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Biodiversity Journal 2013, 4 (4): 441-584

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 441-442
    Marcello Romano
    The family of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera Aculeata)
  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 443-450

    Gianfranco Curletti, Sérvio P. Ribeiro & Letizia Migliore
    Preliminary contribution to the knowledge of Coleoptera Buprestidae from Atlantic rainforest regions of Rio Doce and Itacolomi State Parks of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The genera Agrilus Curtis, 1825, Autarcontes Waterhouse, 1887, and Geralius Harold, 1869

    ABSTRACT
    A checklist of species belonging to Agrilus Curtis, 1825, Autarcontes Waterhouse, 1887, and Geralius Harold, 1869 genera found in Rio Doce and Itacolomi Estadual Parks is given. 19 species are listed, 5 of which are new for the science and here described: Agrilus pirilampo n. sp., A. disorientatus n. sp., A. coal n. sp., A. rarestriatus n. sp., A. taediosus n. sp. Most species were found in one sampling season and reflect a quite favourable rainforest for xylophagous species. The high dominance of Leguminosae large tree species could be related to this pattern.

  • 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, 4 (4): 467-470

    Gaetano Fichera, Mauro Mucedda, Paolo Catalano & Ermanno Pidinchedda
    First record of Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825) (Mammalia Chiroptera) in Sicily (Southern Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    We report the capture through mist-nets of two adult females Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825) (Mammalia Chiroptera), along the course of Simeto river, in Adrano (Catania, Sicily, Italy). Their presence has been reported for the first time in Sicily, increasing the number of bat species present in the region to twenty-three.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 471-482

    Peninah Aloo, William Ojwang, Reuben Omondi, James Murithi Njiru & Dalmas Oyugi
    A review of the impacts of invasive aquatic weeds on the biodiversity of some tropical water bodies with special reference to Lake Victoria (Kenya)

    ABSTRACT
    Aquatic weeds may be defined as troublesome or unsightly plants growing in abundance in aquatic situations where they are not wanted. These plants are either adapted to continuous supplies of water or are at least tolerant to waterlogged soil conditions for substantial periods of time. The wide range of adaptation to varying amounts of water, and the impossibility of sharply distinguishing between aquatic and terrestrial environments, makes it difficult to precisely define an aquatic plant. The menace of water weeds is reaching alarming proportions in many parts of the world, especially in tropical water bodies where they have led to serious ecological and economic losses. Lake Victoria, Kenya, which is the largest freshwater body in the tropics, has undergone serious ecological changes including over-exploitation of its fishery resources, degradation of the catchment area, introduction of exotic fish species and invasion by the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae), among others. The presence of the weed in the lake has led to many problems including blockage of water pumps, reduced fishing activities and increase in water borne diseases such as schistosomiasis. Positively, aquatic weeds constitute a free crop of great potential value; they are a highly productive crop that requires no tillage, fertilizer, seed, or cultivation. Moreover, these plants have the potential for exploitation as animal feed, human food, source of food to some aquatic organisms, soil additives, fuel production, wastewater treatment, source of raw materials and habitat to many organisms. This paper reviews the effects of aquatic weeds in aquatic systems with examples from some selected waterbodies and special reference to Lake Victoria.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 483-500

    Nicola Maio, Agnese Petraccioli, Paolo Crovato, Nabil Amor & Gaetano Odierna
    New faunistic data on Trochoidea (Trochoidea) caroni (Deshayes,1832) (Gastropoda Pulmonata Hygromiidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Trochoidea (Trochoidea) caroni (Deshayes, 1832), with T. (T.) elegans (Gmelin, 1791) and T. (T.) trochlea (Pfeiffer, 1846), belong to a group of species (“elegans group”), which, although considered valid by most authors, show a not completely defined systematic position. In this work, we report four new records (Terracina and Spigno Saturnia for Latium, Sorrento for Campania and Castagneto Carducci for Tuscany) and confirm two historical records (Ischia Island for Campania and Manfredonia for Apulia) of T. caroni from Italy, and all published and new faunistic data about the presence of this species in the Sicilian Islands, Capri Island and Maltese Islands. Moreover, we report some historical data from the Western Mediterranean Sea: two bibliographical records from the Balearic Islands, not verified, and three records from North Africa (Tunis in Tunisia, Annaba in Algeria and an unmarked locality in Morocco). We also report the up to now historical faunistic data of T. trochlea, a not well known species with an undefined status, and of some populations of T. elegans with raised whorl. It is not yet possible to draw a certain conclusion on the particular biogeography of these taxa, but the new data presented in this work, enhance the current knowledge on the distribution of T. caroni which would be larger than previously known.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 501-506

    Kheddar Reguia & Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo
    Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera  Psyllidae) invasion and new records in the Mediterranean area

    ABSTRACT
    Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 (Hemiptera Psyllidae) is a sap-sucking insect known for being a severe pest in several Eucalyptus spp. This paper provides new information about the first record of G. brimblecombei in Algeria and Greece, and new information about its biology, analyzing the evolution and reasons of its expansion. It is also the first record of the parasitic wasp Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek in Algeria, frequently used as biological control of this psyllid. Samplings were carried out in European and North African Mediterranean countries from 2011 to 2013.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 507-552 - MONOGRAPH

    Vera L. Hecht, Cuong T. Pham, Tao T. Nguyen, Truong Q. Nguyen, Michael Bonkowski & Thomas Ziegler
    First report on the herpetofauna of Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, northeastern Vietnam

    ABSTRACT
    A total number of 76 species of amphibians and reptiles were recorded during recent field surveys from the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve in Bac Giang Province, northeastern Vietnam, comprising one caecilian species, one newt species, 34 species of anurans, 18 species of lizards, and 22 species of snakes. Thirty species are reported for the first time from Yen Tu Nature Reserve as well as for Bac Giang Province. Among the recorded species, five are currently known only from Vietnam. A high level of species diversity and endemism of the herpetofauna underlines the importance of biodiversity conservation in this nature reserve, which covers a major part of the remaining lowland evergreen forest in northeastern Vietnam.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 553-556

    Mauro Grano, Cristina Cattaneo & Augusto Cattaneo
    First record of Hierophis gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768) (Reptilia Serpentes Colubridae) in the Aegean island of Tsougriá, Northern Sporades, Greece

    ABSTRACT
    The presence of Hierophis gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768) (Reptilia Serpentes Colubridae) in Tsougriá, a small island of the Northern Sporades, Greece, is here recorded for the first time.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 557-564

    Agatino Maurizio Siracusa & Ettore Petralia
    Trend of a population of Wild Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in relation to Domestic Sheep Ovis aries aries (Linnaeus, 1758) grazing within a small insular protected area

    ABSTRACT
    The wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Leporidae) if present at high density can cause significant damages to crops and natural vegetation. The aim of this study, carried out from 2002 to 2008 in the Natural Reserve “Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti”, in the foothills of Mount Etna, was to investigate the relationship between the wild rabbit and the presence of grazing domestic sheep Ovis aries aries (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Bovidae), considering also the possible synergistic effect of these two herbivores on the natural vegetation in a small protected area. Precipitation during the month of September correlated statistically significantly with the density of rabbits. A comparison between the density values obtained during the period under study did not show statistically significant differences with the exception of 2006 and 2007 when, within the area, was present a flock of sheep (200–250 individuals), free to graze in the reserve. The abundance of rabbits in 2002–2005 and 2008 is equal to 6.97% more than the expected value; in the absence of the grazing sheep flock (2006–2007) instead the population assumed density values significantly higher than expected. Since grazing of rabbits, especially in summer, is critical for the subsequent composition of herbaceous vegetation, for the purposes of conservation and protection of natural or semi natural environments, especially with a small extension, it is desirable to properly assess and manage the presence of the wild rabbit, especially in areas where it is not original, for the effects it may have on plant communities and populations of arthropods, and to control sheep grazing as well to contain the caused damages.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 565-570

    Vittorio Nobile & Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi
    Remarks on the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804, pinguiculus Pérez, 1903 species-group (Hymenoptera  Apidae) from Italy: a reply to the article of Schwarz & Gusenleitner (2012)

    ABSTRACT
    The present paper is a reply to the article by Schwarz & Gusenleitner (2012) and deals with the taxonomy of the genus Sphecodes Latreille, 1804, pinguiculus Pérez, 1903 species-group. Particularly, this study, after a critical revision of the morphological characters used to the identification of the species of the genus Sphecodes from Italy, confirms the results of Nobile & Turrisi (2004) and allows the revalidation of all species which they described; therefore are considered valid species the following taxa: S. campadellii Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. combai Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. banaszaki Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. marcellinoi Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. walteri Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. iosephi Nobile et Turrisi, 2004, S. tomarchioi Nobile et Turrisi, 2004.

  • 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): 581-582
    NEW TAXA PUBLISHED IN THE BIODIVERSITY JOURNAL 4, 2013