Amblyomma sparsum Neumann 1899 on migratory birds from Africa: First records in Italy.

Migratory birds play an important role in transporting ixodid ticks and tick-borne pathogens between continents. During the Boreal spring, migratory birds reach Europe, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa or from northern African countries but not much is known about the diversity and ecology of the ticks they spread. From 2017 to 2022, in the framework of two consecutive projects focused on sampling migratory birds from Africa to Europe, a total of 27 immature Amblyomma ticks were collected from migratory birds, belonging to 8 species, captured on the Island of Ventotene, an important stop-over site in the Mediterranean Sea.

Taxonomic considerations of selected Western Palaearctic Mordellidae Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea).

The present contribution is devoted to the review of some species of Mordellidae belonging to the Italian fauna described by Mariano Zuccarello Patti and Mario Enrico Franciscolo. New taxonomic combinations are proposed: (Franciscolo, 1942), , Franciscolo, 1942, , and Franciscolo, 1942, , and are considered species that are not part of the Italian fauna. In addition, given the impossibility of identifying the species based on its original description and the destruction of type material, Patti, 1840 is treated as .

Distribution of the genus Geoffroy (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) in Italy.

Background: Stag beetles are saproxylic species that are associated with deadwood in the larval stage and play an important role in forest ecosystem dynamics. In Italy, and are two small, elusive stag beetle species, whose known distribution is often limited or referring to old records.

New Information: The present contribution increases the knowledge on the Italian distribution of and , adding 70% more sites when compared to previously published records.

Ground spiders (Chelicerata, Araneae) of an urban green space: intensive sampling in a protected area of Rome (Italy) reveals a high diversity and new records to the Italian territory.

Background: Urbanisation is a rapidly growing global phenomenon leading to habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation. However, urban areas can offer opportunities for conservation, particularly through the presence of green spaces which can even provide important habitats for imperilled species. Spiders, which play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, include many species that can successfully exploit urban environments.

Checklist of the marine malacofauna of Culuccia Peninsula (NW Sardinia, Italy), with notes on relevant species.

Background: Culuccia is a small peninsula of about 3 km placed in north-western Sardinia (Italy) at the margin of the Maddalena Archipelago. The marine area surrounding this Peninsula is a Special Area of Conservation, included in the European Natura 2000 Ecological Network of protected areas, but until now, no information on biodiversity of this area is available. In 2021, a research project to study both terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Culuccia has started in order to fill this gap of knowledge.

The Buprestidae (Coleoptera, Buprestoidea) of the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy).

Background: Buprestidae is a group of beetles of important conservation and phytosanitary value that is poorly studied in the Tuscan Archipelago and the limited faunistic knowledge available refers to a few scant historical records.

New Information: The present contribution increments the species documented in the Archipelago from 27 to 51, providing more than 300 georeferenced occurrence records, derived from both direct field research and citizen science via iNaturalist. Of particular importance is the discovery of on Isola d'Elba, an uncommon and localised species currently critically endangered.

The First Two Complete Mitochondrial Genomes for the Subfamily Meligethinae (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Implications for the Higher Phylogeny of Nitidulidae.

The phylogenetic status of the family Nitidulidae and its sister group relationship remain controversial. Also, the status of the subfamily Meligethinae is not fully understood, and previous studies have been mainly based on morphology, molecular fragments, and biological habits, rather than the analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome. Up to now, there has been no complete mitochondrial genome report of Meligethinae.

Simultaneous detections of (Fabricius, 1801) (Cerambycidae, Dorcaschematini) in Europe.

Background: Europe has a long history of non-native species introductions given its central role in global trade in recent centuries. Currently, approximately two hundred cerambycid species have been found in Europe, as the result of introductions between and within biogeographical regions; still, despite better monitoring and stronger restrictions, the arrivals and spread of non-native Cerambycidae continue.

New Information: The aim of this contribution is to report and discuss the first European records of the non-native longhorn beetle (Fabricius, 1801) on the basis of three specimens recorded almost simultaneously in Spain and Greece, respectively.

The cranial apparatus glands of the canthariphilous Pyrochroa coccinea (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), and their implications in sexual behaviour.

Some Pyrochroidae species are known as "canthariphilous" for their attraction to cantharidin (CTD), a toxic terpene with anti-predatory effects, produced in nature by only two beetle families (Meloidae and Oedemeridae). It has been demonstrated that males of Neopyrochroa flabellata ingesting CTD are positively selected by females. Indeed, the compound is re-emitted from a glandular cranial apparatus as secretions that are licked up by females during courtship behaviour, inducing copulation.

New records of non-native Coleoptera in Italy.

Background: In the last decades, climate change and globalisation have been exacerbating the introduction of non-native beetles worldwide. Due toits peculiar territory, climate and geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin, Italy is one of the European countries with the highest number of intercepted, adventive and established non-native beetles, some of which are invasive. In this perspective, producing new faunistic records and continuously updating reliable and easily accessible distributional data is a fundamental step in investigating and potentially preventing further species introduction.

Assessing soil quality of Italian Western Alps protected areas by QBS-ar: impact of management and habitat type on soil microarthropods.

Soil fauna has a crucial importance for the functioning of ecosystems and their conservation. Soil biota has a role in soil formation and distribution of organic matter, and groups like microarthropods can be used as indicators to assess soil quality and are often employed in monitoring programs. In the present study, the QBS-ar index, an index based on the presence/absence of microarthropod groups, was used to assess the level of soil quality in nine different sampling sites in the "Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime" and in the "Parco Naturale del Marguareis" (Cuneo, Piedmont).

A Fine Morphological Study of the Rare Santschi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) Male and Queen.

Using optical and scanning electron microscopy, we describe the following new morphologically distinctive characters of the rare Neotropical ant Santschi, 1936, male and queen: scattered setae inter-ommatidia, semicircular hypostomal notch, antennal cleaning, metatibial spurs, and the remnant of the M2 vein in the hindwings. In males, we show for the first time the morphology of maxillary and labial palpi, the absence of metapleural glands, and, in external genitalia, for the first time in ants, a new mechano-sensory area on the volsella that we called "volsella sensorium", composed of several spine-like sensilla. Additionally, we give an updated morphological diagnosis of the alate caste, which will be useful for future studies to clarify the phylogeny of the genus .

Repurposing High-Throughput Screening Identifies Unconventional Drugs with Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Experimental Conditions Relevant to Cystic Fibrosis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common pathogen infecting cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs, causing acute and chronic infections. Intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance allow P. aeruginosa to colonize and persist despite antibiotic treatment, making new therapeutic approaches necessary.

Nanoplastic exposure inhibits feeding and delays regeneration in a freshwater planarian.

The concentration of nanoplastics (NPs) is expected to increase in aquatic environments thus potentially threatening freshwater organisms through interactions with plastic particles that variously float, circulate in the water column or sink into the benthos. Studies into the mechanisms of any NP effects are still scarce, particularly with respect to the regenerative ability of biota for which there is no recognised model organism. The present study therefore aimed to investigate behavioural and regeneration responses of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina after 10 days exposed to along a gradient 0.

Trophic transfer of microplastics from producer (Lemna minuta) to primary consumer (Cataclysta lemnata) in a freshwater food chain.

Contamination by microplastics (0.1 μm-5 mm plastic fragments) is currently one of the major threats to the conservation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Growing awareness on this issue has led to an increase in studies on the effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms, although there are still few investigations on possible transfer of this contaminant along water trophic chains from producers to primary consumers.

A new Neotropical ant species of genus Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dolichoderinae) with partial revision of the group based on males.

The genus was erected by Mayr (1866) for his male-based species . In this study a new species is described also based on male morphology, , collected in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, which is attributed to the group (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae). is the only species of group present in the eastern part of South America.

A world review of the bristle fly parasitoids of webspinners.

Background: Dipteran parasitoids of Embioptera (webspinners) are few and extremely rare but known from all biogeographical regions except Australasia/Oceania. All belong to the fly family Tachinidae, a hyperdiverse and widespread clade of parasitoids attacking a variety of arthropod orders.

Results: The webspinner-parasitizing Diptera are reviewed based mostly on records from the collecting and rearing by Edward S.

Morphological Study of the Alimentary Canal and Malpighian Tubules in the Adult of the Pollen Beetle () (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae).

() is a highly specialized species of Nitidulidae in China that takes pollen as its main food source, and its main host plant is L. (Rosaceae). In this study, the structural morphology of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of adult .

Morpho-functional Analysis of the Head Glands in Three Auchenorrhyncha Species and Their Possible Biological Significance.

The Cicadomorpha and are known transmitters of the bacterium . Here, we studied the ultrastructural organization of their cephalic glands. Our investigations with scanning, transmission, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopes and light microscope revealed for the first time in Auchenorrhyncha the presence of two types of cephalic glands.

New Evidence of Canthariphily: Tilloidea transversalis (Coleoptera: Cleridae) Sequestering Cantharidin From Lydus trimaculatus (Coleoptera: Meloidae).

Cantharidin (CTD) is a defensive compound autogenously and exclusively produced by two phylogenetically related beetle families: Meloidae and Oedemeridae. Although this molecule usually acts as a strong deterrent against potential predators and parasites, some arthropod species, collectively named 'canthariphilous species', are attracted to CTD. Some species can sequester CTD from the CTD-producing species, using it as a chemical defense against enemies.

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime (Piedmont, Italy).

Oribatid mites were investigated in six sites in the Alpi Marittime Natural Park (Prov. Cuneo, Piedmont, northern Italy) which is part of the NATURA 2000 network. The selected locations cover 4 forested (fir, ash, 2 beech forests) and 2 grassland sites (mountain meadow, xeric grassland).

Foe to frenemy: predacious ant nest beetles use multiple strategies to fully integrate into ant nests.

Ant nest beetles (Carabidae, Paussinae, Paussini; Paussus) are renowned myrmecophiles, mostly known for their bizarre and diverse antennal shape. While little is known about their development, behavior and host range, we do know they spend most of their lives inside ant nests, feeding upon the hemolymph of ant brood and teneral workers. Recent findings suggest these beetles use a surprisingly complex strategy for interacting and deceiving ants.

The Effects of Ultrasonic Scaling and Air-Abrasive Powders on the Decontamination of 9 Implant-Abutment Surfaces: Scanning Electron Analysis and In Vitro Study.

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to understand from a microscopic point of view whether bicarbonate air-abrasive powders associated with ultrasonic instruments can decontaminate nine different surfaces used for the abutment/implant junction. Fibroblast growth was carried out on decontaminated surface in order to understand if there are significative differences in terms of biocompatibility. (2) Methods: After taking samples of patient plaque, nine different surfaces were contaminated and analyzed by SEM, then their wettability was evaluated.

Male Accessory Glands of Blister Beetles and Cantharidin Release: A Comparative Ultrastructural Analysis.

Members of the family Meloidae are known to produce cantharidin, a highly toxic monoterpene found in their hemolymph and exuded as droplets capable of deterring many predators. As a nuptial gift, males transfer large amounts of cantharidin to females via a spermatophore, which is formed by specific accessory glands containing high concentrations of this terpene. Using light, electron and ion beam microscopy, the ultrastructural features of the three pairs of male accessory glands as well as the glandular part of the were comparatively investigated in seven species of blister beetles belonging to five different tribes and two subfamilies.