Journal of Biological Research

The paper presents data on the occurrence of 15 beetle species new to the Polish part of the Białowieża Forest. The beetles were caught during the inventory of the Białowieża Forest carried out from May to September 2023. The beetles were caught using purple multiple-funnel (Lindgren) traps, which were set up in selected locations within the study area. The captured beetles belong to 9 families: Curculionidae (1 species), Latridiidae (3), Melandryidae (1), Melyridae (1), Scarabaeidae (1), Scraptiidae (1), Sphindidae (1), Staphylinidae (4) and Tenebrionidae (2). Among them, Corticaria lukashuki Saluk, 2015 (Latridiidae) and Rushia parreyssii (Mulsant, 1856) (Melandryidae) are new species for the fauna of Poland. In addition, Stenichnus styriacus Franz, 1960 (Staphylinidae) is the second country records. The occurrence of the rare saproxylic beetle Protaetia fieberi (Kraatz, 1880) (Scarabaeidae), which is listed in the Polish Red List of Threatened and Endangered Animals and in the Polish Red Book of Animals, was confirmed after 30 years. Taking into account the results of the present study, the number of beetle species in the Polish part of the Białowieża Forest is currently 3018.

On the basis of the literature research and test material gathered during the Polish biological expedition to the Middle Nile in 2023, an updated catalogue of the Nubian Tenebrionidae has been compiled. It comprises 66 species and subspecies belonging to 41 genera and subgenera. The distribution of seven species has been supplemented with new sites.

For the Tunisian population of the olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, little data are available. To examine the genetic diversity of this population, we sequenced a segment of the mitochondrial ND1 gene in 15 olive fly samples collected from olive trees in northern Tunisia. In addition, two specimens from Italy and four from California were also sequenced. A total of seven different mitochondrial haplotypes were observed in the samples currently sequenced. The Tunisian population of B. oleae showed a level of polymorphism comparable to that found in various populations worldwide. Although a clear phylogenetic separation between the Mediterranean samples was not possible, the Tunisian haplotypes could be assigned to any of the two Mediterranean groups i.e., the western and eastern Mediterranean. Our phylogenetic analyses and ancestral reconstruction method suggested an Asian origin of B. oleae populations and a Mediterranean origin, respectively. These findings contradict previous studies that suggested an African origin for the fruit fly populations.

In April 2019, 25.4 ha of woodland in the Płaska Forest District in the SE part of the Augustów Forest were damaged by fire. Between 2020-2022 a survey of beetles in the burnt and unburnt (control) parts of the forest was carried out. The insects were collected in IBL-2bis window (= flight interception) traps. 781 species classified in 67 families were identified. Among these species, Acrotrichis strandi (Ptiliidae) was found in Poland for the first time, and 41 species were new records for the Masurian Lake District. During the studies, two species protected in Poland (Boros schneideri, Cucujus cinnaberinus), and several more from the Polish Red List of Animals, the Polish Red Book of Animals and the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles, were recorded. Fifteen of the beetles recorded are relicts of primeval forests in Central Europe: Boros schneideri (Boridae); Stephanopachys linearis (Bostrichidae); Ampedus tristis (Elateridae); Leiestes seminiger (Endomychidae); Platylomalus complanatus, Platysoma deplanatum (Histeridae); Corticaria longicornis, Latridius brevicollis (Latridiidae); Peltis grossa (Peltidae); Stagetus borealis (Ptinidae); Tachyusida gracilis (Staphylinidae); Corticeus fasciatus, C. suturalis, Prionychus melanarius (Tenebrionidae); Colydium filiforme (Zopheridae). The present paper lists the beetles recorded and gives brief characteristics of rare species, primeval forest relicts and a selection of species from the Polish Red List of Animals.

Both sexes of Dasyhelea porczynskii Szadziewski, Blatrix et Dominiak, n. sp. collected from flowers of Aristolochia clematitis L. in southern France are described and illustrated. The new species is closely related to D. leptoclada Remm, 1967 female of which is briefly diagnosed for the first time.

Aclees taiwanensis Kôno is an alien species in Europe, which originally came from Taiwan. In 2022, it was found for the first time in Poland as the result of an unintentional introduction from France, together with an ornamental specimen of Ficus microcarpa. In this paper, the history of the species’ appearance in Europe and its potential harmfulness to crops of ornamental plants are discussed.

Information is presented on the occurrence in Poland of Dolerus (Achaetoprion) pachycerus Hartig, a sawfly species new to the fauna of the country. The breeded larvae fed on Juncus compressus Jacq., which is a new host plant record. Additionally, the flight periods of particular species of the subgenus Achaetoprion Goulet are discussed and graphically presented. Finally, an identification key is provided for the last feeding stages of larvae of Polands species of the genus Dolerus Panz. found on rushes.

Scrobipalpa chrysanthemella (E. Hofmann, 1867) was recorded for the first time in Poland. In addition, new data on the occurrence of 13 Lepidoptera species in the Bieszczady National Park are presented. Elachista dimicatella Rebel, 1903 was reported for the first time from Poland outside the Tatra Mountains.

The study is aimed at evaluating, under laboratory conditions, the side effects of a commercial formulation of diflubenzuron (Dimilin® 25 WP), which is an insecticide considered a chitin synthesis inhibitor, on some non-targeted aquatic species. The effect of two lethal doses of Dimilin LC10 (3.9 ng/L) and LC50 (16 ng/L) previously determined on fourth instar larvae of Culex pipiens L. 1758 were tested on some non-target aquatic species, abundant in the Lake of Birds (Northeast Algeria), a site classified under Ramsar Convention. The tested species belonged to two classes of invertebrates (Insects and Crustaceans). The insects included four species of Heteroptera: Corixa punctata Illiger, 1807, Notonecta glauca Latreille, 1802, Anisops sardea Latreille, 1802 and Plea minutissima Leach, 1817, and one species of Coleoptera Berosus signaticollis Charpentier,1825. For benthic crustaceans Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 (Cladocera) was retained. The results showed significant mortality recorded in C. punctata and medium mortality for B. signaticollis, A. sardea, N. glauca, P. minutissima and D. magna. Three-way ANOVA indicated highly significant effects of species, dose, and time. According to the sensitivity to Dimilin, the pairwise comparison of Tukey's test indicates that the most sensitive species was C. punctata followed by B. signaticollis and the least sensitive was N. glauca, followed by D. magna; then A. sardea and finally P. minutissima.

This research paper is based on living material belonging to the genus Euphaedra, collected over the last 10 years in Bangui, as well as a neighbouring South West area in Central African Republic (CAR). There are four rare species of Euphaedra confirmed in CAR, and three others are reported for the first time in this country. Some comments are included relating to species abundance and distribution.

The paper presents the results of studies from 2008, 2009, 2018 and 2021 on the trichopteran fauna of Lake Powidzkie Małe as well as the peatlands of Powidz Landscape Park. The total of 25,091 caddisfly specimens of 47 species were collected. Among them were three species from the Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland – Triaenodes unanimis McLachlan, 1877, Ceraclea nigronervosa (Retzius, 1783) and Oecetis notata (Rambur, 1842) – and four species rare in the fens of Poland – Holocentropus stagnalis (Albarda, 1874) and Cyrnus insolutus McLachlan, 1878. T. unanimis is rare worldwide, including Poland. This is the fourth known site of T. unanimis in Poland and at the same time the most westerly Polish site of this species. The typical habitat of T. unanimis is defined on the basis of available habitat data and my own results.

Cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) is a key pest affecting many field crops and vegetables in Egypt. Therefore, in the current study, the susceptibility of the 2nd instar larvae of S. littoralis laboratory strain to eight insecticides was investigated and the insecticide resistance levels of two field populations were monitored. The two populations were collected from two governorates in Egypt, namely El-Monufia (MS) and El-Fayoum (FS). Resistance monitoring showed that the field population from El-Fayoum was highly resistant to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate (EMB), spinotram, and spinosad. However, the El-Monufia field population only exhibited high resistance to chlorantraniliprole and spinosad. The relative toxicity showed that the laboratory strain is highly sensitive to EMB (LC50= 0.001 ppm) followed by spinotram (LC50= 0.006 ppm), chlorantraniliprole (LC50= 0.008 ppm), spinosad (LC50= 0.008 ppm), and indoxacarb (LC50= 0.021 ppm), while chlorfenapyr, fipronil, and alpha-cypermethrin exhibited low toxicity to the laboratory strain of S. littoralis. Moreover, the biochemical determinations of detoxification enzymes revealed that carboxylesterase (α, and β -esterase), and AChE activity were significantly increased in the FS population. Thus, Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) showed significant increase in the two populations.

The insecticidal activity of biochar that prepared from Ficus nitida tree residues at 500 and 700οC °C was evaluated against some stored product insects Tribolium castaneum, Rhyzopertha dominica and Oryzaephilus surinamensis, alone and as a carrier for the frankincense essential oil (Boswellia sacra) after 0, 15 and 30 days storage periods. The results showed the O. surinamensis was the most susceptible and the biochar prepared at 500οC was the most active against all tested insects. Also, the toxicity increased with increasing storage period only against R. dominica. The formula was more toxic than biochar or oil alone, especially against T. castaneum. The elemental analysis showed low carbon and high oxygen contents in the biochar 500 and the FTIR analysis showed a large number of functional groups on biochar 500 compared to biochar 700 which may attribute to the slightly higher toxicity of biochar. SEM images of the ventral surface of treated O. surinamensis showed the adhesion of biochar on all body parts, Moreover, the sensilla within the external surface of the elytra are partly absent. Our results suggest the promising use of biochar against some stored product insects and can be effectively loaded with other safe chemicals, more studies are needed to understand its effects on insects.

Based on the analysis of the literature data and specimens from museum and private collections the checklist of species belonging to the genus Sophrops Faimaire, 1887 has been collated. Each species is presented with its full synonymy, bibliographical data, and distribution in alphabetical order. For 15 species, a new taxonomic status has been proposed. The new distributional data of some species are given.

The efficiency of sulfoxaflor, cyantraniliprole, imidacloprid and azadirachtin were evaluated against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci on tomato under field conditions. Two experiments in season 2021 showed that sulfoxaflor , cyantraniliprole and imidacloprid were the most effective insecticides compared to azadirachtin. Sulfoxaflor gave the highest reduction of B.tabaci one day after treatment (initial kill). The results also showed that the infestation of B.tabaci can be greatly reduced by spraying sulfoxaflor and cyantraniliprole. Tomato fruit yield was significantly increased after an application of all the tested insecticides when compared to untreated control. All the insecticides caused a slight but significant decrease in fruit quality attributes. Overall, our findings indicated that sulfoxflor and cyantraniliprole can suitably be included in IPM program of whitefly control in tomato. However, the potential side effects on tomato fruit should be considered.