Antonio Mazzei

Rediscovering the ‘umbrella species’ candidate Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) in Southern Italy (Coleoptera Cucujidae), and notes on bionomy

Abstract During the monitoring of protected species for the management plan of the Sila National Park (Calabria), abundant populations of the saproxylic beetle Cucujus cinnaberinus were recorded in some pSCI forest sites with a well-developed Pinus nigra laricio tree layer. The beetle was rediscovered in Calabria after 49 years of unsuccessful attempts (since 1960) in 7 of the 21 stands investigated; it seems to be concentrated in good quality biotopes marked by a high availability of fallen pine trunks at least 30 cm in diameter. In May and June, the population is represented mostly by aged larvae (III, IV instar), and pupae have been obtained in the laboratory starting from July. The observed feeding habits are predatory on maggots and on larvae of other saproxylic beetles; thus, C. cinnaberinus can be defined as a very active ‘large spectrum predator of saproxylic arthropods’. Chopped veal could be an alternative larval food in the laboratory. Climatic oscillations (annual precipitation) may be involved in the reappearance of the beetle. A preliminary list of the associated saproxylic fauna is presented and the potential role of C. cinnaberinus as an umbrella species is discussed.

The larva of Siagona europaea Dejean, 1826: Morphology and collecting technique for a subterranean blind ‘running ant killer’ (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The larva of Siagona europaea Dejean, 1826 collected in the field with a new type of trap, the bait trap, is described. As an adult, this is a myrmecophagous beetle; however, until 2003, in ten years of research no larvae had been found in the field when excavating deep holes around Messor nests in clay soils, in which to place the usually employed pit fall traps. Therefore, a new type of trap was adopted, i.e. a subterranean trap positioned where the main soil crevices intersect. One larva of second instar and one of third one were studied. Most larval features are atypical of carabid beetle larvae and, in particular, the form and structure of the head appendages and the form and insertion of the urogomphi are of interest. Moreover, the larva of S. europaea is completely blind, no trace of stemmata being present in either instar. Its morphology, as well as the recording of its behaviour in the lab, point to it being a ‘runner’, exploring the subterranean crack system of clay vertisols.

Hunting Ants in Mediterranean clay soils: life history of Siagona europaea (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract In southern Italy, Siagona europaea is common on clay soils and occurs up to the 38th parallel. Activity recordings have revealed that the beetles are strictly nocturnal. They are resistant to desiccation and prefer temperatures above 30 °C. Their flat body indicates adaptation to life in clay soils, which, in southern Italy, are deeply fissured from April to September. The behaviour of the beetles was observed in a transparent system of cavities consisting of plastic boxes connected by tubes. The beetles feed exclusively on ants that are caught by surprise attack outside their nests. Ants perceive the beetles as being hostile via chemical cues. Single ants then normally retreat, whereas groups of ants attack immediately. The beetles behave unaggressively against cospecifics and rest in groups of various numbers in flat soil crevices. Copulation takes place from the end of April onwards, whereas egg laying occurs from the end of May onwards. The females produce only a few eggs, which are unusually large, and shift them singly in narrow soil cracks. The larvae develop during the summer deep in the soil; they are blind and can be characterized as cave‐life forms by their extremely long cerci and antennae that have a whip‐like unsclerotized sticky distal part.

Cucujus tulliae sp. n. – an endemic Mediterranean saproxylic beetle from genus Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), and keys for identification of adults and larvae native to Europe

Abstract Cucujus tulliae sp. n. is described as a new member of genus Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), which enumerates at present eleven species distributed in Eurasia and northern America. This saproxylic beetle is the first Cucujus species known only from Mediterranean and it is probably endemic to Calabria (Italy). The species was found especially in old–growth mountain forests of high conservation value (i.e. national parks) dominated by Calabrian pine (Pinus laricio calabrica). We hypothesize that Cucujus tulliae sp. n. probably evolved from isolated populations of Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845. The species is thus relictual and of high conservation value, corresponding at least to endangered (EN) category with respect to recent IUCN criterion. Cucujus tulliae sp. n. is here compared with two species native to Europe – Cucujus haematodes and Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and with the Caucasian Cucujus haematodes caucasicus Motschulsky, 1845, which is confirmed as a valid subspecies. The male genitalia of this Caucasian form have been examined and illustrated for the first time. A comprehensive key to adults and larvae of European species is provided.

FlySim: a cellular automata model of bactrocera oleae (olive fruit fly) infestation and first simulations

The Cellular Automata model FlySim was developed for simulating life and reproduction cycles of olive fruit flies (Bactrocera Oleae) and their behaviour, especially when they infest olive (Olea europaea) groves This serious agricultural problem can be partially tackled in many ways, but not all the methods look sustainable, e.g., by using chemical agents at the first signs of the infestation Sustainable solutions could be adopted with the use of interactive simulation tools in order to permit developing scenarios and testing different strategies This paper outlines the model and exhibits a first partial application.

Impact of agrochemicals on non-target species: Calathus fuscipes Goeze 1777 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as model

Carabid beetles are important in the biological control of arable crop pests. Agricultural practices can produce over time a delayed toxic effect at the organismal and population levels and can compromise the survival on these species. In this research, we quantified the cumulative sublethal effect on body size, Malpighian tubules and immune responses in Calathus fuscipes adults living in the potato field and exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin and cymoxanil-based commercial formulates. Reductions of morphological parameters such as body, pronotum and elytron in both males and females from the potato field indicated that the pre-imaginal stages (larvae and pupae) suffer the sublethal effects of exposure to the larvicide control action of lambda-cyhalothrin. Ultrastructural alterations recorded in Malpighian tubules at the level of plasma membrane, mitochondria and nucleus indicated the reduction of the detoxification capability. The basal phenoloxidase and lysozyme-like enzyme activities have measured as markers of immune competence. Spectrophometric analyses showed that the chronic exposure in field causes an increase of basal phenoloxidase enzyme activity, while the lytic activity of haemolymph was not affected. As a result, the use of larvicides and fungicides have a harmful effect on beneficial species such C. fuscipes living in the soil of potato fields. These morphological and physiological results recorded at the organismal level can provide useful information of effects at the population and community levels to preserve the biodiversity of agroecosystem.

Beetles “in red”: are the endangered flat bark beetles Cucujus cinnaberinus and C. haematodes chemically protected? (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

Abstract Two native species of the genus Cucujus show a wide geographic distribution in Europe, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and C. haematodes Erichson, 1845. Although data on the distribution and ecology of these rare and endangered species are increasing, there are few reports on their biology and behaviour, and some aspects of their feeding ecology remain problematic. Our aim was to study, for the first time, the cuticular chemical profiles of these two beetles to (i) investigate the presence of chemicals potentially involved in defence by pathogens and (ii) lay the foundation for understanding the role of their bright red colour. The analysis of the cuticular profile was performed in-vivo by solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the cuticular profiles of the two species we identified 24 compounds belonging to different classes of molecules, i.e. hydrocarbons, aldehydes, esters, n-alkyl morpholines, and a high number of organic acids. Qualitative differences in terms of both signal intensity and detected compounds were found between the two species. As reported in other insects, the remarkable array of avoidance substances suggests a strict relationship with the bright red colour of the adults, which probably acts as an aposematic or warning signal. European Cucujus species are probably well protected against enemies because some identified chemicals, particularly fatty acids, are related to an anti-predatory strategy to fight off predators that use their sense of smell to locate their prey. Other substances found on the cuticular layer of these beetles are probably involved in an antimicrobial and antifungal function, as demonstrated in other insects living in habitats that host many pathogens.

Ground beetles in Mediterranean olive agroecosystems: Their significance and functional role as bioindicators (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The impact of agricultural practices and soil management on the communities of arthropods living in the agricultural landscape is acknowledged as a critical issue by the literature, and it needs to be better investigated to improve the ecological sustainability of agriculture. In the present study, we aimed to study how soil management affect carabid species distribution in one of the most typical agroecosystem of the Mediterranean region, i.e. the olive grove. In South Italy olive plantations feature different types of soil management, from tillage to half- or full-cover cropping. Species distribution has been examined for a total of 10,189 individuals and 62 species collected from 17 sites. Notably from our analysis we have observed that three factors (climax vegetation, soil features and soil management) explained half of the data variability. The composition of species groupings mirrors both bioclimatic conditions (climax vegetation) and soil features, especially watering, while soil management affects the species distribution, with different intensity from site to site. Eleven species have been recognized as the most abundant in the different facets of the studied olive groves and consequently designated as characteristics of the olive agroecosystem. The species traits of the sampled species have been weighted for a compelling evaluation of the effects of agricultural management on biodiversity, showing uniform traits distribution when coping with the ecological factors that characterize the different plantation facets. We have found that carabid beetles can be used as model organisms for studying the effects of agricultural practices. Our study suggests that the interaction of man-induced trasformation with the natural background of the olive agroecosystem may be difficult to disentangle, so that such complexity must be taken into account when carabid beetles are expected to provide an ecosystem service for good agricultural practices.

An Attempted Predation on a Four-lined Snake Elaphe quatuorlineata (Lacépède, 1789) by a Common Buzzard Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758)

The authors report on a case of attempted predation on a sub-adult Four-lined snake by a Common Buzzard observed in Calabria region (Southern Italy).

Analisi della diversità funzionale di coleotteri carabidi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) del Parco Naturale Regionale Lama Balice (Puglia)

FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY OF THE GROUND BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) ON LAMA BALICE NATURE RESERVE (PUGLIA, ITALY) Preliminary information about population of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) of Natural Regional Park of Lama Balice (South Italy, Bari) are reported here. Study of species composition and dominance structure pointed out presence of few dominant species. Analysis of sampled vegetation macro-units (or habitats) highlighted that functional diversity of sampled ground beetles community showed valuable differences in structural and functional features of communities between different habitats. In the “macchia- gariga” (shrub-garrigue) there was an increase of feeding-opportunistic species and we found sole seedeaters. In the “ vegetazione erbacea di fondo lama” (grass vegetation of deep lama) we found specialised predators. Key word: biodiversity, functional groups. Con il presente lavoro sono state fornite informazioni preliminari inerenti il popolamento di Coleotteri Carabidi presenti all’interno del Parco. La struttura di dominanza, descrive una comunita con poche specie dominanti (Laemostenus cimmerius cimmerius F.; Pterostichus melas italicus D.; Calathus fuscipes graecus D.; Pseudoophonus rufipes D.). La diversita funzionale della carabidofauna campionata, evidenzia cambiamenti delle caratteristiche strutturali e funzionali, nella serie di “macrounita o habitat vegetazionali” investigate nell’ecotopo del Lama. La variazione, evidenzia che nella macchia-gariga si ha un aumento degli opportunisti alimentari, e compaiono i spermofagi esclusivi. Nella vegetazione erbacea di fondo lama ritroviamo i predatori zoofagi specializzati. Parole chiave: biodiversita, parametri adattativi, guild.