwater invertebrates and, above all, does threaten the existence of Unio elongatus gargottae Philippi, 1836 an island's native bivalve suffering from strong rarefaction.
Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 451-466

Calogero Muscarella, Ignazio Sparacio, Andrea Liberto & Gianluca Nardi
The genus Lichenophanes Lesne, 1899 in Italy (Coleoptera Bostrichidae) and short considerations on the saproxylophagous beetle-fauna of Nebrodi Mountains (Sicily)

ABSTRACT
The Italian distribution and ecology of Lichenophanes numida Lesne, 1899 and L. varius (Illiger, 1801) are summarized; both species are recorded for the first time from Sicily, and L. varius also from Veneto and Molise Regions. L. varius is a protected species, at different levels, in most of European countries in which it occurs, so its main threatening factors are discussed. Finally, the importance of the dead wood for the conservation of saproxylic beetle-fauna of Sicilian forests, is underlined.
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (4): 571-582

Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Walter Renda, Giuseppe Pocaterra, Armando Gregorini & Ignazio Sparacio
Molecular studies on the genus Medora H. et A. Adams, 1855 from Italy (Gastropoda Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

ABSTRACT
In Italy, the genus Medora H. et A. Adams, 1855 includes two species: M. italiana (Küster, 1847) and M. dalmatina (Rossmässler, 1835). In particular, populations ascribed to M. italiana were, and still are, the focus of several works aiming at better understanding the real taxonomic value of these entities and defining their presence on the Italian territory. In order to contribute to the improvement of the current knowledge on the organization of the genus at different taxonomic levels, several populations were investigated by analysing 16S rDNA, COI and ITS2 gene partial sequences. Phylogenetic reconstructions were obtained by the Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Although further studies are needed, preliminary data suggest that the genus Medora shows a much more complex and articulate differentiation than hypothesized so far.
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (4): 487-492

Michele Bellavista & Ignazio Sparacio
Forest-ecological aspectsof the Allardius Ragusa, 1898 genre (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) in Sicily and Sardinia

ABSTRACT
The genus Allardius Ragusa, 1898 (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae) includes only two species: Allardius oculatus (Baudi di Selve, 1876) endemic to Sicily and A. sardiniensis (Allard, 1877) endemic to Sardinia. They are infrequent species in nature with few reports in entomological bibliography. The authors describe and illustrate the larvae and the biological aspects of Allardius. In particular, it is highlighted the strong saproxylophagous activity of these beetles and the importance of their role in the ecology of a forest in relation to the presence of "dead wood".
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (3): 251-258

Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Fabio Liberto, Salvatore Giglio, Armando Gregorini & Ignazio Sparacio
Additional data on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 with description of a new species (Gastropoda Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

ABSTRACT
Morphological analysis and molecular genetic studies conducted on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) in Sicily allowed to identify a new species which is described in the present paper.
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (3): 201-228

Fabio Liberto, Salvatore Giglio, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
New and little known land snails from Sicily (Mollusca Gastropoda)

ABSTRACT
In the present paper are reported new and little known land snails from Sicily (Mollusca Gastropoda). Particularly, Platyla similis (Reinhardt, 1880) (Aciculidae) and Rumina saharica Pallary, 1901 (Subulinidae) are first recorded in the island; new taxonomic data, useful for a better systematic classification, are provided on two little-known taxa, Lampedusa lopadusae nodulosa Monterosato, 1892 (Clausiliidae) and Cernuella (Cernuella) tineana (Benoit, 1862) (Hygromiidae); and finally, a new species of slug, Tandonia marinellii n. sp. (Milacidae), currently known from North-Western Sicily, is described.
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (2): 107-110

Riccardo Giannuzzi-Savelli, Ignazio Sparacio & Nunzia Oliva
Nomenclatural observations on the Erctella Monterosato, 1894 species (Gastropoda, Helicidae) from the “Rocca” of Cefalù (Italy, Sicily)

ABSTRACT
The taxon “cephalaeditana” was introduced in 1986 by the authors to indicate a endemic species from the “Rocca” of Cefalù; this species was discovered, named, but never described by E. Pirajno sicilian naturalist (1809-1864). The unusual description was accepted under Articles 11d and 13a of the ICZN Code edition in use at that time, but not to create nomenclatural uncertainties that would be obviously aggravated by the possible introduction of other names, different from the one Pirajno wanted to use for this discovery, we proceed here to a formal (re-)description of the taxon in question.
Biodiversity Journal, 3 (1): 085-090

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio
Carabus (Eurycarabus) faminii Dejean, 1826 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in Sicily: distribution and taxonomic considerations with description of a new taxon

ABSTRACT
The study of large series from many localities from all over Sicily of Carabus (Eurycarabus) faminii Dejean, 1826 confirmed that in Sicily live two different subspecies. After examination of the holotypus of C. faminii we found that C. faminii sabellai Sparacio, 2007 is a synonym of the nominal form widespread in south-east part of Sicily. The western subspecies is described in this paper.
Biodiversity Journal, 2 (3): 153-159

Francesco Izzillo & Ignazio Sparacio
A new subspecies of Perotis lugubris Fabricius, 1777 from Southern Italy (Coleoptera Buprestidae)

ABSTRACT
A new subspecies of Coleoptera Buprestidae, Perotis lugubris meridionalis n. ssp. from Southern Italy, is described, illustrated and compared with related taxa.
Biodiversity Journal, 2 (1): 027-034

Fabio Liberto, Walter Renda, Maria Stella Colomba, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
New records of Testacella scutulum Sowerby, 1821 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Testacellidae) from Southern Italy and Sicily

ABSTRACT
In the present paper we report on Testacella scutulum recently recorded for a few regions of Southern Italy and Sicily. An updated distribution map, anatomical remarks and feeding behaviours of collected specimens are related in order to extend and improve general knowledge on these terrestrial molluscs.
Biodiversity Journal, 1: 015-044

Tommaso La Mantia, Michele Bellavista, Giovanni Giardina & Ignazio Sparacio
Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy) and their relationship with plant diversity (Coleoptera Cerambycidae)

ABSTRACT
The woods in Sicily are the result of centuries of anthropogenic activities that have reduced the surface of wood and changed the original composition even with the introduction of alien species to native flora. The value in terms of biodiversity of these forests remains, however, high for they are the last refuge areas for many animals and plant species. This study was conducted within the Ficuzza woods (West Sicily), extended about 5,000 hectares on the slopes of limestone-dolomite rock of Busambra (1615 m asl), within which lies the largest remaining forest area in western Sicily. It is an area with a wide diversity of vegetation, represented mainly by native forests (holm oak, cork oak, deciduous oaks), groups of riparian vegetation, shrubs, bushes, grasslands, and of non-native forest formations (Pinus and Eucalyptus woods). The study on Cerambycidae in this area is fragmented and does not specify a relation the species with the surrounding vegetation. This study was performed by choosing among various groups of insects, xylophagous Coleoptera Cerambycidae; existing literature data and extensive collected field data were reviewed. The analysis was also performed by the collection of dead wood in order to distinguish the relationship between the plant species and coleoptera. The results summarize and supplement the data registered so far, shedding further light on the ecological role of this group of insects that are also valid biomarkers of the integrity and complexity of the forest.
Biodiversity Journal, 1: 007-014

Maria Stella Colomba, Armando Gregorini, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from Southeastern Sicily, Italy (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae)

ABSTRACT
The genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925, is currently distributed either in Southeastern Sicily or in the Maltese islands and comprises the species M. syracusana (Philippi, 1836), M. neuteboomi Beckmann, 1990 and M. macrostoma (Cantraine, 1835). For the first time, we report a molecular study on the topotypicous populations of M. syracusana and M. neuteboomi carried out on fragments of the ribosomal 16S rDNA subunit and the cytochrome oxydase I (COI) mitochondrial genes by Neighbour Joining, Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference algorithms. Our results revealed the existence of nucleotide-sequence divergence (Dxy: 5% for 16S rDNA and 12% for COI sequences) between the two taxa.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 457-463 - MONOGRAPH

Ignazio Sparacio, Angelo Ditta, Vincenzo Genna & Salvatore Surdo
New data on the beetle fauna (Insecta Coleoptera) in the Trapani surroundings (Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.457.463

ABSTRACT
In this work, some interesting beetles (Insecta Coleoptera) collected in the surroundings of Trapani (Sicily, Italy) are reported. Among these, Icosium (Icosium) tomentosum tomentosum Lucas, 1854 (Cerambycidae) is a new record for Sicily.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 433-456 - MONOGRAPH

Ignazio Sparacio, Roberto Viviano, Salvatore Surdo & Antonino Dentici
Coleoptera from the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (north-western Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.433.456

ABSTRACT
On the basis of specific entomological researches carried out on Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (north-western Sicily, Italy) in recent years, a first annotated check-list of the Coleoptera species is provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 407-431 - MONOGRAPH

Roberto Viviano, Antonino Dentici, Salvatore Surdo & Ignazio Sparacio
Arthropoda (except Coleoptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera) from the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (north-western Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.407.431

ABSTRACT
On the basis of specific entomological researches carried out on Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (north-western Sicily, Italy) in recent years, a first check-list of the Arthropoda species (except Coleoptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera) found is provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 377-382 - MONOGRAPH

Antonino Dentici, Salvatore Surdo, Roberto Viviano & Ignazio Sparacio
Araneofauna (Arachnida Araneae) from Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (north-western Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.377.382

ABSTRACT
The species of spiders (Arachnida Araneae) found in the “Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve” (Sicily, Italy) are reported here. The checklist provided is the result of some excursions carried out between 2021 and 2023 and aimed at studying the invertebrate fauna that live on this small island. In total, up to date, 42 species, belonging to 38 genera and 19 families, are listed, among these Diplostyla concolor (Wider, 1834) is reported for the first time for Sicily.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 327-346 - MONOGRAPH

Ignazio Sparacio, Fabio Liberto, Najla Abushaala, Maria Tavano & Roberto Poggi
An annotated type catalogue of the land and freshwater mollusks from Tunisia and Libya in the Natural History Museum “Giacomo Doria” of Genova (Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.327.346

ABSTRACT
In the present work are listed the type specimens of land and freshwater molluscs from Tunisia and Libya deposited in the Natural History Museum “Giacomo Doria” of Genova (Italy). The historical nucleus of the malacological collections of the Museum of Genova is made up of the material collected by the young Giacomo Doria. After the official creation of the Museum in 1867, the malacological collection increased considerably in number of species and importance also through the material collected in various scientific missions organized by the Museum around the world. After 1916, the director Raffaello Gestro reorganized all this material and began the cataloging and selection of the type species. Nineteen nominal species described by Arturo Issel, Laura Gambetta, Jole Bisacchi and Rolf Arthur Max Brandt have been traced in these malacological collections. The type series described (types and syntypes) but also the material coming from the description localities and collected by the author himself (sometimes referred to as “topotypes”) were examined. For each taxa, the collection data obtained from the labels, the current taxonomic classification, the photographic documentation, remarks and the malacological bibliography are provided.
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 251-257 - MONOGRAPH

Lucio Morin, Salvatore Surdo, Roberto Viviano, Antonino Dentici & Ignazio Sparacio
Lepidoptera from the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.251.257

ABSTRACT
On the basis of specific entomological researches carried out on Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve (Sicily, Italy) in recent years, a first check-list of the Lepidoptera with 46 species recorded is provided. Additional taxonomic, faunal and geonemic informations for four of these species are provided: Idaea leipnitzi Hausmann, 2004 (Geometridae), Maradana fuscolimbalis (Ragonot, 1887) and M. vidualis (Chrétien, 1911) (Pyralidae) and Crassicornella crassicornella (Zeller, 1847) (Tinaeidae).
Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 135-141

Calogero Muscarella & Ignazio Sparacio
Rhizotrogus tatianae a new species from Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Melolonthinae)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.135.141
https://www.zoobank.org/F370C2CD-4901-460F-82EB-AE82D017197E

ABSTRACT
Rhizotrogus tatianae a new species from Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) is here described and illustrated (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Melolonthinae). It is similar to R. romanoi Sabatinelli, 1975, endemic of Sicily and Calabria (Madonie and Nebrodi Mountains), from which it differs by some characters of external morphology and genitalia. Both of these species belong to the R. aestivus (Olivier, 1789) group, a species widespread throughout almost all of Europe up to Asia Minor including almost all regions of continental and peninsular Italy. Rhizotrogus tatianae n. sp. is a crepuscolar species found in a forest environment.
Biodiversity Journal, 14 (4): 0791-0849 - MONOGRAPH

Ignazio Sparacio, Calogero Muscarella, Amedeo Falci & Salvatore Surdo
Tiger beetles of Sicily (Coleoptera Cicindelidae)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.4.791.849

ABSTRACT
Tiger beetles (Coleoptera Cicindelidae) are predators, both in the larval and adult state and each species tends to be specialized within a narrow habitat. For this reason, tiger beetles are excellent indicators of the quality of the biotopes in which they live and of the possible degradation of said biotopes due to anthropic actions. Currently, the populations of Cicindelidae are declining almost all over the world due to the destruction of the environments in which they live. In the Euro-Mediterranean area, including Italy, Cicindelidae mainly live in sandy environments like beaches, river mouths, the edges of lagoons and dune, and backdune ponds. Few species live on rocky coasts, in inland locations or in environments far from water such as paths and forest clearings. From what has been said, the coastal environments generally preferred by Cicindelidae are precisely those which in Italy, and also in Sicily, have undergone the greatest alteration and, often, destruction by man and his activities. In Sicily the Cicindelidae have always been studied since the first regional catalogs of the 19th century and other works were carried out in the following years, up to the present day. In the last decade, numerous reports have spread on the web, in numerous online chats, nature forums, etc. The aim of this work is to summarize and improve in a catalog what is known so far about the Sicilian Cicindelidae to highlight their peculiar systematic, ecological and geographical characteristics also in relation to the environment in which they live.
Biodiversity Journal, 14 (4): 0741-0747

Ignazio Sparacio, Pietro Lo Cascio, Calogero Muscarella, Salvatore Surdo, Amedeo Falci & Francesco Allegrino
A new subspecies of Cicindela (Cicindela) campestris Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera Cicindelidae) from the Aeolian Islands (Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.4.741.747
https://www.zoobank.org/A5E8037D-E05E-4513-9C98-59636F5C7C11

ABSTRACT
Cicindela (Cicindela) campestris didyme n. ssp. from the islands of Salina and Lipari (Aeolian Archipelago, Sicily, Italy) is here described. The new subspecies differs from other Italian populations of C. campestris, in particular from the closest ones of Sicily (C. campestris siculorum Schilder, 1953) and Calabria (C. campestris calabrica Mandl, 1944) for some morphological characters such as the shape of the clypeus, the granules of the elytra less elevated and more sparse and the different aedeagus. It is immediately recognizable by more or less extensively green-brown color of the dorsal surface often entirely red-brown.
Biodiversity Journal, 14 (1): 0255-0270

Ignazio Sparacio, Roberto Viviano, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano & Salvatore Surdo
New data on Siciliaria septemplicata (Philippi, 1836) complex (Gastropoda Clausiliidae) from the surroundings of Palermo (NW-Sicily, Italy)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.1.255.270
https://www.zoobank.org/3335582E-E41B-431D-9A2A-CCED32CC2370

ABSTRACT
Siciliaria septemplicata (R.A. Philippi, 1836) (Gastropoda Clausiliidae) endemic from northwestern Sicily (Italy) is revised, using shell and genital characters. The diversity of the species complex, the taxonomic history, faunal data and distributional relationships are examined. Siciliaria septemplicata vincentii n. ssp. and S. septemplicata mariastellae n. ssp. from the surroundings of Palermo are here described.
Biodiversity Journal, 14 (1): 0241-0254

Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Roberto Viviano & Ignazio Sparacio
On the taxonomy of Siciliaria grohmanniana (Rossmässler, 1836) (Gastropoda Clausiliidae)
https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.1.241.254

ABSTRACT
In the present paper the taxonomy of Siciliaria grohmanniana (Rossmässler, 1836) (Gastropoda Clausiliidae) is revised through the study of literature data and type series. Clausilia decollata Potiez et Michaud, 1838, C. grohmanniana var. minor Schmidt, 1868, C. grohmanniana var. crassilabris Monterosato, 1894, C. grohmanniana var. densa Monterosato, 1894, C. grohmanniana panormitana Paulucci, 1878 and C. subdiaphana Benoit, 1882 are confirmed synonyms of S. grohmanniana grohmanniana. A neotype is selected for C. panormitana. A lectotype is selected for Clausilia rubra Benoit, 1882 and S. grohmanniana addaurae De Mattia, Reier et Haring, 2021 is considered its junior synonym.

Main Index

Ignazio Sparacio