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Oscar Lisi

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 145-150 - MONOGRAPH

    Vera D’Urso, Oscar Lisi & Giorgio Sabella
    The alien leafhopper Balclutha brevis Lindberg, 1954 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) and its hostplant, the invasive Poaceae Pennisetum setaceum (Försskal) Chiov.: a real risk in the scenario of Mediterranean land biodiversity?

    ABSTRACT
    The possible effects on Mediterranean biodiversity of the alien leafhopper Balclutha brevis Lindberg, 1954 (Hemiptera Cicadellidae) and its alien hostplant, Pennisetum setaceum (Försskal) Chiov., are discussed; Pennisetum setaceum is a perennial grass of Poaceae spread worldwide and recently colonizing very quickly also Mediterranean countries, it being an invasive species that colonises several environments and is able to modify ecosystems replacing the herbaceous indigenous vegetation. Balclutha brevis, described from the Canary Islands, has been reported in Sicily and Malta Islands. In Sicily, conspicuous populations of this species, with specimens of different generations living together during the whole year, are present. A Wolbachia Hertig, 1936 strain and the Trichogrammatidae Oligosita balcluthae Viggiani et Laudonia, 2015, parasitoid of eggs, affect B. brevis. The aggressiveness of P. setaceum and the speed of colonization of B. brevis could cause a banalization of the flora and also the fauna with modification of the entomocoenosis and possible transmission of disease to wild and cultivated plants.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 073-078 - MONOGRAPH

    Oscar Lisi, Valerio Vaccalluzzo & Vera D’Urso
    Survey on the presence of phlebotominae sandflies in eastern Sicily and connected risk of leishmaniasis

    ABSTRACT
    The authors summarize the results of all the searches for phlebotomes in eastern Sicily, including the connected risk for humans and dogs to contract leishmaniasis, and point out the current situation with new risks, and the main goals for present and future research.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 297-304 - MONOGRAPH

    Oscar Lisi
    Current knowledge on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna
    Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    Based on the literature, and adding personal contribution, the author takes stock of the knowledge about the species of limno-terrestrial tardigrades present in Sicily and the main small islands around it (Aeolian Islands, Ustica, Egadi Islands). In total 111 species are reported: 108 from Sicily (main island), 35 from the Aeolian Islands, 17 from Ustica and 11 from the Egadi Islands. Two species are new records only for the respective islands, 13 are new records for the whole studied area, four of which are new also for the Italian fauna. A good 13 species (11.7%) are at present endemic for the studied area. The zoogeographic spread of the 111 Sicilian tardigrade species confirms the modern ideas about tardigrade zoogeography.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 175-184 - MONOGRAPH

    Giorgio Sabella, Oscar Lisi & Fabio Massimo Viglianisi
    The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.)
    Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    The paper highlights the entofauna’s role as not only as an indicator of the environmental quality, but also as an useful component in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.). Some approaches and tools, with particular emphasis on Sicily, are proposed in regards to the use of the entomofauna in the assessment procedures.