Open-pit coal mine rehabilitation is essential to mitigate ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Given that ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are excellent bioindicators, we evaluated the response of their communities along a restoration gradient in a tropical dry forest ecosystem. Sampling was conducted in five sites: three areas with different rehabilitation ages (1.5, 4, and 7 years) and two ecosystems not affected by mining (a dry forest fragment and a natural regeneration area). A total of 65 species and morphospecies were recorded, belonging to 30 genera and seven subfamilies. A key finding was the asynchronous recovery of diversity: while species richness (q0) in the sites with longer rehabilitation times resembled that of the reference forest, community structure, measured by evenness (q1, q2), remained significantly lower, indicating a slower functional recovery. Composition analysis (NMDS) revealed a clear successional gradient, with the 7-year site representing an intermediate state in the trajectory toward reference forests. Notably, rehabilitation techniques such as mulch application in the youngest site (1.5 years) promoted the early colonization of specialist predatory ants, resulting in a more complex community than that of the 4-year site. We conclude that proactive rehabilitation, particularly measures focused on soil protection, accelerates the recovery of the ant community structure.

The success of animal species is shaped by a combination of ecological conditions and behavioural plasticity, with the latter being particularly crucial for the spread of invasive species. Megachile sculpturalis (Apoidea: Megachilidae), an East-Asian solitary bee introduced to France and subsequently spreading across Europe and North America, provides a case study. While its distribution is well-documented, the behavioural traits driving its success remain poorly understood. Our study aimed to explore behavioural patterns associated with its nesting cycle and potential expansion. In 2020, we conducted focal observations of individually marked females nesting in an artificial bee hotel. Daily recordings, based on ethograms, tracked females' activity at the site. We identified key behavioural units related to nesting goals and analysed the frequency and abundance of actions associated with each marked nest. Our results highlighted the significant effort females devote to nest-related actions, with 50-68% of all behaviours focused on nest building, suggesting any strategy of dispersion should be investigated in this context. While a typical nesting sequence was identified, individual variability indicated plastic nesting responses. Notably, females demonstrated a strong tendency to quickly shift their efforts to new nests following closure or abandonment, even provisioning multiple nests simultaneously. This ability to manage several nests at once may be crucial for establishing populations in invaded areas by rapidly expanding nesting efforts across multiple new sites during a single reproductive season. Our findings emphasize the contribution of behavioural studies in understanding reproductive strategies that influence a species' ability to settle in new environments and expand its range.

Climate change is seriously threatening biodiversity and, especially, insects because their biological cycles are highly dependent on environmental conditions. We studied (1) how climate characterised by droughts and heatwaves affected the butterfly assemblage at four sampled sites in Campo de Montiel (central Spain) over three consecutive years; and (2) the differences in the assemblage abundance, species richness, density, and diversity among sites that represent a variety of land use/cover types. Sites were sampled with transects using the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme methodology (Pollard & Yates, 1993). A total of 8,275 butterflies and 69 species were sampled across sites and years. Sites were well sampled in the three years according to species richness estimators and accumulation curves. The relationship between the mean length of dry spells and butterfly abundance was negative and significant at all sites. However, heatwaves did not affect butterfly abundance and species richness. There were no significant differences in the ecological parameters studied among sites. Mediterranean forest transects tended to have higher values of ecological parameters than those dominated by more degraded vegetation, pine plantations and cropland intensification. Butterfly assemblage and diversity were positively related to the presence of semi-natural habitat with traditional agricultural and livestock uses. Our surveys recorded Polyommatus celina for the first time in Castilla-La Mancha. Two endangered and endemic species, Polyommatus violetae and Kretania hesperica, were recorded at the site with higher Mediterranean forest cover, which increases the conservation value of this site. Maintaining semi-natural habitats and traditional farming systems may allow butterfly assemblages to be more resilient to climate change.

Temperature is an important factor for invertebrates. Social insects build nests, which along with their ability to thermoregulate, provide shelter from extreme temperatures. However, for many species of ants the most common method of controlling the temperature inside a nest is to choose a suitable nest site. During a field experiment, the choice of nest site by the acorn ant Temnothorax crassispinus, a species which lives in coniferous and mixed forests, was studied. It typically occupies ephemeral nest sites and can move to a new nest site several times in one season. It was predicted that in early spring, dark coloured nest sites would be warmer and thus more frequently occupied by ant colonies. Contrary to this prediction, no difference was recorded in the frequency with which dark and lighter coloured nests were occupied. However, also in contrast to the prediction, in forest in early spring the difference in temperature inside different coloured nests was small. Thus, other features of nests, e.g., volume of cavity, are probably more important in determining nest site selection by this ant.

Ants are essential components of ecosystems, playing critical roles in nutrient cycling, pest control, and soil health. Agricultural practices significantly influence ant biodiversity, yet studies on this subject remain scarce in Morocco. This study examines the impact of three agricultural systems on ant diversity in Central Morocco: conventional (monoculture with intensive pesticide use), organic (no synthetic inputs and crop diversification), and traditional (low-input polyculture based on local practices), focusing on El Jadida and El Oualidia provinces. Using pitfall traps, a total of 1823 ants belonging to 4 subfamilies, 14 genera, and 21 species were sampled across the three systems. Organic agriculture exhibited the highest species richness (17 species; relative abundances dominated by Tetramorium caldarium and Paratrechina longicornis), and the highest Shannon diversity index, followed by traditional agriculture (11 species) and conventional agriculture (8 species). PERMANOVA and IndVal analyses revealed significant differences in species composition, with organic and traditional systems fostering distinct communities compared to conventional agriculture. Linear Discriminant Analysis highlighted clear separations among systems, reflecting the effects of habitat heterogeneity and management practices. The study underscores the ecological importance of organic and traditional practices in supporting ant biodiversity and calls for sustainable agricultural management to limit the negative impacts of biodiversity loss and homogenisation caused by conventional farming.

The genus Culicoides is the best known of the family Ceratopogonidae. Hematophagous females of the genus typically feed on the blood of vertebrate animals and in the Brazilian Amazon often on the blood of human beings. Amazon region anthropophilic Culicoides bites can provoke allergic reactions and transmit Mansonella ozzardi as well as the Oropouche virus. Past integrated taxonomy studies, combining morphometric and molecular analyses, have revealed hidden disease vector biodiversity and cryptic species with epidemiological and disease control relevance and have provided new tools to assist with vector identification. For this study we used light traps set in 12 distinct sites from three different Amazon states: Rondonia (1 site), Amazonas (3 sites) and Para (8 sites). We captured 12 different species of Culicoides representing seven different subgenera: C. foxi, C. fusipalpis, C. hylas, C. insignis, C. plaumanni, C. pseudodiabolicus, C. ruizi, C. debilipalpis, C. glabrior, C. jurutiensis, C. paraensis, C. pauci­enfuscatus. Between two and nine specimens were barcoded of each species. Neighbor joining and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with these COI barcodes showed the utility of these barcode sequences for species identification by clustering the barcode sequences into bootstrap-supported, species-specific monophyletic groups. Although this barcoding analysis did not resolve relationships between the species studied, it did reveal cryptic diversity within C. paucienfuscatus, C. glabrior, C. plaumanni, C. insignis and C. pseudodiabolicus. Two-dimensional geometric morphometrics, using eight wing-vein landmarks, robustly separated the analyzed species and raised questions about the validity of the subgenus Haematomyidium. Importantly, our GM wing landmark analysis separated C. paraensis from all the other analyzed species suggesting this type of analysis could be harnessed for epidemiological monitoring of this key Amazon-region vector species.

The Oriental latrine fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is a rapidly expanding species, likely to become one of the most widely used species in forensic entomology in the near future, as it is currently recorded on every continent except Antarctica. In Europe, it has been confirmed only from a few Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain and Malta), together with the closely related and also expanding Chrysomya albiceps. Our study confirms that Chrysomya megacephala has arrived in Eastern Europe, with adult individuals of both sexes recorded during surveys and trapping in a nature reserve along the Black Sea coast in Romania. We present initial data on the overall complex assemblage of native and non-native sarcosaprophagous Diptera at this site and highlight important knowledge gaps. Given its forensic relevance and potential health risks, further investigations into its distribution, ecology, and invasion pathways in Europe are required, particularly as climate change may support its continued expansion into Central Europe.

The New World genus Mumetopia Melander, 1913 is redefined, redescribed and its relationships are discussed. Its Nearctic type species, M. occipitalis Melander, 1913, is revised with lectotype designation, redescribed and illustrated in detail, and its relationship, biology and distribution are treated using published and numerous new data. A new genus, Xerocomyza gen. n., is described for X. hansoni sp. n., an unusual species from high desert plains in Utah (U.S.A.), and its phylogenetic relationships are discussed: Xerocomyza is recognized as a separate lineage of Anthomyzidae most probably allied to the Carexomyza + Chamaebosca group clade (sensu Barber & Roháček, 2020, Arthropod Syst. Phylogeny 78: 69-109). Biology and distribution of X. hansoni are given on the basis of limited label data from type specimens.

High temperatures that prevail at sun-exposed sites such as heaths, depressions, or on slopes, increase the risk of desiccation for rove beetles (Staphylinidae). Therefore, atmospheric and sub-atmospheric humidity determine the microclimates and thus habitat preference and activity of xerothermophilous species. In the nature reserve Marienfließ, a heathland in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Northeast German Lowlands, air temperature and humidity were recorded year-round along a transect at 10 sites, i.e. where the vegetation was more dense and more humid than where the vegetation was sparse and it was drier, using data loggers placed in the litter layer that recorded the conditions every 30 min in 2021. Monthly visits were made to determine the biomass of vegetation, soil and litter properties, edaphic rove beetle fauna and total abundance and and that of individual species at 1 m² sites. Statistical analysis of 365 diurnal cycles per site, with pronounced amplitude in air temperature and humidity, clearly delineated the cooler and more humid sites from warmer and drier ones. Between 10 and 22 of the 30 xerothermophilous species (73.3%), such as, e.g. Quedius persimilis Mulsant & Rey, 1876, Xantholinus gallicus Coiffait, 1956, Cousya longitarsis (Thomson, 1867) and Euaesthetus superlatus Peyerimhoff, 1937, were recorded only at the cooler and moist sites on the heath. Comparison of the abundances and distribution of species revealed that the xerothermophilous heath-dwelling and desiccation-prone species prefer rather constant environmental conditions, i.e. niches in cool and moist habitats on warm and dry heathland.

We investigated the effect of the feeding behaviour of young larvae of Pieris rapae crucivora Boisduval (Pieridae) on parasitism by the parasitoid wasp, Cotesia glomerata (L.) (Braconidae). Young, 1st-3rd instar larvae used approximately three sites for feeding each day. When not feeding, they moved a short distance away from the feeding sites (= feeding marks) and rested. For first, second and third instar larvae, the distances from the new mark, made within 24 h, to larva at rest were, respectively, about 3.5 mm, 5 mm and more than 10 mm. To resume feeding, they moved back to one of the former feeding sites or a new site. The percentage of the feeding marks older than 24 h that attracted parasitoids was less than 50%. Time spent searching for hosts by a parasitoid was short. Larvae placed 5 mm or more from a feeding mark were less parasitized than the larvae placed near a mark. The number of feeding marks affected parasitism. When comparing single-marked and triple-marked leaves, the percentage parasitism of the larvae on the latter was significantly lower than that of the larvae on the former. On triple-marked leaves, parasitoids visited each mark unevenly. Accordingly, the time spent searching each mark differed significantly among the marks. Because of this confusing effect, hosts are considered to be reducing the risk of parasitism. Our results demonstrate that the feeding habits of young larvae of P. rapae crucivora are adaptive in terms of reducing the risk of parasitism by C. glomerata.

Soil and changes in vegetation may affect ant assemblages, but the relative importance of each in different habitats is not well characterized. In particular, information on the effects of ecological restoration on arthropods is scarce. It was decided, therefore, to study how reforestation may affect an ant assemblage. Ants were sampled in area that had been reforested and adjacent grassland using pitfall traps. Soil surface and vegetation were characterized. The disturbance of the vegetation caused by reforestation resulted in a decrease in the cover of Stipa tenacissima and Cistaceae and an increase in the cover of pine. The mechanical preparation of the site also resulted in changes in the soil surface, with an increase in the cover of stones and rocks. Ant species richness and abundance were greater at the reforested site than in the grassland and more species showed a positive than a negative response to reforestation. The underlying causes of this pattern are mainly related to changes in vegetation and structure of the soil surface and are associated with the increase in the cover of pine, which most probably provided additional food resources, and the greater cover of stones and rocks that provided more shelter for the ant assemblage.

Large veteran trees are key structures sustaining biodiversity in wooded landscapes. Many organisms associated with such trees are, however, also able to inhabit suitable trees with smaller diameters or other surrogate habitats. Understanding the mechanisms behind the importance of veteran trees and the conditions enabling veteran tree specialists to exploit smaller trees might help conservation efforts targeted at the diverse and highly endangered biota associated with veteran trees. To investigate this, we studied local patterns in the exploitation of trees by a veteran tree specialist, the great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), at three sites with different soil characteristics, namely floodplain, dry-sandy and dry-rocky sites, where this beetle exploits oaks of large (~1.5 m), medium (~0.75 m) and small (~0.25 m) diameters, respectively. We recorded the presence and number of exit holes made by C. cerdo on each tree and related these to the characteristics of the trees: their diameters, openness of the canopy around them and their state of health. The probability of occurrence and the number of exit holes increased with tree diameter, canopy openness, and decreasing tree health, but these relationships differed considerably among the study sites. In dry conditions, trees of small diameters were more likely to be exploited by the beetle than in the floodplain. The number of exit holes, on the other hand, was a function of tree diameter, with large trees sustaining more beetles and thus acting as larger habitat patches. The species of oak affected the probability of exit hole presence as the sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and pedunculate oak (Q. robur) were preferred over Turkey oak (Q. cerris). The slope orientation also affected the presence of exit holes as trees on slopes with either an eastern or northern orientation were not exploited by the beetle. This study revealed a high level of between-site variability in the tree characteristics relevant to predicting the occurrence of C. cerdo, mainly with respect to diameter. Therefore, while the general patterns of habitat use and the fundamental niche of this beetle are well known, survival and protection of local populations is dependent on site-specific characteristics. The realized niche of this beetle must therefore be carefully considered when planning conservation management for a particular site. The results also signify that at some sites, small trees can, at least temporarily, substitute for scarce large trees if the state of their health is managed using proper conservation measures.

Bombyx mandarina is one of prevalent pests in mulberry gardens during summer and autumn, posing significant challenges to sericulture across China. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), a vital detoxification enzyme in insects, plays a crucial role in protecting organisms from DNA damage and oxidative stress. In this study, the GSTo3 gene, coding glutathione S-transferase of B. mandarina, was cloned and its physicochemical properties and structures were predicted using bioinformatics tools. The relative expression levels in various tissues and induced transcriptional levels were detected by using qRT-PCR. Results revealed a 99.17% sequence similarity of GSTo3 gene between B. mandarina and Bombyx mori. It is mainly distributed in the head, fat body and epidermis tissues of B. mandarina larvae. After BmNPV infection, elevated GSTo3 expression levels were observed in the midgut. The transcriptional levels of GSTo3 gene were significantly up-regulated after exposure to phoxim, deltamethrin and chlorfenapyr exposure respectively in the fat body and midgut of B. mandarina. These findings underscore the significance of GSTo3 gene in exogenous materials metabolism and provide a new perspective on the resistance mechanism in B. mandarina.

Grassland butterflies are declining widely in temperate regions, and are thus a key target for conservation. Recent studies have shown that forest clearcuts can be temporary habitats for these species. Shelterbelts - rows of trees, planted to protect houses and crops from the winds - are periodically cleared. This clearing is necessary to prevent falling large branches from mature trees while maintaining their primary function. Consequently, recently cleared young shelterbelts have the potential to serve as habitats for grassland species. However, it remains unclear how long young shelterbelt plantations support grassland butterflies. In this study, we made a survey where the responses of flowering plants and butterflies to plantation age and environmental parameters were investigated during spring and summer in eight plantations aged 2-12 years. Plant richness, nectar abundance, as well as butterfly richness and abundance decreased with increasing plantation age. Butterflies, including endangered species, thrived in 2-6-year plantations, but declined dramatically thereafter. Age-related environmental variables, particularly canopy openness, explained the decline in plants and butterflies, with age being a more important factor than environmental variables. These results indicate that regenerated shelterbelts aged 2-6 years function as habitats for grassland butterflies, and that plantation age can be used as a simple indicator of habitat quality for such species, including endangered ones. Given that young plantations persist as grassland butterfly habitats for only 6 years since planting, a new clearcut needs to be created within the dispersal range for butterflies to help build metapopulations and ensure their conservation at a landscape scale.

Saproxylic beetles are a key component of forest biodiversity and important indicators of forest naturalness, dead-wood continuity and habitat quality. Floodplain forests with old oak stands are among the most species-rich forest ecosystems in Europe, yet data on saproxylic beetle assemblages from such habitats remain scarce in south-eastern Europe. In this study, saproxylic beetles were investigated in three floodplain forest communities within Kopački rit Nature Park (eastern Croatia) using flight-intercept, pitfall and aerial attractant traps during the 2014 vegetation season. A total of 64 saproxylic beetle species from 14 families were recorded. Species richness and abundance were highest in oak-hornbeam forests, intermediate in poplar forests and lowest in willow-dominated stands, which nevertheless supported structurally distinct assemblages. Diversity indices and ordination analyses revealed a strong gradient in community structure from oak-dominated to willow-dominated floodplain forests. Flight-intercept traps were the most efficient sampling method, whereas other trap types provided complementary information on habitat-specific taxa. Several species listed on the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles were recorded, including the Natura 2000 species Lucanus cervus and Cucujus cinnaberinus. Of particular importance was the detection of Rhysodes sulcatus, which triggered targeted faunistic surveys that confirmed its presence at additional Croatian localities and led to its formal inclusion in the Croatian Natura 2000 species list. Although the data were collected in 2014, they provide a valuable baseline for assessing saproxylic beetle diversity in natural floodplain forests and for the development of national Natura 2000 monitoring programmes. The results highlight the exceptional conservation value of Kopački rit as one of the best-preserved floodplain forest systems in the Continental biogeographical region.

Spruce forests face many threats such as climate change and bark beetle outbreaks. Yet, bark beetle dynamics have a long co-evolutionary history strongly linked to spruce forest structural dynamics. Disturbed spruce forest sites resulting from bark beetle outbreaks therefore should not be regarded as degraded land, but as early successional stages following natural forest dynamics. Three post-bark-beetle disturbance sites and one closed-canopy site in the Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks were investigated with the focus on moth communities. The three disturbed sites had undergone different post-disturbance management regimes, with one being treated by salvage logging, while at the other two forest sites deadwood was kept in the forest. To avoid the spread of bark beetles, however, the bark of dead trees was either gouged or removed. The aim was to determine how many moths can be found at the undisturbed and disturbed forest sites and if differences in community composition can be explained by different management regimes. The results highlight that natural forest disturbance can increase moth diversity, especially by favouring species that are associated with open and shrub habitats. Many rare and endangered species benefit from bark beetle outbreaks, indicating that accepting natural forest dynamics is an important part of conservation management. Post-bark beetle management seems to have a minor effect on moth communities.

The velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis, is one of the major insect pests causing defoliation in soybean crops. Alternative strategies have been explored to reduce insect damage, including the use of protease inhibitors (PIs) that act as anti-nutritional factors. The tripeptide GORE-2, designed based on the soybean SKTI PI, exhibits enhanced protease inhibitory activity and reduces caterpillar survival. To investigate the molecular response to these PIs, we analyzed gene expression profiles using RNA-Seq. Both SKTI and GORE-2 induced extensive transcriptional reprogramming in the midgut after 24 h of exposure. The response patterns were generally similar, with changes in the expression of genes encoding digestive proteases and defense-related proteins, particularly those involved in peritrophic matrix protection and regeneration. However, SKTI elicited a more robust activation of defense signaling pathways, suggesting a stronger ability to trigger protective responses. This may explain the greater efficacy of GORE-2 in inhibiting proteolysis and reducing caterpillar survival potentially involving both amino acid starvation signaling and broader perception mechanisms developed to detect soybean-derived deterrents. As a mimetic tripeptide, GORE-2 may engage these pathways less efficiently. Notably, genes associated with detoxification and oxidative stress were more highly expressed in response to GORE-2, highlighting an additional advantage of using synthetic or mimetic protease inhibitors.

The mosquito species Aedes cretinus, which is native to Greece, has become increasingly scarce following the invasion of the highly competitive and widespread Aedes albopictus. The ability of mosquitoes to survive low winter temperatures plays a pivotal role in their population dynamics of the next season. In this study, we investigated the overwintering capacity of Ae. albopictus and Ae. cretinus adults under semi-field, sheltered microclimatic conditions in the northern area of Attica, Greece, during the winter of 2023-2024. Our findings revealed that 11% of Ae. albopictus females and 21.1% of Ae. cretinus females were capable of overwintering, highlighting the importance of sheltered microclimates in enabling overwintering survival under low outdoor temperatures. In contrast, males of both species failed to overwinter. The winter survival ability of adults was significantly greater in Ae. cretinus than in Ae. albopictus, and this may account for the occurrence of Ae. cretinus in the cooler environments of vegetated and wooded locations in northern areas of the Attica region. Nevertheless, the ability of Ae. albopictus females to also overwinter under the same sheltered microclimatic environment may affect the potential of interspecific competition in these areas.

The natural prey of spiders has been studied in only a few species, which limits our understanding of their role in ecosystems. Eresid spiders often have a hidden lifestyle; thus, their ecology is still poorly understood. Here we investigated the natural prey of four species of ground-dwelling eresid spiders from Israel - Adonea fimbriata, Dorceus fastuosus, Eresus sp., and Loureedia annulipes - and one (Eresus kollari) from Central Europe. In the last species, we studied the prey in more detail: we compared the natural with the potential prey and investigated prey acceptance using six prey types (Blattodea, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isopoda, and Orthoptera) under semi-field conditions. The natural prey was studied by analysing the exoskeleton remains of prey found in the webs. We found that the prey composition in the webs differed significantly among species, though two insect groups, beetles and ants, dominated in all eresid species. Among beetles, tenebrionids were the most frequent in eresid species from Israel, while carabids dominated in E. kollari. Beside these beetles, weevils were frequent prey in all examined species. The index of the trophic niche breadth was narrow in all examined species, indicating trophic specialisation; however, feeding trials revealed that E. kollari accepted a wide variety of prey types, showing that it is a generalist opportunistic predator. All eresid species studied here appear to be stenophagous generalists, capturing mainly beetles and ants.

We studied the vulnerable Scarce Large Blue butterfly (Phengaris teleius) population in loosely connected wet grasslands in southern Slovenia. Our goal was to understand the distribution and demographic traits of this population within the Seasonal Lakes of Pivka Nature Park (KP PPJ). From 2021 to 2022, we mapped suitable habitat patches in KP PPJ with the larval host plant Sanguisorba officinalis and host ant Myrmica spp. Out of eight identified potential patches, five were inhabited for at least one year. Our dispersal model, using an inverse-power function, indicated that all but one suitable patch could be connected by migrations of at least 1% of either sex, suggesting a metapopulation structure. The clustered habitat distribution (nearest neighbour index = 0.14) highlights the role of each patch as a "stepping stone" within the system. We also assessed demographic parameters in a subset of three patches: Klenik, Kalec, and Zagorje. In 2021, mark-release-recapture estimated the populations in two inhabited patches (Klenik, Kalec) at 197 males (95% CI: 159-265) and 315 females (95% CI: 205-525), showing a female-biased sex ratio (males : females = 1 : 1.6). We recorded a relatively long average life span (4.4 and 8.4 days for males and females, respectively) and a weak protandry, however about three-quarters of the population was present simultaneously, mainly in the largest patch (Klenik: > 85%). Recorded demographic traits (female-biased sex ratio, long lifespan, simultaneous peaks of both sexes, and high dispersal) support the persistence of this metapopulation. However, conservation efforts and a denser network of suitable patches are crucial to maintain its viability at this range's southern edge.

This study investigates the abundance and diversity of diurnal butterflies in two types of forest habitats - a degraded cedar forest and a protected cedar forest - located in Djurdjura National Park, Algeria. The survey was conducted over a one-year period, from April 2022 to March 2023. A total of 1,479 individuals, belonging to 48 species, were recorded. Among them, 13% are endemic to North Africa. The primary factor contributing to the degradation of the cedar forest in Djurdjura National Park appears to be repeated wildfires. Nevertheless, the clearings created by fire may temporarily promote floral diversity and, consequently, butterfly richness. The results reveal complex interactions between butterflies, habitat quality, and seasonal variations. No clear segregation was observed between butterfly communities in the two cedar forest types, although some species exhibited distinct ecological preferences: Celastrina argiolus, Zygaena algira, Tomares ballus, Zygaena trifolii, and Pyronia cecilia were more associated with the degraded cedar forest, whereas Pyrgus alveus, Zerynthia rumina, Pararge aegeria, and Issoria lathonia were linked to the protected forest. However, further analyses are required to confirm their status as reliable bioindicators. The study also demonstrates that butterfly abundance varies significantly with the seasons, peaking in summer, highlighting the critical influence of climatic conditions. These findings could contribute to the enrichment of protected species lists in Algeria and North Africa, as well as to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Subterranean ants play a critical role in soil ecosystems, yet their cryptic lifestyle and the challenges associated with their sampling hinder comprehensive understanding of their biodiversity. This study examines the seasonal dynamics of subterranean ant communities in a cork oak forest in northwestern Morocco. We employed an adapted soil-washing method. that enabled the collection of 1,318 individuals from 17 species, of which 41.18% were identified as hypogaeic. The analysis revealed significant differences in community composition across seasons, with summer exhibiting notably higher species richness and worker abundance. Non-hypogaeic ants showed strong positive correlations with temperature and negative correlations with rainfall, while hypogaeic ants exhibited weak and non-significant responses to climatic variables, likely due to their ecological specialization. These results suggest that climatic factors distinctly influence ant subgroups and highlight the ecological relevance of subterranean ants in soil biodiversity. The study underscores the importance of tailored sampling methodologies for capturing the diversity and dynamics of these often-overlooked communities.

Concerns about insect decline have motivated the monitoring of terrestrial arthropods, often using Malaise traps. Since the types of Malaise trap vary widely, it is essential to understand the differences in the resulting number and composition of the arthropod catch. In this study, we compared the performance of two types of Malaise trap in capturing arthropods for biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies. We placed Bartak and SLAM traps in a paired design at increasing distances from a forest edge in vineyards in southwestern Germany. We measured arthropod biomass and used metabarcoding for species identification. Bartak traps caught 7.5 times higher biomass, but only 1.5 times more species compared to the SLAM traps. There was a significant difference in species composition, whereby highly mobile flying insect species, such as those in the order Diptera, strongly dominated the Bartak traps and ground-dwelling arthropods were better represented in SLAM traps. With increasing distance to the forest edge, species richness decreased similarly in both trap types. Our study shows that differences in trapping efficiency must be taken into account when comparing results from different, and that trap types can be chosen according to the focus of each study. Nevertheless, both trap types were able to detect the biodiversity pattern in our landscape in a similar way.

Evaluating land management practices to best return landuse health and resilience is a growing interest in the face of rapidly declining worldwide invertebrate populations. American bison (Bison bison), a native megaherbivore, is well understood to benefit the natural cycle of vegetation growth and soil on the landscape. Activities of these native grazers has also been found to benefit specifically lepidopteran populations, but additional evaluation is needed. To assess this, we conducted lepidopteran and groundcover surveys within an oak savanna landscape located at the Sandhill Wildlife Area from 2014-2019, during spring and summer seasons. Bison grazing pastureland was delineated into four cover types including open grassland areas (other), shrubs and trees (shrubs), areas of exposed mineral soil (disturbance), and wallows resulting from disturbance as generated directly by American bison wallowing activities (wallows). A total of 60 plots (15 per cover type) were assessed for percent groundcover categories, recent presence of bison (indicated through bison chip counts), and observations of all lepidopteran species. Bison wallowing activities increased over the course of the study, with more wallows visible during spring season. Bison chips were highly separated from wallows, suggesting that bison graze and wallow in different areas. Lepidopteran family groups (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, and Riodinidae, as well as grouped "moths" that were dominated by Geometridae) differed significantly across these areas of high and low disturbance. A total of 17 groups were observed, 13 of which were seen at least 3 times over the 10 surveys. Environmental predictors bison wallows, forbs, grass, nectar, and shrub cover were significantly associated with distribution of individual taxa. Bison wallows were significantly associated with lepidopteran family communities, while chips shaped trends in 6 groups identified to species, and vegetation types further significantly structured the community. Temporal trends captured significantly different community assemblages 2014-2019 and across seasons, with summer showing greater variation in families. Overall, this suggests that bison activities and resulting changes in groundcover impact habitat suitability and thus influence the abundance and distribution of lepidopteran family groups. A further assessment of bison influenced habitat features and breakdown of lepidopteran species units is needed to further understand how temporal bison activities may influence the habitat structure and subsequently the reliant lepidopterans within this ecotype and will be assessed in subsequent studies.

Carabids are important natural biocontrol agents for pest regulation in agricultural landscapes. Their role in the ecosystem is related to functional traits, which are themselves filtered by both the degree of habitat disturbance and the landscape composition and configuration that distribute ecological resources. Here we aim at sorting out the influences of habitat and landscape context on carabid traits in permanent grasslands and winter cereal crops (wheat or barley). We sampled carabids in adjacent grasslands and cereal fields in three agricultural plains of south-eastern France. We analysed the links between carabid traits and their occurrence in the studied habitats using regression models. We also characterised the influences of habitat and landscape context on trait distribution using multivariate analyses. Polyphagous species were more likely than others to be shared by both adjacent grassland and cereal fields. Granivorous carabids were strongly related to grasslands, while predatory and polyphagous species were more often captured exclusively in cereal crops when exclusive to one habitat. Small apterous carabids were more likely to be found in grasslands only. Concerning the influence of the landscape, polyphagous species were related to cereal crops surrounded by higher grassland coverage or lower compositional heterogeneity. Smaller carabids were more likely to be found in the vicinity of high grassland coverage, and apterous carabids in grassland-dominated landscapes. Grasslands thus not only provide resource and habitat complementation for generalist carabid species from neighbouring croplands, but they also host distinctive species showing particular traits. It is therefore important to maintain or restore grasslands in agricultural landscapes to support species and functional diversity in farmland.

The scale insect family Rhizoecidae in Germany has historically been documented as comprising six species from two genera: Rhizoecus albidus Goux, 1942, Rhizoecus cacticans (Hambleton, 1946), Rhizoecus franconiae Schmutterer, 1956, Ripersiella caesii (Schmutterer, 1956), Ripersiella halophila (Hardy, 1868), and Ripersiella hibisci (Kawai & Takagi, 1971). To assess changes in this biodiversity, we collected 37 samples from potted plants across the botanical gardens of Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. Species identifications were conducted using integrative taxonomy, combining morphological analysis of slide-mounted specimens, molecular data from the COI region, and ecological information. Our study identified eight species: Geococcus coffeae Green, 1933, Rhizoecus arabicus Hambleton, 1976, Rh. cacticans, Rhizoecus dianthi Green, 1926, Rhizoecus nemoralis (Hambleton, 1946), Rhizoecus falcifer Kunckel d'Herculais, 1878, Rhizoecus simplex (Hambleton, 1946) and Ripersiella aloes (Williams & Pellizzari, 1997). Except for Rh. cacticans, all are newly recorded for Germany, increasing the total German Rhizoecidae fauna to 13 species across three genera. We provide detailed morphometric redescriptions for Rh. arabicus, Rh. franconiae, Rh. simplex, and Ri. caesii based on type material, along with morphological notes for the other species. The study also resolves nomenclatural issues for Rh. franconiae and Ri. hibisci designating Lectotypes and reports 61 new host records for eight species. We present a taxonomic key for the updated list of Rhizoecidae species recorded in Germany. This research significantly revises the understanding of rhizoecid diversity in the country, revealing that the fauna is more than twice as rich as previously known.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972), is native to tropical and subtropical South America but has become a highly invasive species in parts of the southern United States, the Caribbean, and southern China. RIFA has caused significant ecological disruption through rapid colonization and aggressive behavior, affecting ecosystems and human health. This study aimed to examine the impact of different variables on the distribution of S. invicta throughout China and to predict its risk areas under the Current (1970-2000) and future climate change scenarios (2070s) using the ACCESS1-0 and BCC-CSM1-1 climate models. According to the MaxEnt model, under current climatic conditions, the total risk area of S. invicta was 2.554 million km², covering 27.52% of the study area. In the 2070s, high-risk areas are projected to increase by 1.72-fold and 1.68-fold under ACCESS1-0 and BCC-CSM1-1 scenarios, respectively. Precipitation of driest month (Bio14), mean temperature of coldest quarter (Bio11), mean temperature of warmest quarter (Bio10), pH of water, topography, mean diurnal range (Bio2), and soil organic carbon were the main factors influencing the distribution of S. invicta. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to assess key determinants influencing S. invicta distribution. The GLM identified elevated land surface temperature, moderate soil moisture, organic carbon, vegetation cover, topographic diversity, and high urbanization as key factors promoting S. invicta proliferation, while adverse soil conditions limited suitable habitats. This research provides significant clues about the current distribution patterns of S. invicta and the influence of climate change, soil, physical and biological land properties, and anthropogenic activities on its distribution. Additional measures are necessary to control and prevent the continued spread of S. invicta in China.

In response to the growing challenges of sustainable agriculture and the preservation of functional biodiversity, robust entomological monitoring protocols now require large-scale sampling, leading to significant operational costs. In this context, the adoption of cost-effective alternatives to preservation liquids is crucial. Vinegar, propylene glycol, and brine are three solutions commonly used in the literature, raising questions regarding the comparability of data across studies. We compared the effectiveness of vinegar, propylene glycol, and brine in Barber traps for the census of carabids (Carabidae), key auxiliaries in agroecosystems. Trapping campaigns were conducted in 2023 across 20 sugar beet plots (vinegar vs. propylene glycol) and in 2024 across 17 winter cereal plots (vinegar vs. brine), following standardized protocols. The results indicate that traps containing vinegar captured significantly more individuals overall than the other liquids, while maintaining a comparable species diversity and assemblage composition to those obtained with propylene glycol. In contrast, brine showed more variable captures compared to the other liquids and should be excluded for more reliable surveys. These findings suggest that vinegar, as an economical option, represents a promising alternative to propylene glycol for carabid census. However, the choice of preservation liquid should align with the specific objectives of each study: propylene glycol remains preferable for specimen preservation, particularly for DNA analyses, while vinegar offers an affordable solution for studies not requiring such analyses.

In the landscape of the Dolomites, within the protected area of the Paneveggio - Pale di S. Martino Park in the Eastern Alps of Italy, a study was conducted to explore the distribution of carabid beetles. To achieve this, pitfall traps were placed along a 1000-m elevation gradient, following the bioclimatic gradient from spruce forests to the resilient pioneer vegetation in the extreme high-altitude environments. The research revealed that both community diversity and biogeographic diversity exhibited a clear correlation with the bioclimatic gradient. As one ascended to higher altitudes, the composition and distribution of carabid beetle communities shifted, reflecting the bioclimatic gradient. The chorological spectrum of the communities showed that Pleistocene paleoclimatic events provided the triggering factors affecting the postglacial recolonization of alpine ecosystems of the Dolomites region. Most of the sampled species displayed specific life strategies that enabled them to thrive in this harsh setting, responding to the selective pressures imposed by ecological factors. An extensive dataset encompassing the diversity of carabid beetles in these high-altitude domains was created. Given that the studied environments are widely distributed along the Italian Eastern Alps, the dataset serves a crucial purpose as it can be used as a reference for other research campaigns conducted in similar environments. Furthermore, it could act as a temporal benchmark for future researches on insects living in extreme environments, e.g. the Dolomites, or for comparing changes in climate that may be detected by future studies in the same geographic area.

The yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis is a well-known agricultural pest with significant impacts on crops from Southeast Asia to Australia. It has also become one of the major pests of corn (Zea mays) in China. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the bio-ecology, potential damage, and management of C. punctiferalis on various economically important crops. The review discusses the current management strategies for C. punctiferalis, mainly based on chemical insecticides, and highlights their limitations and sustainability concerns. The authors emphasize the urgent need for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) approaches tailored to the affected regions. Key research directions and recommendations are presented to fill knowledge gaps and improve the effective management of C. punctiferalis in agriculture.

An Erratum has been published for this article: https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2025.028