Toumeyella parvicornis. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell). Hemiptera: Coccidae. Hosts: Pinus spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (France, Italy), North America (Canada, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States (Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin)).

Social Parasite Ants in the Alps: a New Site of the Vulnerable Myrmica myrmicoxena and New Uppermost Altitudinal Limit for M. microrubra

We conducted a survey on the Alpine fauna of one of the largest Natural Park of the Italian Alps (Stelvio National Park) in the framework of a broad ecological monitoring of Alpine biodiversity. A two-years standardized sampling employing pitfall traps along a 1200 m altitudinal gradient led to the discovery of two interesting inquiline social parasite ants of the genus Myrmica: M. myrmicoxena Forel, 1895 and M. microrubra Seifert, 1993. Myrmica myrmicoxena, which is classified as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List, was so far known from only three sites across a narrow geographic range between Italy and Switzerland. Our data support the previous hypothesis over its ecology and host association. Myrmica microrubra is considered an incipient species of high evolutionary interest, sometimes regarded as an intraspecific form of M. rubra. While having a wide distribution in Europe, its presence in Italy was hitherto known only from a single site, and our record extends its altitudinal distribution limit in Europe upwards by about 600 m.

High Plains wheat mosaic emaravirus. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for High Plains wheat mosaic emaravirus. Bunyavirales: Fimoviridae: Emaravirus. Main hosts: wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Ukraine), North America (Canada, Alberta, United States, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming), Oceania (Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia), South America (Argentina).

Do Defensive Compounds Affect the Success of Invasion of the Argentine Ant?

One of the main traits of invasive ants is the formation of supercolonies, large networks of polygynous nests lacking intraspecific competition, which allows them to reach high densities that facilitate their spread. However, different supercolonies exhibit different success in expanding along the world. Here, we explore whether the main chemical defensive compound of the Argentine ant could play a role in the differential invasiveness of supercolonies. We assessed differences in the amount of iridomyrmecin among supercolonies in the native range and in three invasive supercolonies: the Main supercolony (the most extended worldwide), and the Corsican and the Catalonian supercolonies (both with a restricted local distribution in Europe). We found that even if the amount of iridomyrmecin varied greatly between invaded regions in the three supercolonies in Europe and the native supercolonies in South America, the differences did not seem related to the success of invasion. The amount of iridomyrmecin of the Main supercolony was the lowest while the highest corresponded to the Corsican supercolony, with the Catalonian having intermediate values. This suggests that the success of a given invasive supercolony may not be explained by higher quantities of this defensive compound. Alternatively, reducing iridomyrmecin quantities in the invasive range could lead to more investment in other fitness traits that increase the invader's competitive ability. Our results open the way for exploring the contribution of defensive compounds in the competitive ability and spread of this global invader.

Nemorimyza maculosa. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Nemorimyza maculosa (Malloch). Diptera: Agromyzidae. Hosts: Chrysanthemum, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and other Asteraceae. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Portugal, Madeira, Spain, Canary islands), North America (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Ontario, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Martinique, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Wisconsin), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Para, Pernambuco, Sao Paulo, Chile, Easter Island, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela).

Cynaeus angustus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a new alien beetle in Romania

Cynaeus angustus, a North American tenebrionid, is recorded for the first time in Romania. Its distribution in Europe and some data regarding its ecology are presented and discussed.

Carillon: History and Performing Capabilities of the Musical Instrument, its “Philosophy” and Prospects of Development in Ukrainian Culture

The article focuses on the history of origin, the specifics of sound production, the philosophy of performance of the carillon – a European musical instrument, which in recent decades has become active in Ukraine. The purpose of the research is to analyze the history of the carillon origin, its design, technical and expressive means of sound extraction and musical representation of composition and performance. Research methodology. The article uses historical, axiological, musicological and culturological approaches and corresponding methods. The historical-chronological method is used to consider the history of origin, stages of carillon distribution in Europe and the world, axiological – to determine the artistic and psychotherapeutic value of bell (carillon) sound, musicological and culturological methods contribute to various analysis’ aspects of the place and meaning of Ukrainian carillon. Scientific novelty of research. A historical retrospective of the carillon’s spread has been carried out; generalizations regarding its constructive, melodic-intonation, technical, figurative-artistic properties, in particular, in the Ukrainian sound space, have been introduced into the scientific circulation of Ukrainian musicology. Conclusions. The history of the creation of stationary and mobile carillons in Ukraine, stages of entering the specified musical instrument into the Ukrainian sound space, the character of the repertoire performed on it, pedagogical and performing aspects of its popularization have been analyzed. The dynamics of the International Festival of Bell and Carillon Art ‘Bells of Yasna Hora Unite Everyone’ is noted. The performance possibilities of the timbre combination of the carillon with other instruments and singing voices are noted. The technical and expressive significance of synthesizing carillon and the ensemble of bandurists has been highlighted and analyzed. Textural variation of ensemble combination of carillon and ensemble of bandurists and possibilities of thematic and genre extension of repertoire has been proposed.

Climate change impact on the potential geographical distribution of two invading Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

Xylosandrus compactus and X. crassiusculus are two polyphagous ambrosia beetles originating from Asia and invasive in circumtropical regions worldwide. Both species were recently reported in Italy and further invaded several other European countries in the following years. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to estimate the suitable areas worldwide for both species under the current climate. We also made future projections for years 2050 and 2070 using 11 different General Circulation Models, for 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5). Our analyses showed that X. compactus has not been reported in all potentially suitable areas yet. Its current distribution in Europe is localised, whereas our results predicted that most of the periphery of the Mediterranean Sea and most of the Atlantic coast of France could be suitable. Outside Europe, our results also predicted Central America, all islands in Southeast Asia and some Oceanian coasts as suitable. Even though our results when modelling its potential distribution under future climates were more variable, the models predicted an increase in suitability poleward and more uncertainty in the circumtropical regions. For X. crassiusculus, the same method only yielded poor results, and the models thus could not be used for predictions. We discuss here these results and propose advice about risk prevention and invasion management of both species.

New records of Microbotryum (Microbotryaceae) from the Balkan Peninsula

Seven smut fungi belonging to the genus Microbotryum are reported for the first time from the following Balkan countries: M. heliospermatis, M. piperi, M. scabiosae, M. silenes-dioicae, and M. silenes-saxifragae from Bulgaria, M. reticulatum, M. silenes-saxifragae, and M. stygium from Greece, and M. silenes-saxifragae from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The finding of M. piperi represents the first Balkan record of this smut fungus which, elsewhere in Europe, is only known from the French Pyrenees and the Italian Alps. The finding of M. stygium in Crete considerably extends its distribution in Europe. Rumex tuberosus subsp. creticus is reported as a new host for M. stygium.