New Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Mascareignes and Comoros Archipelagos (Indian Ocean): one new record, three new species groups and description of six new species and of six unknown males

Faunas of Phytoseiidae of the Mascareignes Archipalago (Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands) and of the Comoros Archipelago (Mayotte, Anjouan, Mohéli and Grande Comore Isands) were recently investigated by authors of this paper and results were published in seven already published papers. We described in this eighth paper six species new to science and six unknown males collected during these surveys.

A Preliminary Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability For Ngazidja Island, Comoros Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean

In previous studies, an emphasis on the particular vulnerability of small island states to future sea-level rise and the intensity of increasing storm surges has been discussed. This preliminary assessment develops a Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) along the 202 km long coastline of Ngazidja Island (formerly Grande Comore, Comoros Archipelago), using fieldwork, remote sensing, and geographic information system tools (GIS). The CVI considers five structural variables: (a) geology, (b) geomorphology, (c) topography, (d) shoreline change, and (e) shoreline exposure). It also considers three physical process variables: (f) relative sea-level rise, (g) significant wave height, and (h) mean tide range). The land-use variable was added in this analysis to highlight the human asset exposure in the surrounding areas. Each variable was ranked based on local physical and hydrodynamic conditions and their vulnerability contribution to sea-level rise. The CVI was computed in 270 sections. According to the vulnerability index, approximately 57.5% of the coastline is under low and moderate vulnerability. High and very-high vulnerabilities refer specifically to beaches and shores with old volcanic lava flows located mainly in the northern, northeastern, and southeastern parts of the island, approximately 42.5% of the coastline. The lowest value of CVI is 9.2 on high, rocky cliffs and the highest value is 160 on beaches. This vulnerability partition along the coastline is consistent with in situ indicators of coastal erosion and flooding. In a sea-level rise context, it is of prime importance to integrate coastal vulnerability maps with planning and sustainable management of the coastal zone.

Diversity and Host Plants of Tephritidae From Two Islands of the Comoro Archipelago (Grande-Comore and Moheli).

This paper summarizes the different host plants and fruit flies present in two islands (Grande-Comore and Mohéli) of the Comoros Archipelago. Different exotic and wild fruit plants were sampled. Eighty plant species, potential hosts, belonging to thirty-four families were collected and incubated for the emergence of fruit flies from December 2019 to September 2020. Twenty-five plant hosts from ten families comprising cultivated and wild fruits have been identified. Fruit fly infestation rates per kilogram of fruit (T.Kg-1 ) varied from plant to plant. Exotic fruit plants, which accounted for more than half of infested plants, including Cucumis melo, Cucurbita pepo, Prunus persica, Coffea arabica and Capsicum frutescens had high infestation rates. For wild plants, the highest infestation rates have been observed in some families including Combretaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Vitaceae. The highest infestation rate per kilogram of fruit was observed in a wild plant: Cyphostemma lageniflorum. Thirteen new host plants infested by Tephritidae are reported and/or listed for the first time in Comoros. In total, eight species of fruit flies identified. However, the species Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel, 1912 (47.5%) and Dacus bivittatus (Bigot, 1858) (37.6%) were the most representative of the Tephritidae that emerged.

New intertidal crickets from Comoros and Mascarene islands (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae: Nemobiinae: Burcini)

Nemobiinae crickets of the tribe Burcini Gorochov, 1986 are described for the first time from the shores of South Western Indian Ocean islands. The new genus Makalapobius n. gen. is proposed to include M. aigrettensis n. gen. n. sp. from Mauritius and M. masihu n. gen. n. sp. from Grande Comore, and the new genus Gabusibius n. gen. to include G. ndzilu n. gen. n. sp. from Anjouan, G. mosi n. gen. n. sp., from Mohéli, and G. dzindzanu n. gen. n. sp. from Mayotte. The species Speonemobius littoreus Vannini & Chelazzi, 1978 from Somalia coast is tentatively placed in the genus Gabusibius n. gen. as G. ? litoreus (Vannini & Chelazzi, 1978) n. gen. n. comb. The songs of G. mosi n. gen. n. sp. and M. aigrettensis n. gen. n. sp. are described. The threats to SWIO Burcini and endemism of Orthoptera from SWIO coastal areas are discussed.

New records of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Grande Comore Island (Comoros Archipelago)

Grande Comore is the larger Island of the four main islands constituting Comoros Archipelago. It is the fourth Island starting from Madagascar after Mayotte, Anjouan and Mohéli and closer to the African coast (Mozambique and Tanzania). So far, only five species of the mite family Phytoseiidae had been reported from this island. We report in this paper the results of a survey conducted at the end of 2018 in Grande Comore Island, in which 29 species have been recorded.

Drivers of Rift Valley fever virus persistence and the impact of control measures in a spatially heterogeneous landscape: the case of the Comoros archipelago, 2004–2015

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the many zoonotic arboviral haemorrhagic fevers present in Africa. The ability of the pathogen to persist in multiple geographically distinct regions has raised concerns about its potential for spread to and persistence within currently disease-free areas. However, the mechanisms for which RVF virus persistence occurs at both local and broader geographical scales have yet to be fully understood and rigorously quantified. Here, we developed a mathematical metapopulation model describing RVF virus transmission in livestock across the four islands of the Comoros archipelago and fitted this model in a Bayesian framework to surveillance data conducted in livestock across those islands between 2004 and 2015. In doing so, we estimated the importance of island-specific environmental factors and animal movements between those islands on the persistence of RVF virus in the archipelago, and we further tested the impact of different control scenarios on reducing disease burden. We demonstrated that the archipelago network was able to sustain viral transmission over 10 years after assuming only one introduction event during early 2007. Movement restrictions were only useful to control the disease in Anjouan and Mayotte, as Grande Comore and Mohéli were able to self-sustain RVF viral persistence, probably due to local environmental conditions that are more favourable for vectors. We also evidenced that repeated outbreaks during 2004-2020 may have gone under-detected by local surveillance in Grande Comore and Mohéli. Strengthened longterm and coordinated surveillance would enable the detection of viral re-emergence and evaluation of different relevant vaccination programmes.

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Mohéli Island (Comoros Archipelago)

Mohéli is one of the four main islands constituting Comoros Archipelago, with Mayotte, Anjouan and Grande Comore Islands. It is the third Island closer from Madagascar after Mayotte and Anjouan. So far, no species of the mite family Phytoseiidae had been reported from this island. We report in this paper the results of a survey conducted at the end of 2018 in Mohéli Island, in which 18 species have been recorded.

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Anjouan Island (Comoros Archipelago)

Anjouan is one of the four main islands constituting Comoros Archipelago, with Mayotte, Mohéli and Grande Comore Islands. It is the second Island closer from Madagascar after Mayotte. So far, no species of the mite family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) had been reported from this island. In this paper, 18 species are recorded from a survey conducted at the end of 2018 in Anjouan Island.