Pablo Barranco

Infection of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) by the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana: A SEM study

The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a devastating pest of palms in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Eastern countries. No effective control measures are available. R. ferrugineus has been found naturally infected by the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, but its infection process in this host is unknown. We have studied the infection of R. ferrugineus larvae and adults by B. bassiana using dry conidia and conidia suspensions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In early stages, SEM revealed acquisition of B. bassiana conidia by cuticle ornamentation in legs, antennae, and elytra of R. ferrugineus adults. Subsequently, conidia germinated and frequent episodes of hyphal/conidial fusion were found. Appressoria, signs of adhesion and cuticle degradation led to penetration (even direct) and colonization of R. ferrugineus hosts by the fungus. B. bassiana conidiophores were found in a R. ferrugineus cuticle, which indicate the completion of the life cycle of the fungus in the insect host. SEM has proven that dry conidia of B. bassiana is an adequate inoculum for R. ferrugineus infection. SEM revealed that conidia of B. bassiana attached to the cuticle of R. ferrugineus can germinate and differentiate appressoria. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010.

The first indigenous palpigrade from Australia: a new species of Eukoenenia (Palpigradi:Eukoeneniidae)

We present a description of the first indigenous member of the arachnid order Palpigradi from Australia. Eukoenenia guzikae, sp. nov. was collected from subterranean environments in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia. The sole male specimen differs from all other members of the genus in several small but significant ways, including by the combined presence of six blades in the prosomal lateral organs, nine pairs of setae on the propeltidium, the presence of a spur on coxa IV, the chaetotaxy of sternites IV–VIII, and the shape of the male genital lobes. It shows some similarities in the male genital region to a group of species found in Madagascar.

A NEW SPECIES OF EUKOENENIA (PALPIGRADI, EUKOENENIIDAE) FROM MOROCCO

Abstract The new species Eukoenenia maroccana is described from six specimens (two males, two females and two immatures) collected in Kef Aziza Cave, Morocco, and is distinguished from all other Eukoenenia species by the presence of thickened opisthosomal glandular setae in males on sternites IV– VI. The genitalia and chaetotaxy of both adult sexes show differences from other species of Eukoenenia and are discussed in this paper. RESUMEN. Se describe Eukoenenia maroccana a partir de seis ejemplares (dos machos, dos hembras y dos inmaduros) capturados en la gruta de Kef Aziza, Marruecos. Lo más destacable y del todo singular de esta nueva especie es la particular presencia de setas glandulares esternales engrosadas del macho, la genitalia y resto de quetotaxia de ambos sexos.

A new species of the genus Eutrombidium Verdun (Acari: Eutrombidiidae) from southeastern Spain

Abstract Eutrombidium sorbasiensis sp. nov. is described from the Gypsum Karst of Sorbas, Almeria. It is similar to E. felmanmuhsamae Feider, 1977 in the lanceolate AL scutalae, but some characters, mainly the leg chetotaxy, allows us to describe a new species. This is the first time a Eutrombidium (larva) is described from Spain.

Description of the larva Balaustium bisculatae sp. n. (Acari: Erythraeidae) from the southeast of Spain

A new species, Balaustium biscutalae sp. n., from the southeast of Spain is described and illustrated. It was captured in two different sampling sessions from the semi-desert area in the province of Almeria, Andalucia. The new species is easily differentiated from all the other species of the group by the presence of two pairs of scutalae on the scutum instead of three.

The first report of nymphal stage of the genus Abalakeus Southcott, 1994 from Spain

Abstract The genus Abalakeus was only known from the larval stage parasitic on orthopterans or free-living usually on plants. Some larval specimens of Abalakeus lorestanicus were captured in Andalucia, Spain on Steropleurus andalusius (Rambur, 1838) (Orthoptera, Ephippigerinae) and were reared to the nymphal stage. In this paper, the nymphal stage of Abalakeus is described for the first time.

New palpigrades (Arachnida, Eukoeneniidae) from the Iberian Peninsula

Eighteen specimens of palpigrades captured in seven caves in the provinces of Castellon and Valencia in eastern Spain are studied. We describe and illustrate three new species and a new subspecies: Eukoenenia valencianus sp. nov., Eukoenenia montagudi sp. nov., Eukoenenia sendrai sp. nov. and Eukoenenia patrizii iberica ssp. nov. The Iberian fauna now comprises nine species that we place into two different morphological groups. The relationships between species from eastern Spain and other Mediterranean species are discussed.

Necrophagy in crickets, katydids and grasshoppers? Orthoptera collected in carrion-baitedtraps in central Spain

Summary Although crickets, katydids and grasshoppers (order Orthoptera) are generally considered archetypical examples of herbivory, cumulative evidence shows that they are actually omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of organic matter, including carrion. The present study compiles the collections of 30 Orthoptera species, from both suborders, Ensifera and Caelifera, with the use of carrion-baited traps in different natural habitats of central Spain. Higher numbers of females than males were observed, as well as higher numbers of adults than nymphs. The main part of the captures corresponded to the omnivorous cricket Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc). Possible explanations for necrophagous behaviour in Orthoptera and the observed sex-related differences are discussed.

A new genus and species of larval mite (Acari: Prostigmata: Microtrombidiidae) parasitising Orthoptera (Tettigoniidae) from the Sierra Nevada, Spain.

Nevada capileirarum n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Microtrombidiidae: Microtrombidiinae) is described from ectoparasitic larvae parasitising two endemic species of Orthoptera (Tettigoniidae), Baetica ustulata (Rambur) and Pycnogaster inermis (Rambur) from the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada, Spain. A key to the larvae of microtrombidiine genera with three dorsal scuta and a coxal setal formula of 2-1-1 is presented.

A New Genus of the Eutrombidiinae Thor, 1935 (Acari: Eutrombidiidae) Parasitic on an Endemic Beetle from the South of Spain

Alhamitrombium tetraseta n. g., n. sp. (Acari: Eutrombidiidae: Eutrombidiinae) is described from two larvae ectoparasitic on Trymosternus bolivari Mateu (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Almería, Spain. The new genus is distinguished from Hexathrombium Cooreman, 1944 and Beronium Southcott, 1986 on the basis of details of the coxalae. A key to the genera of larval Hexathrombiini is presented.