Hassan H. Fadl

A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species

Abstract A preliminary study was carried out on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, south-western part of Saudi Arabia. A total number of 582 species and subspecies (few identified only to the genus level) belonging to 129 families and representing 17 orders were recorded. Two of these species are described as new, namely: Monomorium sarawatensis Sharaf & Aldawood, sp. n. [Formicidae, Hymenoptera] and Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry sp. n. [Bombyliidae, Diptera]. Another eight species are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia, namely: Xiphoceriana arabica (Uvarov, 1922) [Pamphagidae, Orthoptera], Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791) [Pyrgomorphidae, Orthoptera], Catopsilia florella (Fabricius, 1775) [Pieridae, Lepidoptera], Anthrax chionanthrax (Bezzi, 1926) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Spogostylum near tripunctatum Pallas in Wiedemann, 1818 [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Cononedys dichromatopa (Bezzi, 1925) [Bombyliidae, Diptera], Mydas sp. [Mydidae, Diptera], and Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758 [Hippoboscidae, Diptera]. Al-Baha Province is divided by huge and steep Rocky Mountains into two main sectors, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama”, and a mountainous area with an elevation of 1500 to 2450 m above sea level at the east, known as “Al-Sarat or Al-Sarah” which form a part of Al-Sarawat Mountains range. Insect species richness in the two sectors (Tihama and Al-Sarah) was compared, and the results showed that each of the two sectors of Al-Baha Province has a unique insect community. The study generally concluded that the insect faunal composition in Al-Baha Province has an Afrotropical flavor, with the Afrotropical elements predominant, and a closer affiliation to the Afrotropical region than to the Palearctic region or the Eremic zone. Consequently, we tend to agree with those biogeographers who consider that parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha Province, should be included in the Afrotropical region rather than in the Palaearctic region or the Eremic zone.

Addenda to the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with zoogeographical notes

ABSTRACT The first list of insects (Arthropoda: Hexapoda) of Al-Baha Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was published in 2013 and contained a total of 582 species. In the present study, 142 species belonging to 51 families and representing seven orders are added to the fauna of Al-Baha Province, bringing the total number of species now recorded from the province to 724. The reported species are assigned to recognized regional zoogeographical regions. Seventeen of the species are recorded for the first time for KSA, namely: Platypleura arabica Myers [Cicadidae, Hemiptera]; Cletomorpha sp.; Gonocerus juniperi Herrich-Schäffer [Coreidae, Hemiptera]; Coranus lateritius (Stål); Rhynocoris bipustulatus (Fieber) [Reduviidae, Hemiptera]; Cantacader iranicus Lis; Dictyla poecilla Drake & Hill [Tingidae, Hemiptera]; Mantispa scabricollis McLachlan [Mantispidae, Neuroptera]; Cerocoma schreberi Fabricius [Meloidae, Coleoptera]; Platypus parallelus (Fabricius) [Curculionidae, Coleoptera]; Zodion cinereum (Fabricius) [Conopidae, Diptera]; Ulidia ?ruficeps Becker [Ulidiidae, Diptera]; Atherigona reversura Villeneuve [Muscidae, Diptera]; Aplomya metallica (Wiedemann); Cylindromyia sp. [Tachinidae, Diptera]; Messor semirufus (André); and Nesomyrmex denticulatus (Mayr) [Formicidae, Hymenoptera]. Also, the reduviid bug Dasycnemus sahlbergi Bergroth, that was questionably recorded from KSA is confirmed herein as occurring in KSA. The generic name Peirates (Reduviidae, Hemiptera) and the specific name of Apis florea Fabricius (Apidae, Hymenoptera) were inadvertently misspelled in the original list and are corrected here. Zoogeographically, the present study supports the original study conclusion that the insect species composition of Al-Baha Province is strongly affiliated with the Afrotropical Region rather than to the Palearctic Region or the Eremic Zone. Our insect surveys emphasize the fact that parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Al-Baha Province, ought to be considered part of the Afrotropical Region rather than in the Palaearctic Region or the Eremic Zone.

Apterogyninae (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae) from Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species

Eleven species in three genera from Saudi Arabia are listed. Macroocula riyadha Gadallah & Pagliano, spec. nov. is described and figured. Apterogyna mateui Giner Marí, 1945, Macroocula nitida nitida (Bischoff, 1920) are newly recorded from Arabian Peninsula and Saudi Arabia, Macroocula magna (Invrea, 1965) is newly recorded from Saudi Arabia.

Insects Associated with Milkweed Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. in the Ibex Reserve in the Central Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT: The insect fauna of the native milkweed plant Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. in the Ibex Reserve, in the Central Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was studied. Insects were sampled bimonthly from May 2007 to late April 2008, and then irregularly until June 2011. Ninety-nine insect species belonging to eight orders, 43 families and 80 genera were found to have some type of association with the plant during the period of sampling. The carpenter moth, Semitocossus Johannes (Staudinger), scale insect Contigaspis zilla (Hall) and milkweed aphid Aphis nerii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) were pests attacking the plant. Nine taxa collected represent new country records for Saudi Arabia: Clambus sp. (Coleoptera, Clambidae); Angiometopa sp. (Diptera, Sarcophagidae); Steleoneura sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae); Goniurellia longicauda Freidberg (Diptera, Tephritidae); P silochalcis sp. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae); Odynerus blanchardianus Saussure (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae); Nomioides kenyensis Pesenko & Pauly (Hymenoptera, Halictidae); Cremastus aegyptiacus Szepligeti (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and Cerceris chlorotica Spinola (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae).

Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Abundance and Diversity at Nature Preserve Within Hyper-Arid Ecosystem of Arabian Peninsula

Abstract Coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) play an important ecological role in the management of grazing and cycling of nutrients within different ecosystems. Seasonal abundance, species richness, and alpha diversity of the dung beetles were investigated in Rawdhat Khorim Nature Preserve in the central Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Adult beetles were trapped using UV light traps biweekly from November 2011 to October 2012 (for a total of 24 nocturnal trap samples). A total of 2,982 dung beetles were caught, representing 22 species in nine genera belonging to the subfamilies of Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae. The total catch was dominated (58%) by Aphodius pruinosus Reitter and Aphodius wollastoni iranicus Balthasar, with the Aphodiinae constituting 94% of the total beetle richness. Most of the dung beetle species were dwellers (20 species). Aphodius luridus (F.) and Granulopsammodius plicatulus (Fairmaire) are new records for KSA. Abundance, richness, and alpha diversity of dung beetles peaked during spring. Alpha diversity increased with higher average air temperatures. Dung beetle abundance was positively correlated with the normalized difference vegetation index. Two clusters of species phenology were apparent, a summer-active group and those not active during the summer months. Our findings may enhance the understanding of dung beetle ecology in the rawdhat network within hyper-arid ecosystems of Arabian Peninsula and sustainable management of dung beetles for nutrient reincorporation through the consumption and storage of dung in the soil.

Boromorphus saudicus sp. n., a new record of the genus from the Arabian Peninsula (Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae: Boromorphini)

Boromophus saudicus sp. n. (subfamily Pimeliinae Latreille, 1802, tribe Boromorphini Skopin, 1978) is described from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Rawdhat Khorim, Riyadh Province). This finding represents the first record of the genus Boromorphus Wollaston, 1854 from the Arabian Peninsula. The species was collected from Acacia trees and from pitfall traps.

New Records of Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract Intensive sampling in Rawdhat Khorim National Park located in the central part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yielded additional new country records of Curculionoidea. Twelve species of Curculionidae and one of Nanophyidae are reported for the first time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.A survey of weevils (Curculionidae) in Tayma Province, located in the northwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), yielded additional new country records. Eight species are reported for the first time from the KSA, along with two other previously recorded species.