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Maurizio Pavesi

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (2): 763-768

    Andrea Battisti & Maurizio Pavesi
    First records of breeding Sympecma paedisca (Brauer, 1877) (Odonata Lestidae) in Italy

    ABSTRACT
    Oviposition in Italian populations of Sympecma paedisca (Brauer, 1877) (Odonata Lestidae) was observed for the first time. This species is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Mediterranean Basin and as Critically Endangered (CR) in Italy. Several ovipositing tandems were observed for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, from the 17th of May to the 10th of June, in the “Riserva Naturale Orientata della Baraggia di Candelo” (=Heathlands Oriented Natural Reserve) (North Piedmont), a protected area and a military zone too, in a pond at the edge of the heathland. Oviposition substrates are vertical living Juncus effusus L. stems, preferably the isolated ones or those on the external side of the tufts, rather than inside them; eggs are laid about 20 to 50 cm above the water level. In the heathland, around the breeding site, tens of adults were seen every autumn and winter, also in December and January sunny days. Reproductive S. paedisca were also occasionally observed in other two localities, namely the lake of Viverone and the “Riserva Naturale Orientata Palude di Casalbeltrame” (= Casalbeltrame Fen Oriented Natural Reserve). Notes on breeding behaviour and a description of both breeding and overwintering area of S. paedisca are provided, since knowledge of its breeding and overwintering sites is needed to ensure their protection and therefore the conservation of Italian populations of this damselfly.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 033-038

    Andrea Corso, Ottavio Janni, Maurizio Pavesi & Michele Viganò
    Update to the status of Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) and Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 for Italy and Central Mediterranean basin (Odonata Libellulidae)

    ABSTRACT
    An overview of the records of Pantala flavescens and Trithemis kirbyi for the Sicilian Channel islands and mainland Sicily, with comments on their possible status in this area, is provided. In light of the number of observed individuals, P. flavescens is likely to be regular in the studied area, with up to 30 individuals recorded per year since autumn 2012. Trithemis kirbyi, conversely, is only known from few scattered records, so that its status in the area remains to be elucidated. No evidence of reproductive behaviour nor of actual breeding in this area was hitherto found for any of the two species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (2): 249-252

    Calogero Muscarella & Maurizio Pavesi
    Princidium (Testedium) laetum (Brullé, 1836) new to Italian fauna (Coleoptera Carabidae Trechinae Bembidiini)

    ABSTRACT
    The Mediterranean ground beetle Princidium (Testedium) laetum (Brullé, 1836) (Coleoptera Carabidae Trechinae Bembidiini) is herewith first recorded for Italy, on Favignana Island (Egadi Archipelago). The site of the species is a small complex of coastal temporary pools. Notes on the species and considerations on the significance of its local occurrence are given.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (4): 459-478

    Andrea Corso, Ottavio Janni, Maurizio Pavesi, Michael Sammut, Arnold Sciberras & Michele Viganò
    Annotated checklist of the dragonflies (Insecta Odonata) of the islands of the Sicilian Channel, including the first records of Sympetrum sinaiticum Dumont, 1977 and Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) for Italy

    ABSTRACT
    In this paper we report data on the historical and recent status of all dragonfly species (Insecta, Odonata) recorded for the Sicilian Channel islands: the Pelagie islands and Pantelleria, politically belonging to Italy, and Maltese Archipelago islands. The number of species known for the former group of islands raises from 7 to 20. Of these, 2 are new for the Italian fauna, namely the Desert Darter Sympetrum sinaiticum, noticed through likely sightings starting from 2010 on Lampedusa, and confirmed through voucher specimens collected in April 2012, and the Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens, first noticed in October 2012 on Lampedusa and Linosa; while Calopteryx sp. cf. haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura genei, Aeshna mixta, Orthetrum nitidinerve, Orthetrum coerulescens anceps, Crocothemis erythraea, Sympetrum striolatum, S. meridionale, Brachythemis impartita, Trithemis annulata and T. kirbyi, already known for Italy, are new for the Italian islands of the Sicilian channel. The Maltese fauna includes at present 18 recorded species; the previously reported Trithemis arteriosa is to be deleted from the list, since the concerned specimen upon re-examination proved to be T. annulata.