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Some bark beetle species (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) produce aggregation pheromones that allow coordinated attack on their conifer hosts. As a new saproxylic habitat is founded, an assemblage of associated beetles kairomonally respond to bark beetle infochemicals. Ips sexdentatus is one of the major damaging insects of Pinus spp. in Southern Europe. Its response to varying ipsenol (Ie) percentages in relation to ipsdienol (Id) was studied in northwestern Spain, along with the entire saproxylic beetle assemblage captured at multiple-funnel traps. Response profile modeling was undertaken for I. sexdentatus sexes and sex-ratios, associated species and for selected trophic groups using a reference Gaussian model. In addition, the effects on the saproxylic assemblages were analyzed. I. sexdentatus response curve peaked at 22.7% Ie content, while remaining taxa that could be modeled, peaked above ca. 40% Ie. Predator guilds showed a linear relationship with Ie proportion, while competitors showed a delayed response peak. Consequently, species assemblages differed markedly between varying pheromone component mixtures. Given that the evaluated pheromonal proportions mimicked that of logs being colonized by I. sexdentatus, results suggested that the registered differential responses at different levels might provide I. sexdentatus with a temporal window that maximizes conspecific attraction while reducing interference with competitor and predatory guilds. Described responses might help improve the monitoring of the population status of target bark beetles and their associates, but also point toward the by-catch of many natural enemies, as well as rare saproxylic beetle species, interfering with the aims of sustainable forest management.
The Granulate Ambrosia Beetle Xylosandrus crassiusculus, an alien species of Asian origin, was recorded for first time in the Iberian Peninsula. Many specimens were collected in October 2016 in the Valencia region (Spain) from infested carob trees. The species is included in the EPPO Alert List as causing serious damage in many Mediterranean regions. A key for the morphological identification of the Xylosandrus species occurring in Europe is also reported.
We have categorised the 1336 species and subspecies of the Iberian Peninsula according to the chorotype classification proposed by Vigna Taglianti et al. (1992), modified by the addition of new chorotypes. The Iberian Peninsula is noticeable among the different European and Circum-Mediterranean regions by the high proportion of endemic taxa (43.1%). The old age and stability of the northern half, the extreme position of the Peninsula within the Eurasiatic continent, alpine tectonics and abundance of caves are among the factors that have probably contributed to the origin of a distinctive fauna. Taxa with a large distribution pattern are predominant at a regional scale; the proportion of endemic taxa increases to the North and in mountain regions; Mediterranean elements are more frequent in the South whereas European elements increase in the northern half. Adaptation to a Mediterranean climatic regime and dispersal are two of the factors causing these patterns. The Peninsula is poor in Afrotropical elements, probably because of the strong isolation derived from the Sahara Desert. The Balearic Islands have high proportions of widely distributed and Mediterranean taxa, what suggests a main role of dispersal in the colonisation of the archipelago. The proportion of endemic taxa in Mallorca (7.8%) is intermediate between that of Sardinia and Sicily; in spite of a relatively long isolation, the Balearic Islands are small in size and moderately rich in caves, what explains that most endemic taxa are found in the lowlands.
A new species of the genus Typhlocharis Dieck (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Anillini), T. martini, described from the upper Segura River (province of Albacete, southeast Spain), is included in the diecki group characterised by a series of 4 +3 setae in the lateral umbilical series and a reduced number of preapical and apical dentiform projections of the elytron. A key to the eight species of the diecki species group is included. The relationships of the new taxon and the hypotheses about the evolutionary history of Typhlocharis and the diecki species group are discussed.
ResumenSe describe una nueva especie del género Typhlocharis Dieck (Coleoptera, Trechidae, Anillini), T. martini, procedente de la cuenca alta del río Segura (Albacete, sureste de España). La nueva especie forma parte del grupo diecki que se caracteriza por tener una serie umbílica de 4+3 sedas en el élitro y un número reducido de dientes en las zonas subapical y apical del élitro. Se incluye una clave de las especies del grupo diecki, y se discuten las relaciones del nuevo taxon y las hipótesis acerca de la historia evolutiva de los Typhlocharis y del grupo diecki.
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