Stefano Speranza

First Record of Anthonomus eugenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Italy

Summary Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was observed for the first time in Italy and the Mediterranean Region attacking sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.; Solanaceae) in greenhouses and in fields in the coastal area of the Lazio Region of Italy. The incursion, detected in Oct 2013, was a heavy infestation of sweet pepper buds and not fully developed fruits, and causing their premature abscission. The outbreak area was delineated by the coast on the west, and hills on the south and east.

Preliminary Observations on Zelus Obscuridorsis (Stål) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) as Predator of the Corn Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Argentina

The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an important corn pest in most of tropical and subtropical America. This leafhopper has a rich natural enemy complex of which parasitoids and pathogens are the most studied; knowledge on its predators is limited. We noted the presence of the native assassin bug Zelus obscuridorsis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) predating diverse motile insects, including the corn leafhopper, on corn plants cultivated in household vegetable gardens in San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina); in order to verify its predatory actions, we exposed lab-bred individuals of D. maidis to adults of Z. obscuridorsis. The predators were starved for 24 h before trials in which the corn leafhopper in different developmental stages were exposed. Zelus obscuridorsis is highly skilled in catching specimens in motion, but it was not able to prey on eggs. The predator was capable to catch and prey on nymphs and adults.

Discovery of the first species of Dryinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) from Burmese amber

Dryinus maderai sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is described from Upper Cretaceous Lower Cenomanian, Burmese amber (Myanmar). It is the first species of Dryinus Latreille found in this amber.

A new species of the genus Gonatopus Ljungh from the USA (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae)

Abstract A new species of Gonatopus Ljungh, 1810 is described from the USA, Florida: G. jacki sp. n. Morphologically, the new species is similar to G. ashmeadi Kieffer, 1905 and G. agropyrus Fenton, 1921, but it is distinguished by the different shape of the mesoscutum (very slender in G. jacki; broader in G. ashmeadi and G. agropyrus). Published identification keys to the Nearctic species of Gonatopus are modified to include the new species.

Description of the first species of Gonadryinus Olmi (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from the Afrotropical region

Gonadryinus bicarinatus Olmi, Marletta, Guglielmino & Speranza, sp. nov., from Ranomafana National Park (Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar) is described and illustrated. This represents the first record of Gonadryinus from the Afrotropical region. The genus was previously known only from the Neotropical region, where only one species, G. hansoni Olmi, 1991, is recorded. The new taxon is different from G. hansoni because of the palpal formula 5/3 (4/2 in G. hansoni), the occipital carina complete (incomplete in G. hansoni) and two longitudinal keels present on the dorsal surface of the metapectal-propodeal complex (no longitudinal keels in G. hansoni).

Protosclerogibba australis gen. et sp. nov., new genus and species of sclerogibbid wasps (Hymenoptera: Sclerogibbidae) from South Africa.

Protosclerogibba australis Olmi, Marletta, Guglielmino & Speranza, gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from specimens collected in Kimberley (Northern Cape Province, South Africa). The female of the new taxon is the first micropterous sclerogibbid. Females of other extant Sclerogibbidae are always apterous, whereas fossil females can be apterous or macropterous.

Description of the first species of Fiorianteon Olmi (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from the Afrotropical region

Abstract Fiorianteon sulcatum sp. n. is described from Fianarantsoa Province (Madagascar). It is the first species of Fiorianteon found in the Afrotropical region. The genus Fiorianteon can be distinguished from the closely related genus Conganteon by the distal part of the stigmal vein, which is as long as, or shorter than the proximal part of the stigmal vein (longer than the proximal part of the vein in Conganteon).

Description of Gonatopus sandovalae (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), a New Species from Ecuador

Abstract Gonatopus sandovalae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is described from Los Rios Province (Ecuador). Gonatopus sandovalae can be distinguished from the related Neotropical species G. canadensis (Olmi) and G. malkini (Olmi) by the different sculpture of the scutum (with 2 lateral pointed apophyses in G. sandovalae; without lateral pointed apophyses in G. canadensis and G. malkini).