Ant-mediated anholocyclic overwintering of Prociphilus fraxini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Central Europe

The first observations of the aphid Prociphilus fraxini (Fabricius, 1777) being involved in a mutualistic relationship with the ant Prenolepis nitens (Mayr, 1853) in Europe is documented. Mutualism of an aphid generation living with the ants Prenolepis nitens and Lasius brunneus (Latreille, 1798) is discussed in reference to the possible development of an overwintering parthenogenetic population of the aphid, persisting on the roots of its secondary host, Picea abies, due to coevolution of the aphid with ants.

The End of Entomologica Fennica

The End of Entomologica Fennica

The first record of Rhynchitidae (Coleoptera) from Rovno amber

Based on a well-preserved specimen, Pseudomesauletes groehni sp. n. is described and illustrated from Upper Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine). It is the first fossil record of Rhynchitidae from this Lagerstätte.

Dichrooscytus fervens sp. n., a new species of Miridae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) from Finland

Dichrooscytus fervens Muinonen & Rinne sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) is described based on material collected in Finland between 2011 and 2018. A morphological description is provided along with DNA barcodes (COI gene) and a phylogeny of all the Dichrooscytus species for which a DNA barcode is available. The new species lives on Picea spp. and is still known only from Finland. A map of all the records is given, as well as an identification key of the Dichrooscytus species occurring in northern Europe.

The book in review: The Ants of Central and North Europe

Bernhard Seifert 2018: The Ants of Central and North Europe. Hardcover, 408 pp. ISBN 978-3-936412-07-9. Lutra Verlags- und Vertriebsgesellschaft, Tauer, Germany; [email protected], postal address: Foerstgener Str. 9, D-02943 Boxberg, GER. Price 63 EUR, excluding shipping.

Review of Fennoscandian species of Gimnomera Rondani (Diptera: Scathophagidae) with description of Gimnomera freyi sp. n. and Ozerovia subg. n.

The Fennoscandian species of the genus Gimnomera Rondani, 1867 were studied and a new species, G. freyi, is described. A new subgenus, Ozerovia, is established for Gimnomera albipila (Zetterstedt, 1846). Gimnomera albipila (Zetterstedt, 1846) is redescribed and a lectotype is designated for it. An identification key for the Fennoscandian species of Gimnomera is given.

A new species of the genus Dorytomus Germar, 1817 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Baltic amber

A new species, Dorytomus groehni Bukejs & Legalov sp. n. is described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber. The new species differs from D. nudus Legalov, 2016 primarily in longer and wider body size, narrower and longer rostrum, slightly convex interstriae distinctly wider than elytral striae and finely punctate pronotum with semierect setae.

Five springtail (Collembola) species inhabiting heathlands in Poland

We report the presence of five Collembola species from western Poland, three of which were recorded in this country for the first time – Bourletiella pistillum Gisin, 1964 (Bourletiellidae), Lepidocyrtus tellecheae Arbea & Jordana 1990 (Entomobryidae) and Isotoma caerulea Bourlet, 1839 (Isotomidae). Seira dollfusi Carl, 1899 (Entomobryidae) was earlier known solely from a single, old report. Pachyotoma topsenti (Denis, 1948) (Isotomidae) is generally considered a rare species in the region. Though generally infrequently encountered, all five species occur in very high numbers in our plots and they are among the dominant springtails. The habitats surveyed in the study, i.e. dry Calluna-heathlands and their accompanying habitats are endangered in Central Europe and require active management. In one of the studied plots, a prescribed burn was applied to rejuvenate the heather. We discuss the distribution and habitat preferences of the five species in the European context and their possible significance as indicators of different habitat types.

Homoporus anthrisci sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) reared from puparia of Melanagromyza nigrissima Spencer in stems of Anthriscus sylvestris in South Finland

The female and male of Homoporus anthrisci sp. n. are described from Janakkala, South Finland. The species was reared as a solitary endoparasitoid from puparia of Melanagromyza nigrissima Spencer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in stems of Anthriscus sylvestris. Two other species of Pteromalidae, Syntomopus incisus Thomson and Chlorocytus spicatus (Walker) were also reared from puparia of Melanagromyza nigrissima in Janakkala, which is a new host for these two species.

Sphaeroceridae (Diptera) in burrows of rabbit and fox in central Bohemia (Czech Republic), with description of a new species of Minilimosina Roháček

The communities of Sphaeroceridae in burrows of European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus and Red Fox Vulpes vulpes in central Bohemia (the Czech Republic) are described including number, dominance and constancy of species and compared by means of a similarity index. A total of 17 species were recorded from burrows of rabbit and 9 from those of fox. Spelobia talparum (Richards, 1927) and S. pseudonivalis (Dahl, 1909) are considered pholeobiont (= eucoenic) and Spelobia czizeki (Duda, 1918) pholeophilous to pholeobiont species in this habitat. Comparison of these two communities with those recorded from other mammal subterraneous habitats in Europe revealed that most similar are those from the same locality irrespective of the host mammal species or the size of the burrow. The species spectrum of European Sphaeroceridae recorded from mammal burrows is reviewed and discussed. Minilimosina (Minilimosina) speluncana sp. n. is described on males found in rabbit burrow and its relationship and habitat association are discussed.