First Report of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Variation in (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) from Polluted and Control Sites.

Mitochondrial DNA easily undergoes alterations due to exposure to stress factors. In particular, mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) variation can be used as a biomarker of the effect of exposure to various environmental contaminants. In this study, a molecular investigation based on the evaluation of mtDNAcn variation was applied for the first time to individuals belonging to the species .

Epidemiological Investigations and Molecular Characterization of ' Phytoplasma solani' in Grapevines, Weeds, Vectors and Putative Vectors in Western Sicily, (Southern Italy).

Bois noir is caused by ' Phytoplasma solani', and it is one of the most important and widespread diseases in the Euro-Mediterranean region. There are complex interactions between phytoplasma and grapevines, weeds, and vectors. These ecological relationships can be tracked according to molecular epidemiology.

A new species of Isohypsibiid (Eutardigrada) from Sicily.

Dastych (2016) analysed the holotype of Isohypsibius tetradactyloides (Richters, 1907) and noticed that it possesses a very faint cuticular sculpture. For this and other characters, Dastych considered the species to be a synonym of Isohypsibius asper (Murray, 1906). The authors re-examined specimens attributed to Isohypsibius tetradactyloides by Pilato (1971) from two Sicilian rivers, and noticed that they cannot be attributed to Isohypsibius asper but to a new species.

A new species of Tychus Leach, 1817 from Lebanon (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae).

Tychus meggiolaroi sp. n. from Lebanon is described and illustrated.

and , two new species of Eutardigrada (Tardigrada, Parachela) from Sicily.

Two new species of Eutardigrada are described from Sicily: Macrobiotus nebrodensis sp. nov. and Adropion vexatum sp.

Description of a new species of Oligosita Walker (Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae), egg parasitoid of Balclutha brevis Lindberg (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) living on Pennisetum setaceum, from Italy.

A new species of Oligosita Walker (Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae), O. balcluthae Viggiani et Laudonia n. sp.

A review of the Tychobythinus algiricus species group from North Africa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae).

The species belonging to the Tychobythinus algiricus group are revised and the group is characterized and defined. Tychobythinus algiricus (Raffray, 1871) is redescribed, illustrated and its distribution and its synonymic framework discussed, establishing that Tychobythinus occidentalis Besuchet, 1962 is a junior synonym of Tychobythinus algiricus (syn. nov.

Persistence of phlebotomine Leishmania vectors in urban sites of Catania (Sicily, Italy).

Background: Pioneering research on "Mediterranean Kala-Azar" carried out by Adler and Theodor early in the past century (~1930s) had identified Catania city (Sicily) as a major focus of the disease nowadays known as zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Despite the fact that disease in both humans and dogs has continued to be highly prevalent in the Catania province up to the present times, research on Leishmania vectors in this urban focus dates back to that distant period. This study aimed to evaluate the persistence and current composition of the sand fly fauna in urban environments of Catania in recent years, 2006 and 2013.

A review of Tychobythinus theryi species group with description of a new species from Algeria (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae).

The seven species belonging to Tychobythinus theryi group are revised. Tychobythinus theryi (Guillebeau, 1894), Tychobythinus bordei (Peyerimhoff, 1919), Tychobythinus longipalpis (Normand, 1930), Tychobythinus normandi (Jeannel, 1956) and Tychobythinus peyerimhoffi (Jeannel, 1956) are redescribed and illustrated, and Tychobythinus besucheti Sabella sp. n.

Ramazzottius thulini (Pilato, 1970) bona species and description of Ramazzottius libycus sp. nov. (Eutardigrada, Ramazzottidae).

Comparing the type series of Ramazzottius thulini with specimens of Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri, from the locus typicus, we confirmed there are morphological and metric differences between these two species. This evidence convinced us that R. thulini should be considered a bona species.

The problem of the origin of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vertebrates: historical review and a possible solution.

A concise review of the articles about the origin of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vertebrates is provided. Differences among various taxa concerning the origin of PGCs, not easily understandable on the base of traditional knowledge, are pointed out. All those differences can be explained taking into consideration the recent “theory of the endoderm as secondary layer”.