T he genus Parnassius Latreille, 1804 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) comprises

about 50 species of northern circumpolar and mountain (alpine and

Himalayan) butterflies usually known as Apollos (or Mountain Apollos).

Although classified under the Swallowtail butterfly group, none of the

Parnassius species possess tails. These animals vary significantly in colour and

form and generally show several black and red black-edged "eye marks" on

their white wings.

For centuries, the beauty and the rarity of these species have attracted the

interest of collectors, and, at the same time, the genus became of great interest

to entomologists due to its fascinating biology and biogeography, which made

it one of the most studied groups of insects.

These beautiful butterflies inhabit mountain flowery meadows and pastures.

The distribution area of the genus - which is likely to have reached the

maximum span in the Tertiary and the Quaternary eras - drastically reduced and

fragmented during the interglacial periods, thus originating many endemic taxa.

The larvae feed on species of plants belonging to the Papaveraceae and

Crassulaceae families.

Currently, the Apollo is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, in

Appendix II in CITES and is mentioned in annex IV of Habitats Directive. For

this reason it is protected by special laws in many countries.

P. apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) - widespread in Europe and Central Asia - comprises

a high number of subspecies and local races, some of which with uncertain

taxonomic status. Parnassius apollo siciliae was described by Charles Oberthiir

in 1891 for specimens from the Madonie mountains. However, a few years

before, the entomologist Failla Tedaldi had already reported some differences in

the wings-pattern among the Sicilian and other Italian populations.

Parnassius apollo siciliae (see pictures) caterpillar's favorite food plant is

stonecrop (Sedum). Larvae finish their metamorphosis in May and adults live

until August, with one generation per year.

At the moment, even if Sicilian population is in good condition, nevertheless

protection constraints are still necessary to save it from the extinction that

already wiped away other European Parnassius species due to habitat

fragmentation and indiscriminate collection.

Calogero Muscarella, Palermo, Italy

Biodiversity Journal, 2010, 1(1-4): 3-6

New faunistic records of Jewel beetles from Southern Italy

and Sardinia (Coleoptera, Buprestidae)

Francesco Izzillo

Via Onofrio Buccini, 10 - 81030 Orta di Atella, Caserta, Italy; e-mail: franco.izzillo@gmail.com

ABSTRACT Three species of Buprestidae are reported for the first time from two Italian regions: Anthaxici ( s . str .) midas

ssp. oberthuri Schaefer, 1937, and Anthaxia (5. str.) salicis (Fabricius, 1777) new to Campania, and Agrilus

( Spiragrilus ) hyperici (Creutzer, 1799) new to Sardinia. Short notes on ethology and larval development of

A. midas oberthuri are also given.

KEY WORDS Coleoptera, Buprestidae, new faunistic records, Italy.

Received 22.11.2010; accepted 29.11.2010; printed 30.12.2010

INTRODUCTION

Since the faunistic synthesis of italian Bupre-

stidae published by Curletti (1994), collecting

efforts of several workers, during recent field

trips carried out mainly through Southern Italy,

led to a better knowledge of the buprestid

fauna of this part of the country (Crovato &

Izzillo 1995; Izzillo et al. 2002; Liberto &

Gigli, 2003), and helped to outline the compo-

sition of the buprestid fauna of some restricted

areas (Liberto & Izzillo 2007); these last fauni-

stic investigations also increasingly led to fill

gaps in the distribution of poorly collected

species, and to obtain certain regional data

about species that were previously summarily

quoted as from “all Italy” by the earlier

authors .

The names of Italian regions and provinces

are reported verbatim, while geographical terms

such as “Lago” (= Lake), Foresta (= Forest) etc.,

were translated.

Abbreviations used: CFI = F. Izzillo collec-

tion, Orta di Atella (Caserta), Italy; CDB = D.

Baiocchi collection, Roma, Italy; CAL = A.

Liberto collection, Roma, Italy; CMG = M. Gigli

collection, Roma, Italy.

Anthaxia ( Anthaxia ) midas oberthuri

Schaefer, 1937

Anthaxia (, s . str.) midas oberthueri Schaefer,

1937 (Gobbi 1993a: 50; Gobbi 1993b: 77).

Anthaxia midas oberthueri Schaefer, 1937

(Curletti 2005).

Material examined

Italy, Campania (Avellino), Bagnoli Irpino,

Laceno Lake env., m 1050, 2.V.2010, 1 ex., on yel-

low flower of Ranunculus sp., F. Izzillo legit (CFI).

Additional material examined

Italy, Basilicata (Matera-Potenza), Gallipoli-

Cognato forest, 900 m., 11. IX. 1992, 1 ex., reared

from Acer sp., F. Izzillo legit (CFI); 23 .111.1993,

2 exx., reared from Acer sp., F. Izzillo legit

(CFI); 28. Ill .20 10 , 2 exx., F. Izzillo (CFI),

(CDB); 3.IV.2010, 22 exx., F. Izzillo legit (CFI),

(CDB), (CAL), (CMG).

Anthaxia midas is usually regarded as a polity-

pic species (Schaefer 1937; Curletti 1994, 2005):

in Italy, the nominate subspecies has been recorded

Francesco Izzillo

only from Puglia (Gargano: Gridelli 1949); accor-

ding to Curletti (Curletti 1994: 95), the quotations

Figure 1. Anthaxia midas oberthuri: Italy, Basilicata (Matera-

Potenza), Gallipoli-Cognato forest, 900 m., 3.IV.2010,

F. Izzillo legit (CFI).

by Angelini (1987) and Gobbi (1986), who both

reported the species from Gargano sub A. midas

oberthuri, must be referred to the nominate form as

well, while the western ssp. oberthuri occurs only

in few localities of Lazio (Cassola 1968), Basili-

cata (Gobbi 1993b), Calabria (Gobbi 1993b: 77),

and Sicilia (Magnani & Sparacio 1985); an uncon-

firmed regional record from Sardegna is reported

by Luigioni (1929, sub A. midas).

Bionomy

A. midas oberthuri (Fig. 1) seems to be steno-

phagous on Acer spp. (Schaefer 1937, 1950;

Gobbi 1986; Curletti 1994; Verdugo 2005), while

the nominal subspecies was reported as develo-

ping also in Platanus spp. (Miihle, Brandi & Nie-

huis 2000; Muskovits & Hegyessy 2002; Saka-

lian 2003). Remarks on the bionomy of A. midas

oberthuri , which agree with those made by

Schaefer (1937, 1950), are reported below; these

observations were made during several field sur-

veys, carried out yearly in the Gallipoli Cognato

forest (Basilicata), since 1992.

The deposition of eggs takes place on the bark

of withering, or freshly dead branches of Acer

spp., generally 4 to 10 cm in diameter; the larva

bores flat and sinuose galleries in the phloem,

just under the bark, that reach a length of 10-12

cm, and a width of 6-7 mm; at the end of the gal-

lery, the larva digs its pupal chamber, at a depth

of 7-8 mm, in the superficial sapwood, and then

fills the larval entrance with stiffed frass, for-

ming a so-called “white spot” (see Bfly 2002:

30), which will be used as exit hole as well. On 6

June 1992, I collected some wood of Acer sp.,

that showed some undisclosed “white spots” sup-

posed to mean the presence of adults still present

in their pupal chambers; an adult was extracted

on 11 September of the same year, and two more

specimens on 23 March, 1993.

These data are summarized as follows: the depo-

sition of eggs is likely to occur in April / May; the

larva bores trophic tunnels during the whole sum-

mer season, and passes its first winter in hibernation;

it starts to feed again in the next early spring, and the

construction of the pupal chamber takes place in late

spring; after an interval during which the larva rests

in the typical “hook” position, it pupates in late sum-

mer, and the imago hatches after a couple of weeks;

the adult passes the second winter resting in the

pupal chamber, until emergence in the following

spring. The whole cycle, therefore, takes at least two

years, and goes through three vegetation seasons.

The adult phenology agrees well with the above

sketched pattern of larval development, as several

specimens were collected very early in spring in

2010 (see “additional material examined” chapter).

A. midas oberthuri seems to be orophilous,

as records from lowland habitats are not

known; this matches its host plant require-

ments, being the genus Acer spread mainly

from hill to mountain levels. Strong fluctuation

of population density were observed locally,

eventually with abundance of adults in the

field; the highest number of captures was

achieved during the years 2001, 2002, 2006,

2007, 2008, 2010. A. midas oberthuri is a typi-

cal flower visitor, with preference for Ranuncu-

lus spp., yellow flowers of Asteraceae liguliflo-

rae, and flowers of Rosa.

New faunistic records of Jewel beetles from Southern Italy and Sardinia

Anthaxia ( Anthaxia ) salicis (Fabricius, 1777)

Material examined

Italy, Campania (Benevento), Pietraroja,

6.VI.2010, on yellow flowers of Ranunculus sp.,

4 exx, F. Izzillo legit (CFI, CDB, CAL).

Figure 2. Anthaxia salicis: Italy, Basilicata (Matera-Potenza),

Gallipoli-Cognato forest, 900 m., 3.IV.2010, F. Izzillo legit (CFI).

Species widely distributed in Italy (Fig. 2),

previously known from nearly all regions (Cur-

letti 1994; Crovato & Izzillo 1995), summarily

quoted as from “all Italy” by Porta (1929) and

Luigioni (1929); no detailed regional records

were available from Campania, so far. Host

plants are Quercus spp. (Curletti 1994; Bfly

2002), but the species is also reported from Acer

and Castanea (Curletti 1994).

Records from Salix are discussed by Bfly

(2002: 40), who describes the bionomy of this

species in Central Europe.

A. salicis is a typical flower visitor, mainly

Ranunculus spp. and yellow Asteraceae liguli-

florae .

Agrilus ( Spiragrilus ) hyperici (Creutzer, 1799)

Material examined

Italy, Sardegna (Sassari), Mount Limbara,

Western slopes, 9.VIII.2004, on foliage of Hype-

ricum sp., 1 ex, F. Izzillo legit (CFI).

Species widely distributed in Italy, previously

known from all regions (Curletti 1994, 2005)

except for Sardegna, and therefore new for the

island. Recorded host plants are: Hypericum per-

foratum and H. tetrapterum (Curletti 1994; Bfly

2002). Bionomy summarized in Bfly (2002: 19).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks go to my friends A. Liberto,

D. Baiocchi and M. Gigli (Roma) for their remarks,

and for their help in the english translation of the

text. I am also very obliged to M. Romano (Capaci,

Palermo) for the photos and to my friend F. Ange-

lini (Francavilla Fontana, Brindisi) for his help in

providing important literature.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2010, 1(1-4): 7-14

Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from

Southeastern Sicily, Italy (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae).

M. Stella Colomba 1 *, Armando Gregorini 1 , Fabio Liberto 2 ,Agatino Reitano 3 , Salvatore Giglio 4 & Ignazio Sparacio 5

1 Universita di Urbino, DiSTeVA, via Maggetti 22 (loc. Sasso), 61029 Urbino, Italy. 2 Strada Provinciale Cefalu-Gibilmanna n° 93, 90015

Cefalu, Italy. 3 Via Gravina 77, 95030 Tremestieri Etneo, Italy. 4 Contrada Settefrati, 90015 Cefalu, Italy. 5 Via E. Notarbartolo 54 int. 13, 90145

Palermo, Italy. *Email. mariastella.colomba@uniurb.it

ABSTRACT The genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925, is currently distributed either in Southeastern Sicily or in the Maltese

islands and comprises the species M. syracusana (Philippi, 1836), M. neuteboomi Beckmann, 1990 and M.

macrostoma (Cantraine, 1835). For the first time, we report a molecular study on the topotypicous populations

of M. syracusana and M. neuteboomi carried out on fragments of the ribosomal 16S rDNA subunit and the

cytochrome oxydase I (COI) mitochondrial genes by Neighbour Joining, Maximum Likelihood, Maximum

Parsimony and Bayesian Inference algorithms. Our results revealed the existence of nucleotide-sequence

divergence (Dxy: 5% for 16S rDNA and 12% for COI sequences) between the two taxa.

KEY WORDS Door snails; Muticaria', Clausiliidae; Molecular taxonomy; 16S rDNA; COI.

Received 1 8 . 1 0 .20 1 0 ; accepted 06 . 1 2 .20 1 0 ; printed 30 . 1 2 .20 1 0

INTRODUCTION

The genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925, curren-

tly attributed to the subfamily Alopiinae A. J.

Wagner, 1913, tribe Medorini H. Nordsieck,

1997 (Nordsieck, 1997; Nordsieck, 2007; Bank,

2010), is distributed in Southeastern Sicily and

Maltese islands (except Filfla) and shows mor-

phological affinities with the genera Leuco-

stigma A. J. Wagner, 1919, widespread in the

Apennine Italy, and Lampedusa O. Boettger,

1877 occurring in the Pelagie (Sicily) and Mal-

tese islands. Thake (1985; Giusti et al., 1995)

suggested that the group might have originated

from ancestral Alopiinae that entered Apennine

Italy from the Balcans and, successively, during

the Messinian salinity crisis (Upper Tertiary),

colonized Sicily and the Maltese islands. After-

wards, when the sea water re-invaded the Medi-

terranean basin with the so-called “Zanclean

flood” (Pliocene) these molluscs separated in

many populations which diverged and differen-

tiated in the genera Muticaria, Leuco stigma and

Lampedusa. Within Muticaria, further differen-

tiations at both specific and subspecific levels

occurred during glacial and interglacial periods

(Pleistocene) when sensitive fluctuations of the

sea level went into a cycle of emersions and

immersions of land bridges connecting the Sici-

lian mainland with the Maltese region.

At present, Muticaria comprises three species,

M. syracusana (Philippi, 1836), M. neuteboomi

Beckmann, 1990 and M. macrostoma (Cantraine,

1835), this latter with a few subspecific taxa (Nor-

dsieck, 2007; Bank, 2010): M. macrostoma macro-

stoma reported for Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and

Malta; M. macrostoma scalaris (L. Pfeiffer, 1850)

inhabiting a very limited area on the northwestern

coast of Malta (Tal-Blata, Mistra Bay); M. macro -

stoma oscitans (Charpentier, 1852) reported for

Gozo and Malta; and M. macrostoma mamotica

(Gulia, 1861) occurring in a very limited area on

the Munxar side of Xlendi Valley in Gozo (Beck-

mann & Gittenberger, 1987; Schembri, 2003; Nor-

M.S. Colomba, A. Gregorini, F. Liberto, A. Reitano, S. Giglio & I. Sparacio

dsieck, 2007; Bank, 2010). Moreover, interestingly

there are a few populations which show a shell rib-

bing intermediate between macro stoma and osci-

tans, suggesting that a possible hybridization of the

two might have occurred (see Giusti et al., 1995).

M. syracusana locus typicus Siracusa

(Philippi, 1836), and M. neuteboomi described

for Cava d’Ispica, (Modica, Ragusa province)

(Beckmann, 1990) are quite widespread in Sou-

theastern Sicily. Giusti et al. (1995) reported M.

neuteboomi as a local variation of M. syracusana

(foreseeing Badino and colleagues’ results -

which remained unpublished - on allozymic

polymorphism within the genus Muticaria ), but a

few years later, M. neuteboomi was recognized

valid species and since then this statement has

not been denied (Nordsieck, 1997; 2007; Bank,

2010). Recently, a preliminary molecular study

on 16S rDN A partial sequences (Gregorini et al.,

2008) revealed that the two taxa show some dif-

ferences at genetic level. In this study, continua-

tion of previous work, we carried out a more

detailed molecular analysis on several M. syracu-

sana (from Roman amphitheatre, Siracusa) and

M. neuteboomi (from Cava d’Ispica, Ragusa)

specimens by a comparative investigation of the

mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxi-

dase I (COI) partial sequences, in order to

improve current taxonomic knowledge and

assess the level of differentiation between the

two species from a molecular point of view.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sample collection, DNA extraction, Amplification

and Sequencing

A total of ten specimens (five M. syracusana

and five M. neuteboomi; collection sites: nearby

the Roman amphitheatre of Siracusa and Cava

d’lspica, respectively, SE Sicily) were analysed.

Samples were stored separately at -20 °C in test

tubes. For each individual, the entire animal was

used for total DNA extraction (by Wizard Geno-

mic DNA Purification Kit, Promega). Additional

specimens belonging to the same batch were sto-

red as vouchers in the laboratory of Cytogenetics

and Molecular Biology (University of Urbino,

via Maggetti 22). Present study was based on a

comparative analysis of 16S rDNA and COI par-

tial sequences, frequently used as genetic mar-

kers in the investigation of evolutionary proces-

ses at the specific level.

Fragments of 16S rDNA sequences (297 bp)

were amplified by a couple of primers (MED16F:

5’-actgtgcaaaggtagcatcc-3; ’MED16R: 5’-ccaa-

catcgaggtcacaa-3’) designed on alignments of

several homologous sequences of Clausiliidae spe-

cies downloaded from GenBank database. Whe-

reas for COI fragments (660 bp), the universal pri-

mers LCO1490: 5’-ggtcaacaaatcataaagatattgg-3’

and HC02198: 5’-taaacttcagggtgaccaaaaaatca-3’

were employed according to Folmer et al. (1994)

with slight modifications. PCR thermal cycles

were as follows: 95 °C for 5 min; 95 °C for 1 min,

55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min (35 cycles); 72 °C

for 5 min. To remove primers and unincorporated

nucleotides, the amplified products were purified

by the Wizard SV gel and PCR Clean-up kit (Pro-

mega). Sequencing of the purified PCR products

was carried out using automated DNA sequencers

at Eurofins MWG Operon (Germany). GenBank

accession numbers for sequences generated in this

study are HQ696866-HQ696869.

Phylogenetic analyses

Sequences were visualized with BioEdit

Sequence Alignment Editor 7 (Hall, 1999), ali-

gned with the ClustalW option included in this

software and double checked by eye. Standard

measures of nucleotide polymorphism were

computed using MEGA 4 (Tamura et al., 2007).

Phylogenetic analyses were conducted in MEGA

4, PhyML 3.0 (Guindon & Gascuel, 2003) and

MrBayes 3.1 .2 (Huelsenbeck & Ronquist, 2001),

the latter two available at http://www.phylo-

geny.fr/version2_cgi/one_task.cgi?task_type=ph

yml and http://www.phylogeny.fr/version2_cgi/

one_task.cgi?task_type=mrbayes (see Dereeper et

al., 2008). To address the phylogenetic relation-

ships among taxa, many different analytical

methods were used: Maximum Likelihood (ML),

Neighbour Joining (NJ), Maximum Parsimony

(MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI). For Maxi-

mum Likelihood analyses, the most appropriate

model of DNA substitution was selected by Fin-

dmodel (available via http://www.hiv.lanl.gov/

cgi-bin/findmodel/findmodel.cgi), a web imple-

mentation of Modeltest by Posada & Crandall

(1998). Models were as follows:

Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from Southeastern Sicily, Italy

NEU1

NEU3

NEU4

NEU5

NEU2

SYR5 16

SYR2 16

SYR4 16

SYR1 16

SYR3 16

Albinaria

Figure 1 . Neighbour Joining bootstrap consensus tree showing a possible reconstruction of evolutionary relationships of the ana-

lysed taxa based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA partial sequences. Branches corresponding to partitions reproduced in less than

50% bootstrap replicates are collapsed; bootstrap values are reported near the branches. The rate variation among sites was

modeled with a gamma distribution (shape parameter = 0.57). All positions containing gaps and missing data were eliminated

from the dataset (Complete deletion option). Albinaria caerulea has been employed as outgroup to root the trees (legend, NEU

= M. neuteboomi SYR = M. syracusana).

NEU1 COI

NEU2 COI

NEU5 COI

NEU3 COI

NEU4 COI

SYR1 COI

SYR3 COI

SYR2 COI

SYR4 COI

SYR5 COI

Albinaria

Figure 2. Neighbour Joining bootstrap consensus tree showing a possible reconstruction of evolutionary relationships of the ana-

lysed taxa based on mitochondrial COI partial sequences. Branches corresponding to partitions reproduced in less than 50%

bootstrap replicates are collapsed; bootstrap values are reported near the branches. The rate variation among sites was mode-

led with a gamma distribution (shape parameter = 0.15). All positions containing gaps and missing data were eliminated from the

dataset (Complete deletion option). Albinaria caerulea has been employed as outgroup to root the trees (legend, NEU = M. neu-

teboomi SYR = M. syracusana).

M.S. Colomba, A. Gregorini, F. Liberto, A. Reitano, S. Giglio & I. Sparacio

- for 16S rDNA data: K81uf (Unequal-fre-

quency Kimura 3 -parameter) plus gamma distri-

bution, with an alpha parameter of 0.57;

- for COI data: TVM (Transversion Model)

plus gamma distribution, with an alpha parame-

ter of 0.15;

Neighbour Joining trees were constructed

treating gaps as missing data. MP trees were

obtained using the Close-Neighbour-Inter-

change (CNI) algorithm with search level 3 in

which the initial trees were achieved with the

random addition of sequences (10 replicates).

All positions containing gaps and missing data

were eliminated from the dataset (complete

deletion option). Characters were assigned

equal weights. MP trees were collapsed to

obtain a 50% majority rule consensus tree.

Support for the internodes was assessed by

bootstrap percentages (BP) (1,000 resampling

steps for NJ and MP; 100 replicates for ML).

For Bayesian analyses, the number of substitu-

tion types was fixed to 6, with a standard

(4by4) model of nucleotide substitution and a

rate variation across sites fixed to gamma. Four

Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) chains

were run for 100,000 generations, sampling

every 10 generations; from the 10,000 trees

found the first 1,000 were discarded as “burn-

in”. Finally, a 50% majority rule consensus tree

was constructed. All phylogenetic trees were

rooted using homologous nucleotide sequences

of Albinaria caerulea (Deshayes, 1835) (Pul-

monata, Mollusca, Clausiliidae) (GenBank

IDs: DQ665343, NC_001761).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In spite of the algorithm (NJ, MP, ML and BI)

employed, all phylogenetic reconstructions

revealed that the two taxa were clearly separated.

Moreover, evolutionary trees showed highly con-

gruent topologies that agreed on clustering and

branching patterns supported by high bootstrap

values. Since analyses produced almost identical

results not changing any of the interpretation,

only the phylogenetic NJ consensus trees are

displayed as an example. As shown in figures 1

and 2, one cluster comprises only M. syracusana,

whereas the second one includes just M. neute-

boomi specimens. These findings not only con-

firmed data previously reported for 16S rDNA

(Gregorini et al., 2008), but also corroborated the

validity of the two species. In fact, nucleotide

distances (5% for 16S rDNA and 12% for COI

sequences) suggest strong isolation and strong

divergence which may justify considering the

two taxa under investigation as different (phylo-

genetic) species.

From a morphological point of view, M.

neuteboomi differs from M. syracusana for

shell morphology showing more rounded

whorls, more closely spaced ribs (Figs. 3-4)

and the clausilium shorter, narrower and shar-

per (Figs. 5-6), and for relationship between

principalis and upper palatalis plica (Beck-

mann, 1990; Giusti et al., 1995; Reitano et al.,

2009). In particular, M. syracusana has princi-

pal plica very short and fused to upper palatal

plica, while M. neuteboomi has principal plica

independent of upper palatal plica (Figs. 7-10).

According to Beckmann (1990), the relation-

ship between principalis and upper plica repor-

ted for M. neuteboomi might be considered ple-

siomorphic with respect to that observed in M.

syracusana.

Gregorini et al. (2008) also provided a contri-

bute to better define the distribution area of both

species revealing that M. syracusana occurs only

along the entire coast embracing Siracusa province,

whereas M. neuteboomi inhabits a broader area

including Siracusa, Ragusa, Caltanissetta and Cata-

nia provinces, and generally occurs at higher altitu-

des than those reported for M. syracusana. By a

comparison of morphological data, M. neuteboomi

populations, a part from the exception of the topo-

typicous one (employed in this study) show a mar-

ked variability of shell morphology which, at least

in some cases, is very similar to that observed in M.

syracusana (Figs . 11-14).

Hence, combining previously results with all

data described herein, we suggest, that M. syra-

cusana (with limited distribution area and a quite

homogeneous shell morphology) might have ori-

ginated more recently than M. neuteboomi (with

a much wider distribution area and heterogenous

shell morphology).

Anyway, further and more detailed analyses

on other Muticaria populations are still in pro-

gress in order to better define molecular, mor-

phological and ecological features of this highly

interesting group.

Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from Southeastern Sicily, Italy

Figure 3. Muticaria syracusana. Siracusa, Teatro Romano, 19 m, 37°04’28” N, 15°16’45” E, legit A. Reitano (coll. Liberto);

h: 14.5 m; D: 4 mm. - Figure 4. Muticaria neuteboomi. Ragusa, Cava d’lspica, 340 m, 36°51’11” N, 14°50’14” E, legit A. Reitano

(coll. Liberto); h: 11.9 mm; D: 4.3 mm.

M.S. Colomba, A. Gregorini, F. Liberto, A. Reitano, S. Giglio & I. Sparacio

Figure 5. Clausilium of Muticaria syracusana, length 2.46 mm. - Figure 6. Clausilium of Muticaria neuteboomi, length 2.48 mm. -

Figure 7. Parietum of Muticaria syracusana. Legend: CL = columellar lamella; L = lunella; PL = parietal lamella; PLL = parallel

lamella; PP = principal plica; SL = spiral lamella; SP = sutural plica; UPP = upper palatal plica; - Figure 8. Parietum of Mutica-

ria neuteboomi. - Figure 9. Palatum of Muticaria neuteboomi. - Figure 10. Palatum of Muticaria syracusana.

Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from Southeastern Sicily, Italy

Figures 11-14. Variability of the shells and palatum of M. neuteboomi from Siracusa, Sortino, Pantalica, 265 m, 37°08’28” N,

15°01’54”E, legit A. Reitano (coll. Liberto). Figure 11. h:1 1 .5; D: 4.3; Figure 12. h: 13.7; D: 4.3 mm.

M.S. Colomba, A. Gregorini, F. Liberto, A. Reitano, S. Giglio & I. Sparacio

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Biodiversity Journal, 2010, 1(1-4): 15-44

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy) and their

relationship with plant diversity (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

Tommaso La Mantia 1 , Michele Bellavista 2 , Giovanni Giardina 3 & Ignazio Sparacio 4

1 Di parti men to di Colturee arboree, viale delle Scienze, Ed. 4, Ingr. H - 90128 Palermo, Italy, e-mail: tommasolamantia@unipa.it. 2 Via A. De

Gasperi, 90 - 90146 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: m.bellavista@libero.it. 3 Via del Littorio 31, 90030 Ficuzza, Monreale, Italy, e-mail:

giardinagiovanni@libero.it. 4 Via E. Notarbartolo, 54 int. 13 - 90145 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: isparacio@inwind.it

ABSTRACT The woods in Sicily are the result of centuries of anthropogenic activities that have reduced the surface of wood

and changed the original composition even with the introduction of alien species to native flora. The value in

terms of biodiversity of these forests remains, however, high for they are the last refuge areas for many animals

and plant species. This study was conducted within the Ficuzza woods (West Sicily), extended about 5,000

hectares on the slopes of limestone-dolomite rock of Busambra (1615 m asl), within which lies the largest

remaining forest area in western Sicily. It is an area with a wide diversity of vegetation, represented mainly by

native forests (holm oak, cork oak, deciduous oaks), groups of riparian vegetation, shrubs, bushes, grasslands,

and of non-native forest formations ( Pinus and Eucalyptus woods). The study on Cerambycidae in this area is

fragmented and does not specify a relation the species with the surrounding vegetation. This study was

performed by choosing among various groups of insects, xylophagous Coleoptera Cerambycidae; existing

literature data and extensive collected field data were reviewed. The analysis was also performed by the

collection of dead wood in order to distinguish the relationship between the plant species and coleoptera. The

results summarize and supplement the data registered so far, shedding further light on the ecological role of

this group of insects that are also valid biomarkers of the integrity and complexity of the forest.

KEY WORDS saproxylic beetles; red list; conservation status; Mediterranean vegetation.

Received 05.11.2010; accepted 10.12.2010; printed 30.12.2010

INTRODUCTION

Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera Cerambycidae)

are considered an excellent indicator of woodland

biodiversity and, particularly, of the wood

decomposer community (Holland, 2007). Several

scientific studies are demonstrating on a forest

ecosystem the importance of silvicultural

management intensity, stand structures and,

particularly, dead wood to maintain the equilibrium

a forest ecosystem (Muller et ah, 2008). In Italy,

much research is mainly conducted on the

Saproxylic beetle taking into consideration mainly

systematic aspects. The aim of this study was to

contribute to the knowledge of the biodiversity of

the largest forest area in Sicily and to show a

relation of the forest vegetation with the species

richness of Cerambycidae as was performed in

other areas (Lassau et al., 2005; Komonen, 2007;

Sirami et al., 2008; Buse et al., 2010). This type of

information can be useful for planning large-scale

conservation of biodiversity (Holland, 2010).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study site

The study area is located in one of the most

important forested areas of western Sicily (about

5,000 Ha) (Fig. 1). The territory is dominated by

Rocca Busambra, a carbonatic outcrop 15 km

long. Woods and Rocca Busambra are included

in the natural reserves “Bosco della Ficuzza,

Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere and

Gorgo del Drago” (Figs. 2-13). The protected

area, extended about 7,400 ha, is one of the lar-

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

gest natural reserves of Sicily. The bioclimate of

the area has been referred to as thermomediterra-

nean lower subhumid, mesomediterranean (from

lower to upper subhumid ombrotype) and supra-

mediterranean (subhumid and humid ombro-

type) thermotypes (Rivas-Martinez, 2008). The

vegetation of this area is represented by some

cenosis recently studied by Gianguzzi & La

Mantia (2004). With reference to the forestry

species, the Ficuzza woods are characterised

mainly by thermophilous evergreen oaks, Quer-

cus ilex L. and Q. suber L. and deciduous oaks,

downy oak or pubescent oak ( Quercus pube-

scens s.l.) (in the Ficuzza woodss area there are

many species of deciduous oaks: Q. amplifolia

Guss., Quercus congesta C. Presl, Q. dale-

champi Ten., Q. leptobalanos Guss., Q. virgi-

liana (Ten.) Ten. and Q. gussonei (Borzi)

Brullo). Quercus gussonei is an endemic species

and thermophilous form of Quercus cerris L.

that is found in Sicily and is exclusive to the

Nebrodi chain and Ficuzza Reserve. The ever-

green oak forests are formed mainly by the

Holm oak ( Quercus ilex) grown mainly on cal-

careous soils of the northern slope of Rocca

Busambra. Holm oak is associated with different

species of maple {Acer campestre L., A.pseudo-

planatus L.) wild apple {Malus sylvestris Mil-

ler), Pirus amygdaliformis Vill., manna ash or

south european flowering ash ( Fraxinus ornus

L.), common whitebeam ( Sorbus aria), mahaleb

cherry ( Prunus mahaleb) and deciduous oaks

{Quercus pubescens s.l.). Other evergreen oaks

are cork oak {Quercus suber) grown on acid

soils in addition with tree heath {Erica arborea

L.), Cytisus villosus Pouret and some species

Cistus, soft-hairy rockrose {Cistus creticus L.),

and sage-leaved cistus (C. salvifolius L.). The

forests of deciduous oaks are formed mainly by

Quercus pubecens s.l. and Quercus gussonei

respectively on cacareous and acid soils.

Today Quercus gussonei forest stands are

showing clear signs of decay (Sala et al., in

press) .

The vegetation of the streams’ water is for-

med by poplar {Populus nigra L., P. alba L.),

grey elm {Ulmus canescens Melville) and

various willow species Salix pedicellata Desf,

S. alba L.), mixed, usually in dense, compact

clusters. The shrub layer consists mainly of

common fig {Ficus carica L.), common ivy

{Hedera helix L.), common bramble {Rubus

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

View of “Rocca Ramosa” with pasture and oak woods dominated by Quercus pubescens s.l.

Abandoned mountain pastures of “Valle Maria” place with species of mantle vegetation; in the background the Rocca

Busambra.

Mantle vegetation with Rosaceae at the base of Rocca Busambra.

The north side of the Rocca Busambra with oak woods at prevalence of holm oak.

Pastures of the “Piraino” plan on top of the “Valle Cerasa”; in the background “Portella del vento”.

Woods dominated by Quercus pubescens s.l. in late winter with blooming Pyrus pyraster, in the background Rocca

Ramosa.

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

ulmifolius Schott s.l.) and herbaceous species

such as horsetail ( Equisetum sp.), Menta longi-

folia L. and M. acquatica L. or groupings of

Arundo donax L, A. pliniana Turra and common

reed ( Phragmites australis australis (Cav.)

Trin. ex Steud.). The most common shrubs are

Prunus, Pyrus , Cistus, Calicotome. Vegetation

of grasslands is formed by several herbaceous

species of Gramineae, Leguminosae, Umbelli-

ferae (such as giant fennel Ferula communis L.

and wild carrot Daucus carota L.), composite

(Cynara cardunculus L., Onopordon illyricum

L., Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp.).

The plantations well integrated with the sur-

rounding landscape are represented by chestnut

( Castanea sativa Mill.) and narrow-leafed ash

(Fraxinus angustifolia vahl subsp. angustifolia

(= F. oxycarpa Bieb.). In some cases, several

species of pine, cedar and cypress, particularly

Pinus pinea L. or the Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Dehnh are planted to form important woods. The

effects of afforestation or reforestation on biodi-

versity is contro verse (see La Mantia, 2009;

Massa & La Mantia, 2007).

Sampling methods

Cerambycidae were collected during the last

ten years. During the years 2007-2010, research

was intensified through the breeding of larvae,

traps and direct search. The characters of locali-

ties are reported in Table 1 .

Rearing of larvae: branches, portions of

stumps and logs with signs of presence of larvae

were collected. In the laboratory, samples were

placed in special labelled boxes with all the data

on plant species, location and date of collection.

The samples were monitored regularly, for a

period depending on the phenology of the flicker

adults species. This method clearly puts in light

the binding of species of insects with the forest

species.

Traps: air traps in which red wine was added

as a lure (Allemand & Aberlenc, 1991). This

system is based on the principle that Ceramby-

cidae adults are looking for plant extracts and

sugar as a food source which is normally found

in the nectar of various spring- summer flowers.

Traps consisted of PVC bottles filled with 0.5

liters of red wine suspended to tree branches at

a height of 2 meters. This method was utilized

from May to July. This method allowed to cap-

ture species that could not be obtained by alter-

native methods.

Direct search: most of the Coleoptera Ceram-

bycidae have daytime activities. They are com-

monly found in the spring and summer on flowers,

buds and several mature fruits (Lepturini and

Clytini in particular) usually in full sun. Others

remain on the trunks and large branches of trees

(< Cerambyx , Aromia, Phoracantha ) or remain

hidden among the leaves. Many species may wind

up on woodpiles, or fences and poles made of

dead trees ( Morimus ). Almost all Agapanthini are

attached directly on the stem of herbaceous plants

on which they develop in the larval stage. The

Dorcadion, habits radicivore, wander on the

ground as well, Herophila tristis and Morimus

asper. Many other Cerambycidae are crepuscular

and have nocturnal habits, come out of the galle-

ries and remain on the larval host plant in search

of the female to mate before and after oviposi-

tion. They can move quickly on branches or fly

from plant to plant. As a result of this diverse

biological activity, the discovery and collection

of adults is directly exposed by the inspection of

flowers, shrubs and various plants frequented by

these species. Nets were used to gather the

Cerambycidae associated with herbaceous plants

and an entomological umbrellawas used to beat

the bushes and trees. Crepuscular and nocturnal

species were found using special torches at dusk or

by using light traps that attract the Cerambycidae

during night flights.

Other data

The data collected in the field were integrated

with those obtained from literature and from

public and private collections. The data of the

Natural History Collections can provide informa-

tion in analyzing the population trends of Ceram-

bycidae (Jeppsson et al., 2010). Some prelimi-

nary results were published in Bellavista et al.

(2008) and Bellavista (2010).

Data Sheets

For the general systematic application we fol-

lowed the one proposed by Bense (1995) and

Sama (2002, 2005), recently by Rapuzzi & Sama

(2006, 2010) and other specified in the following

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Name of localities

Characters of vegetation

Gorgoletti

Quercus gussonei woods. Mainly Q. gussonei woods but also ash. Located north-east

in the town of Ficuzza.

Scanzano lake (included Diga

Scanzano: Scanzano dike)

Artificial lake adjacent to Ficuzza woods whose banks have been reforested with

Eucalyptus camaldulensis ; there are pastures, and along the Eleuterio river there is a

dense riparian vegetation dominated with various species of Salix and Ulmus

canescens.

Girati

Ash wood between the town of Ficuzza and Rocca Busambra. The woods is a result

of reforestation activities started beginning of the 1940s.

Vanchi di Car done

Eucalyptus woods, adjacent to the road to Godrano town.

Gorgo del Drago

Pinus pinea woods. Woods mainly with P. pinea but also Populus nigra and ash;

between the towns of Ficuzza and Godrano.

Piano Rinelli

Cork oak woods to the north north-east of Ficuzza town.

Castagnera

Chestnut woods to the east north-east of Ficuzza town.

Ac qua troia

Holm and pubescent oak woods. Woods located at the foot of Rocca Busambra, south

of Ficuzza town.

Fanuso woods

Pubescent oak woods in the south south-east of Ficuzza town.

Ficuzza surroundings (near

town)

This area includes agricultural land; abandoned or cultivated, woody plants present

are common fig ( Ficus carica) and walnut ( Jug Ians regia L, eg.).

Contrada (district) Giardinello

and Pizzo di Casa

Open area with pasture and shrubs. To the south of Ficuzza town, near the town of

Mezzojuso.

Val dei Conti and Bosco del

Cappelliere

Mixed woods of Quercus pubescens, Q. suber, Fraxinus sp., Pinus pinea, and

Castanea sativa. The woods begin near Scanzano lake, west north-west of Ficuzza

town.

Valle Maria and Valle Agnese

Mixed woods of Fraxinus, Castanea sativa and Quercus, grasssland, shrubbery of

Crataegus sp., Rosa canina L., Prunus sp.. Around a small artificial lake, there is

riparian vegetation with Salix and Populus ; east of Ficuzza town, east.

Alpe Ramosa (Ramusa)

Prevailing holm oak wood, near Rocca Busambra, south-west of Ficuzza town.

Bifarera

Slopes of Rocca Ramosa, mixed woods of Q. ilex, Q. pubescens s. 1. , A. campestre.

Portella del Vento

and Pizzo di case

Pastures and small groups of Quercus ilex at a watershed between Ficuzza e Prizzi

towns.

Portella cerasa

Watershed between the towns of Ficuzza, Mezzojuso and Prizzi.

Alpe Cucco

Holm oak woods at the foot of Rocca Busambra.

Antica ferrovia (former railway)

Mixed woods of Fraxinus ornus and Q. ilex at the entrance of Ficuzza town.

Vecchia strada ferrata (old

railroad line)

Mixed woods of Fraxinus ornus and Q. pubescens s.l. along old railroad line which

crosses Ficuzza woods.

Piano Tramontana (Slopes of

Rocca Busambra)

Holm oak woods on rock, and pastures with Rosaceae.

Scalilli

Lecceta on rock, shrubs, and agricultural areas; locality along the road for Corleone

town.

Marraccia

Agricultural areas near the Scalilli locality.

Catagnano

River between Ficuzza and Tagliavia with riparian vegetation.

Rocca Busambra

Limestone-dolomite rock dominating Ficuzza woods.

Road for Corleone

Road along Ficuzza woods that leads to the town of Corleone (18 km).

Bivio (crossroads) Godrano (or

Bivio Lupo)

Beginning of the road for Godrano; mixed woods at Fraxinus angustifolia, Quercus

sp. and Q. suber.

Road for Godrano (Godrano

road)

Road that crosses Ficuzza woods. Trees that border road are Quercus, Fraxinus, and

Eucalyptus.

Godrano

Small town adjacent to Ficuzza woods.

Santuario (Sanctuary) of

Tagliavia

Located at 5-6 km from Ficuzza with small woods of Fraxinus angustifolia, Acer

campestre and Quercus pubescens s.l., Ulmus minor.

Pi ana degli A 1 bane si

Small town 21 km from Ficuzza with forest vegetation similar to that of the territory

of Ficuzza.

Marineo

Small town 12 km from Ficuzza.

Table 1. List of main localities inside the woods of or near Ficuzza, cited in the text,

and where the Cerambycidae was collected.

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Fig. 12

Fig. 13

Figure 8. Reforestation with Fraxinus angustifolia at “Valle Cerasa”; in the background cork oak woods on arenaceous rock.

Figure 9. An artificial lake at the “Alpe Cucco” surrounded mantle and riparian vegetation.

Figure 10. The Ficuzza Valley, with the Scanzano lake in the background.

Figure 11 . The “Portella Castagnera” with a prevalence of cork oak.

Figure 12. Reforestation with Pinus pinea at “Gorgo del Drago”.

Figure 13. Reforestation with Eucalyptus camaldulensis at “Vanchi di cardone”.

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

text. Chorologic categories are those proposed by

La Greca (1962), revised by Vigna Taglianti et al.

(1993, 1999) and Parenzan (1994). Many aspects

of biology and distribution in Italy have been

taken from Sama (2002). The data on the ecology

and phenology of different species are derived

from research cited in the text extended by direct

observations. The material studied, if not other-

wise indicated, was collected by the owner of the

collection. Finally, additional remarks were

added to emphasize particular biological or taxo-

nomic and geonemic data.

Abbreviation: collection: R.Alliata, Palermo

(CRA) and T. De Stefani, Palermo (CDS), at the

Museum of Natural History in Terrasini,

Palermo; M. Bellavista, Palermo (CB); V.

Aliquo, Palermo (CVA); F. Angelini, Francavilla

Fontana, Brindisi (CFA); M. Romano, Capaci

(CR); I. Sparacio, Palermo (CS); F. Vitale,

University of Messina (CV).

Geographical terms: Continental Italy:

includes the Alps and Pianura Padana; Northern

Italy: includes the regions of Piedmont, Valle

d’Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige,

Veneto, Emilia-Romagna; Central Italy: includes

the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and

Lazio; Peninsular Italy: excludes the mainland and

islands; Southern Italy: includes the regions of

Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and

Calabria; Italy Islands: Sicily and Sardinia.

RESULTS

List of species

Family CERAMBYCIDAE

Subfamily Prioninae

Prinobius myardi (Mulsant, 1842)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Mediter-

ranean; central southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Polyphagous on

broadleaves, in particular, Quercus, Fraxinus and

fruit trees. Adult nocturnal from June to September.

Materials. Bosco del Cappelliere, 20.VI.2009

(CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species widespread in Sicily but rare elsewhere

probably due to its nocturnal activities. Data

reported is related to the remains found in an old

trunk of Quercus suber.

Aegosoma scabricorne (Scopoli, 1763)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Polyphagous, larval

stage on broadleaves ( Quercus , Fagus, Juglans,

Ulmus, Hedera, Celtis, Populus, Acer, Prunus,

Alnus, Tilia, Aesculus, Platanus, Tilia). Adult

nocturnal, can be found on the same host plants

from June to August.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Bosco del Cappelliere, 25 .X. 1981,

in holes on the trunk of Populus sp. (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species quite present in Sicily but is considered

uncommon in this area.

Prionus coriarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; continental Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Preimaginal stages,

particularly on broadleaves ( Quercus , Fagus,

Ulmus, Castanea, Carpinus, Alnus, Salix, Betula ),

rarely on conifers {Abies, Pinus ). Adult crepusco-

lar and nocturnal were found in old stumps, on

ground, in flight, and when lured by lights.

References. Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann,

1982; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 6.VII.1988, 25.VII.1982

(CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Uncommon in the area, the specimens were col-

lected during nocturnal hours with the aid of arti-

ficial lighting.

Subfamily Lepturinae

Dinoptera collaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Asian-European;

peninsular Italy, Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae subcortical on

many broadleaves {Populus, Castanea, Quercus,

Robinia) . Adult on flowers from May to August.

References. Ramusa (Luigioni & Tirelli,

1912); Ficuzza woods (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza

(Vitale, 1936).

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Remarks and other biological aspects. Spe-

cies not found during research but often referen-

ced in literature for Ficuzza.

Grammoptera ustulata (Schaller, 1783)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; for the most part of peninsular Italy, and

Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on various

broadleaves trees, mainly Quercus and Castanea.

Adult on flowers from April to June.

References. Ramusa (Luigioni & Tirelli,

1912); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama, 1988,

2005) ; Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Scanzano lake, ex Quercus ,

22.III.1981/8-9.IV.1981 (CS); Ficuzza: Bivio

Lupo, ex Quercus , 6 .III. 1983/1 1.IV.1983 (CS);

Ficuzza woods, ex Quercus , 24 .III. 1984/19-

20.IV.1984 (CS); Alpe Cucco, 20.VI.2009

(CB/CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon, breeds on dead wood of Quercus pubes cens

s.l. found in the adult stage on flowers; also

attracted by sugary substances.

Grammoptera viridipennis (Pic, 1893)

Chorotype and distribution. Endemic; Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on dead

branches of broadleaves: Quercus , Castanea

sativa, Acer, Pyrus piraster (Sama & Schur-

mann, 1982); Prunus (Sama, 1988). Adult on

flowers and trees.

References. Ficuzza woods (Rapuzzi &

Sama, 2006; Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista,

2010 ).

Materials. Ficuzza, 15.IV.1981 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species living in the woods of Northern Sicily

(Baviera & Sparacio, 2002; Rapuzzi & Sama,

2006) , uncommon in the Ficuzza woods.

Grammoptera ruficornis flavipes (Pic, 1892)

Chorotype and distribution. G. ruficornis rufi-

cornis (Fabricius, 1781) Turano-European

(throughout Italy, excluding Sardinia); ssp.

obscuricornis Kraatz, 1886 only Azerbijan; ssp.

flavipes endemic of Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on broadleaves trees and shrubs. Adult on

flowers.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936 sub G. ruficornis flavipes)’, Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 14.VI.2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Uncommon in the Ficuzza woods; adult col-

lected on flowers.

Neopicella sicula (Ganglbauer, 1885)

Chorotype and distribution. Endemic; Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae lives on dead

parts of plants living as Fagus sylvatica and

Quercus (Sama & Schurmann, 1982) Acer

campestre, A. pseudoplanatus (Sama, 1988).

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005; Rapuzzi & Sama, 2006); Ficuzza woods

(Sparacio, 1999; Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavi-

sta, 2010).

Reperti: Alpe Cucco, 2.VI .2009-20 .VI .2009

(CS); Alpe Cucco, 20.VII.2009 (CB); Bivio

Lupo, 20.VII.2009 (CS); Bosco Fanuso,

25.VI.2010 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Found

on trees but rarely on flowers; also attracted by

sweet foods, often in the territory of Ficuzza

woods.

Stictoleptura cordigera cordigera (Fuesslins, 1775)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae develops on a

variety of broadleaves trees ( Quercus , Pistacia,

Castanea ), also reported on Pinus in Israele

(Bytinski-Salz, 1956). Adult on flowers from

May to August.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924 sub ab.

immaculata; Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama,

1988, 2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 12. VI. 1928 (CRA); Ficuzza

woods, 7 .VII. 1959, 1. VII. 1960, 21.VI.1962,

21.VI.1964, 19.VII.1964, 18.VI.1978 (CVA);

Ficuzza, 20.VII.1958 (CVA); Ficuzza, 27.VII.1972,

6.VI.1975, 13.VII.1988 (CR); Scanzano lake,

8 .VII .200 8 (CS); Valle Agnese, 20.VI.2010.

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon throughout Sicily; found in the adult stage,

during the spring and summer, on flowers of

Umbelliferae, Composite and wild artichokes

(Fig. 14).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Pachytodes erraticus (Dalman, 1817)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy, excluding Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Biology pre-imagi-

nal little known; larvae in soil. The adult is

often related to the forests of Castanea sativa

(Sama, 1988; 2002). Adult on flowers from

May to July.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza VII. 1929 (CRA); Fanuso,

20.VI.1981, 14.VI.1981 (CR); Val dei Conti,

19.VI.1981 (CS); Valle Maria, 1.VII.1992 (CS);

Scanzano lake, 16.VIII.2009 (CB); Alpe Cucco,

16.VIII.2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Ficuzza, the adult stage from June to July

on a variety of blooms, in particular, Umbellife-

rae and Rubus (Fig. 15).

Alo sterna tabacicolor tabacicolor (DeGeer, 1775)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; nearly all of mainland Italy, but less fre-

quent in the southern regions and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Farvae on various

broadleaves trees ( Quercus , Corylus, Acer,

Betula, Carpinus ) and conifers ( Picea ). Found in

the adult stage on flowers from May- June; also

attracted by sugary substances.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924).

Materials. Ficuzza, 12. VI. 1928 (CRA).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Reported in Sicily from Ragusa (1924), excluded

by Sama & Schurmann (1982) and Sama (1988,

1994, 2005), not reported by Biscaccianti

(2002a), confirmed by Rapuzzi & Sama (2006).

Species constantly present in Sicily as

demonstrated by the findings on the Alliata col-

lection.

Pseudovadonia livida (Fabricius, 1776)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy, excluding Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Farvae in the soil,

simbiotic with saprophytic fungi of the genus

Marasmius which eats hyphae and mycelia

(Burakowski, 1979); also reported on Salix alba

(Kovacs & Hegyessy, 1995). Adult on flowers

from May to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 12. VI. 1928 (CRA); Valle

Maria, 29.V.1981 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Adult

is common in the Ficuzza woods, appears from

May to June and is found mainly on flowers of

Achillea.

Rutpela maculata nigricornis (Rapuzzi & Sama, 2006)

Chorotype and distribution. Rutpela maculata

(Poda, 1761) s.l. Turano-European and through-

out Italy; ssp. nigricornis Sicily and Calabria

(Aspromonte).

Biology and host plants. Farvae polyphagous

on broadleaves trees (Salix, Quercus, Alnus, Popu-

lus, Crataegus, Corylus, Betula, Enonymus,

Sarothamnus) , rarely on conifers (Pinus, Picea and

Abies alba). Adult on flowers from May to August.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Rapuzzi & Sama, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, VII .2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Ragusa

(1924) claims as “ very common ” on the Ficuzza

woods, nowadays, it appears less frequently;

adult is found in the summer months on the flow-

ers of Umbelliferae and Rubus.

Stenurella bifasciata bifasciata (Muller, 1776)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; ssp. limbiventris (Reitter, 1898) North-

Eastern Turkey, ssp. nigrosuturalis (Reitter,

1895) southeastern Turkey; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Farvae reported on

Pinus (Muller, 1949-1953), Spartium junceum

and Ficus carica (Sama, 1988), Ulmus (Svacha

& Danilevsky, 1989), Quercus robur (Kovacs &

Hegyessy, 1995), Rosa canina (Sama, 2002).

Adult on flowers from May to August.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza

woods (Sama, 2005; Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 7. VII. 1959,

29.VI.1960, 2 .VII. 1960 19.VII.1964 (CVA);

Alpe Cucco 24 .VIII. 1969 (CR); Godrano road,

23.VII.1972 (CR); Scanzano lake, VII. 2009

(CB);

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Remarks and other biological aspects. Very

common in Sicily and in Ficuzza; adult active in

the spring and summer; found on flowers, in par-

ticular, bramble (Fig. 16).

Subfamily Aseminae

Arhopalus rusticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Oloartic; conti-

nental Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

conifers Larix, Abies, and particularly, Pinus.

Adult nocturnal from June to September;

attracted also by artificial lights.

References. Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista,

2010 .

Materials. Ficuzza surroundings attracted by

light, 15.VIII.1982 (CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects. In Sicily,

larvae and adult are found mainly on Pinus.

Arhopalus fer us (Mulsant, 1839)

Chorotype and distribution. Palearctic;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

conifers, especially Pinus and Picea. Adult noc-

turnal from June to September, also attracted by

lights.

References. Ficuzza (Bivio Godrano) (Sama,

1988 sub tristis; Sama, 2005).

Materials. Ficuzza, 3. VII. 1983 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Species

common in Sicily which grows mainly on various

species of Pinus used for reforestation.

Subfamily Cerambycinae

Phoracantha semipunctata (Fabricius, 1775)

Chorotype and distribution. Species native to

Australia, now cosmopolite (where Eucalyptus is

planted).

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

many species of Eucalyptus.

References. Ficuzza woods (Sparacio, 1992;

Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 25 .VII. 1982 (CR);

Ficuzza woods, 7.VII.1988 (CVA); Bivio Lupo,

VII. 200 8 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. First

reported in Sardinia, Italy (Tassi, 1969) and

Sicily (Romano & Carapezza, 1975). Common

in Eucalyptus plantations in Sicily and in Ficuzza

around 1980-1990, in recent years, gradually

decreased due to the presence of P. recurva.

Phoracantha recurva (Newman, 1840)

Chorotype and distribution. Species native to

Australia, cosmopolite (where Eucalyptus is

planted).

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

many species of Eucalyptus.

References. Ficuzza woods (Romano, 2007;

Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Findings: Godrano road, 22 .XII .2006 (CR);

Bivio Lupo, 16.VI.2008 (CS) and 3.VIII.2009

(CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. First

reported in Sardinia, Italy (Cillo et al., 2006) and

Sicily (Mazzeo & Siscaro, 2007). P. recurva is

fast wide- spreading in Eucalyptus plantations in

Sicily (Romano, 2007) which tends to substitute

P. semipunctata. Very common during the sum-

mers of 2008 and 2009 in the host plant ( E .

camaldulensis) of the Ficuzza woods (Fig. 17).

Hesperophanes sericeus (Fabricius, 1787)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

Liguria, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, F. Venezia

Giulia, central and southern regions, Sicily and

Sardinia (Sama, 1988).

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous,

in dead wood of broadleaves: Ficus , Pistacia ,

Vitis, Quercus, Platanus, Ceratonia, Paliurus,

Prunus\ in Egypt on the Halocnenum strobi-

laceum (Andres, 1910; Alfieri, 1976).

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 1. VII. 1992, in a wood-

shed (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. It is

almost always found in the twilight hours and at

night, strayed on fields, on host plants or attracted

by artificial lights. Scarcely found in Ficuzza.

Trichoferus holosericeus (Rossi, 1790)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Farvae polyphagous

on broadleaves, and even on dead cut wood: Quer-

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Fig. 14

Fig. 15

Fig. 16

Fig. 17

Figure 14. Stictoleptura cordigera cordigera, Valle Agnese, 20. VI. 2010.

Figure 15. Pachytodes erraticus, Vallone Rocca d’Elice (beginnins at Alpe Cucco), 18. VI. 2010 (photo C. Muscarella).

Figure 16. Stenurella bifasciata bifasciata, Gorgo del Drago, 18. VI. 2010 (photo C. Muscarella).

Figure 17. Phoracantha recurva, Bivio Lupo, 3. VIII. 2009.

cus , Pistacia, Ficus carica, Populus, Prunus ,

Juglans, Ostrya carpinifolia, Ulmus, Robinia

pseudoacacia. It is one of the most important

Cerambycidae exploiters of broadleaves woods

in the Mediterranean area (Crivellaro, 2005).

Adult found during twilight and night hours, on

same host plants; attracted by artificial lights.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924 sub cine-

reus)\ Ficuzza (Bivio Godrano) (Sama, 2005);

Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavi-

sta, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza surroundings, 20 .VI .2009

(CB/CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Many

specimens found in holm oaks woods, attracted

by sweet substances.

Trichoferus griseus (Fabricius, 1792)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean,

extending to Macaronesia; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Linked to Ficus carica.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza town, attracted by light,

2 .VII .200 8 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Usu-

ally on host plant, Ficus carica, widespread in

Sicily, scarcely in the Ficuzza woods.

Trichoferus fasciculatus (Faldermann, 1837)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Mediter-

ranean, extending to Macaronesia; pratically all

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

of Italy, particularly in central and southern

regions, Sicily and Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on broadleaves, but also reported on Pinus, Taxus

baccata, Cupressus and Cedrus.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, ex Ulmus, 24.III.1984/

18.VII.1984 (CS); Scanzano lake, 27.VIII.2009

(CB); Valle Maria, ex Ficus carica, 8.111.2009/

4. VII .2009 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily and Ficuzza.

Stromatium unicolor (Olivier, 1795)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean,

subcosmopolitan with imported timber; prati-

cally all of Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in numerous

broadleaves; also attacks cut and timber wood.

Adult found during twilight and night hours,

living on host plants from June to August; attrac-

ted by artificial lights.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 1. VII. 1992, in a wood-

shed (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species widespread in Sicily but scarce.

Reported only one finding in the Ficuzza woods.

Cerambyx cerdo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Quercus

but also reported on other broadleaves Fraxinus,

Castanea, Ulmus. Adult in summer months on

host plants, attracted by sugary substances.

References. Santuario di Tagliavia (Pincitore

Marott, 1873 sub Hammoticherus heros)',

Ficuzza (Baviera & Sparacio, 2004); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista,

2010 ).

Materials. Ficuzza, 15-16.V.(1)911, L.T., 1

ex. v. pfisteri Stierl. (CV); Valle Agnese,

4 .VII .20 10 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species uncommon in Ficuzza. Adult appears in

summer, daytime and twilight activities on oaks.

Cerambyx miles (Bonelli, 1823)

Chorotype and distribution. South European;

almost all of mainland Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae preferably on

Quercus, but also on Prunus, Crataegus, Carpi-

nus, Vitis vinifera.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods (Bivio Lupo)

26 .IV. 1966 (CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Bio-

logy similar to previous species, but less frequent

in Sicily and Ficuzza.

Cerambyx welensii (Kuster, 1 846)

Chorotype and distribution. Turanic-South

European; throughout Italy except Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae usually found

on Quercus ilex. Adult found during twilight and

night hours from May to August.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

200 8 ; B ellavista ,2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 1. VII. 1992 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Cre-

puscular and nocturnal, uncommon in the

Ficuzza woods. In Spain, C. welensii is stricktly

linked to Q. suber (Lopez-Pantoja et al., 2008).

Cerambyx scopolii scopolii (Fuesslins, 1775)

Chorotype and distribution. C. scopolii scopolii

Turano-European, throughout Italy; ssp. siculus

(Rapuzzi & Sama, 2010) recently described in

Sicily (Nebrodi and Madonie mountains).

Biology and host plants. Larval development

on broadleaves as Quercus, Castanea, Pirus,

Prunus, Carpinus, Ostrya, Juglans, Fagus. Adult

on trees and flowers from May to August.

References. Santuario di Tagliavia (Pincitore

Marott, 1873 sub Hammoticherus cerdo)',

Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama,

1988); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008,

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 25.V.1928 (CRA); Alpe

Cucco, 20.V.2010 (CB); Valle Agnese, 20.VI.

2010, 4.VII.2010, 13.VII.2010 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Speci-

mens collected in the Ficuzza woods and the

specimens observed in the surroundings of

Palermo (Monreale, Valle del Fiume Oreto) are

attributable to the nominal subspecies (Fig. 18).

They do not exhibit the distinctive characters of

ssp. siculus recently described (Rapuzzi & Sama,

2010) such as the major dorsal pubescence,

shorter antennae, and shorter and swollen 3rd

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

and 4th antennal that we ourselves had observed

in exemplary specimens from the Madonie

mountains (Piano Battaglia).

We had collected C. scopolii scopolii in the

Ficuzza woods territory during the daytime from

May to July, on plants and flowers, attracted by

sugary substances.

Purpuricenus kaehleri (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy, Sardinia (?).

Biology and host plants. Larval development

on broadleaves, in particular, Quercus, Prunus,

Castanea , Juglans , Crataegus , Robinia. Adult on

trees and flowers.

References. Piana degli Albanesi, (Sama &

Schurmann, 1982; Sama, 1988); Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Piana degli Albanesi: 26. VI. 1970,

28.VI.1971 (CVA); 14.VI.1981 (CS); Ficuzza,

20.VI.2010 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in the forests of Nebrodi and Madonie,

uncommon in Ficuzza but exceptional findings

in the nearby territory of Piana degli Albanesi

was reported. Adult is found during the summer

months mostly on flowering thistles and wild

artichokes or chestnut inflorescences.

Penichroa fasciata (Stephens, 1831)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Mediter-

ranean; introduced in North America. Central

and Southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, sporadic in

Northern Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larval development

in dead wood and various broadleaves, particu-

larly Ceratonia and Pistacia in southern and insu-

lar Italy (Sama, 1988); reported on Pinus halepen-

sis (Peyerimhoff, 1919; Sama, 1988) and Thuya

(Sama, 2002). Adult found at night on host plants

from May to July or attracted by artificial lights.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Godrano road, 20.VI.2010 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily, at low and medium altitudes, adult

found in summer twilight and night.

Gracilia minuta (Fabricius, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. W-Mediterraneo;

sub-cosmopolitan due to the passive importing

through timber; throughout Italy, sporadic in the

Northern regions.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on broadleaves, including shrubs. In Italy, it

seems to prefer Castanea , Salix, Quercus (Sama,

1988); also reported on conifers as Cedrus and

Pinus. Adult found during twilight and night

hours, usually stationary on the same plants.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza

woods (Sama, 2005; Bellavista et al., 2008; Bel-

lavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, ex Rubus sp.,

7.IV/8.V.1984 (CS), ex Rosa canina, 6.III/15.

VI. 1985 (CS); Valle Agnese, ex Castanea sativa,

7 .III .20 1 0/5 -6 .VI .20 1 0 (CB/CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. In

Ficuzza woods, larvae are common in the dead

wood of Rubus and Rosa canina from which was

reared in many specimens.

Nathrius brevipennis (Mulsant, 1839)

Chorotype and distribution. West-Mediter-

ranean; sub-cosmopolitan, to passive introduction:

Central Europe, China, North and South America

(see Sama, 1988, 2002); throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on broadleaves, in particular, Salix, Castanea,

Quercus ilex, Pistacia, Ceratonia ; occasionally

on conifers: Cupressus (Picard, 1929), Pinus

halepensis (Peyerimhoff, 1919), Picea excelsa

(Brasavola de Massa, 1935; Sturani, 1981);

Cedrus (Sama, 2002). Adult found at night hours,

on the same host plants from June to August.

References. Ficuzza (De Stefani Perez & Rig-

gio, 1882; Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza woods (Bella-

vista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Godrano, attracted by light,

VII . 200 8 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily at low and medium altitudes, it

mainly spreads on holm oak ( Quercus ilex ) and

carob ( Ceratonia siliqua ).

Brachypteroma ottomanum Heyden, 1863

Chorotype and distribution. Eastern Mediter-

ranean; nearly all of Continental Italy, Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Reared larvae in

Greece from Hedera helix (Sama, 1988).

References. Ramusa (Luigioni & Tirelli,

1912); Ficuzza, Ragusa (1924), quoted: “On

May 15, 1871, many specimens were taken ” ;

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama,

1988); Rocca Busambra (Sama, 2005); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 6. VI. 1991 (CFA).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily but localized; present in the adult

stage in the spring season on flowers of Cratae-

gus, often in several concentrations.

Stenopterus rufus rufus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in dead wood

of various broadleaves: Quercus, Castanea,

Robinia, Juglans, Prunus , Salix. Adult found on

flowers from May to July.

References. Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann,

1982; Sama, 1988); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 24.V.1981 (CS);

Ficuzza, 29 .V. 1981 (CB); Valle Maria ex Rosa

canina, 8.III/17.V.2009; Valle Agnese, 20 .VI .20 10

(CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily in the summer months on various

flowers, especially composite and Umbelliferae

(Fig. 19).

Stenopterus ater (Linnaeus, 1767)

Chorotype and distribution. West-Mediter-

ranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in dead wood

of many species of broadleaves as Pistacia,

Ceratonia, Ficus carica, Ulmus, Genista ; in

North Africa on Acacia tortilis (Sama, 1988).

Adult found on flowers from May to July.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, ex Ficus carica, 22 .III.

1981-31.V.1981 (CB); Diga Scanzano,

4.VI.1991 (CS); Valle Agnese, 20.VI.2010 (CB,

CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Bio-

logy similar to Stenopterus rufus rufus which is

often found in the same locations.

Callimus angulatus angulatus (Schrank, 1789)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy except

Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larval development

in dead wood of Quercus, Ostrya, Fagus,

Crataegus, Castanea, Fraxinus. Adult found on

flower from May to June.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Rocca Busambra, 2. VI .2009 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Biology similar to previous species which often

coexists.

Callimus abdominalis (Olivier, 1795)

Chorotype and distribution. South-European;

Central and Southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae development

in the dead wood of various broadleaves as

Quercus ilex, Acer, Rosa, Ostrya, Pistacia, Tilia,

Cercis, Prunus. Adult is found on different host

plants or inflorescence from May to July.

References. Ficuzza, Ragusa (1924) quoted:

“ taken by me by beating hawthorns and Umbel-

lifer ae’ ”; Vitale (1936); Ficuzza woods (Bellav-

ista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 13.IV.1987, on

Rosa canina (CS); Bosco Fanuso, on Rosa

canina, 25 .VI .20 10 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Dis-

covered on the Madonie mountains in Sicily

(Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama, 1988, Sama,

2005). Relatively common on the flowers of

Rosa canina in the Ficuzza woods (Fig. 20).

Certallum ebulinum (Linnaeus, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Mediter-

ranean; Central and Southern Italy, Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larval development in

the stem of the Lamiaceae and Cruciferae ( Sisym-

brium , Erysinum, Psy chine, Raphanus). Adult

lives on the same host plants from March to May.

References. Ficuzza woods and Bifarera (Pin-

citore Marott, 1873); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924);

Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavi-

sta, 2010).

Materials. Portella del Vento, 10. VI. 1981 (CR);

Contrada Giardinello, 8. V. 1986, Alpe Cucco,

27 .V. 1995 and Portella Cerasa, 10.V.1997 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily, at low and medium altitudes; adult

in spring season lives in meadows where there

are host plants on which it develops at the larval

stage.

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Deilus fugax (Olivier, 1790)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Mediter-

ranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on various

species of Fabaceae (Papiloniaceae): Caly co-

tome, Spartium junceum, Cytisus, Sarothamnus,

Genista. Adult lives on the same plants or flo-

wers from April to June .

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 12. VI. 1928 (CRA); Val dei

Conti, 15. VI. 1974 (CR); Ficuzza woods,

18.IV.1984, ex Spartium junceum (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Reared

on dead wood of Spartium junceum or collected

at the adult stage on the same plant or in flowers

of Umbelliferae in spring season.

Aromia moschata ambrosiaca (Stevens, 1809)

Chorotype and distribution. Central Asian-

Mediterranean; reported in the southern regions

of Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Pre-imaginal stages

on various species of Salix. Adult on flowers and

trees; attracted by sugary substances.

References. Catagnano (Pincitore Marott,

1873 sub A. rosarum ).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

A. moschata ambrosiaca , “ very common on wil-

lows on the entire Island (Sicily)” quoted by

Ragusa (1924), but today in strong rarefaction.

We are informed of some captures of A.

moschata ambrosiaca near Ficuzza.

Hylotrupes bajulus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Palearctic; cosmo-

politan due to passive importing; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adults on

dead wood of conifers ( Pinus , Abies, Picea...),

also on cut and timber wood.

References. Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann,

1982; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Val dei Conti 3. VII. 1983 (CS);

Ficuzza, along “Vecchia strada ferrata” (old rail-

road line), 23. VI. 1996 (CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species related to the conifers, also present in

urban environments in cut and timber wood.

Phymatodes testaceus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Paleartic;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adults on

various broadleaves, in particular, Quercus.

References. Ficuzza (Vitale, 1936); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Fanuso, 27.V.1973; Ficuzza

woods, 26.VI.1982 (CR); Bivio Lupo, 16.VI.

2008 (CS); Scanzano lake, 8.VII.2008 (CB, CS);

Ficuzza, Antica ferrovia (former railway),

20.VII.2009 (CS); Bosco Fanuso, 25.VI.2010

(CB); Alpe Cucco, 27.VI.2010 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Fre-

quent throughout the researched area but a diffi-

cult find due to it being an arboreal species.

Commonly found in sugar-baited traps.

Poecilium lividum (Rossi, 1794)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in dead wood

of various broadleaves, in particular, Quercus

ilex and Castanea sativa. Adult on host plants

grown from April to June.

References. Bifarera (Pincitore Marott, 1873

sub Callidium melancholicum) .

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species founded in Ficuzza woods (Pincitore

Marott, 1873) taken from Bellavista et al (2008).

In Sicily, P. lividum discovered in Castelbuono

(Ragusa, 1924), Messina (Vitale, 1936) and in

some locations on the Madonie and Nebrodi

mountains (Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama,

1988).

Poecilium alni (Linnaeus, 1767)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy but seemingly not present

in Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae attacks the

weakened or recently cut small branches of

broadleaves, in particular, Quercus but also Cas-

tanea, Alnus, Acer, Ulmus, Corylus. Adult found

on host plants from April to June.

References. Ficuzza (Sama, 2005); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Valle Agnese, 7. Ill .20 10/8 .VI.

2010, ex Castanea sativa (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. In Sicily

grows mainly on Quercus and Castanea sativa.

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Xylotrechus antilope (Schonherr, 1817)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-European;

in Italy, species is discontinuous; indicated in

particular in the central and northern regions.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on

broadleaves, Castanea sativa and, in particular,

Quercus. Adult found on host plants, rarely on

flowers, from June to July.

Materials. Alpe Cucco, 20 .VI .2009 (CB, CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Recently documented on the Nebrodi and

Madonie mountains in Sicily (Sama, 1999;

Rapuzzi & Sama, 2006).

Xylotrechus arvicola (Olivier, 1795)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae growth on dead

wood of many broadleaves as Acer , Carpinus,

Corylus , Ulmus , Quercus, Ostrya, Fagus, Prunus,

Sorhus, Crataegus. Adult is stationary on the same

plant, often on flowers, from May to August.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 6. VIII. 195 8 (CVA); Bivio

Lupo, ex Quercus sp., 25 . 11/28. V. 1992 (CS);

Scanzano lake, 8. VII .2008 (CS); Ficuzza, ex

Fraxinus angustifolia, 14. VI .2009 (CB); Alpe

Cucco, 20 .VI .2009 (CB, CS); Ficuzza surroun-

dings, VII .2009 (CB);

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Ficuzza, where it bred on dead wood of

Quercus and Fraxinus angustifolia.

Clytus clavicornis (Reiche, 1860)

Chorotype and distribution. Endemic of Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Castanea

sativa and Acer. Adult on trees, rarely on flo-

wers, from May to July.

References. Ficuzza (Tassi, 1966; Sama &

Schurmann, 1982; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods

(Sparacio, 1999; Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista,

2010 ).

Materials. Scanzano dike, 4.VI.1991 (CS);

Alpe Cucco, 20.VI.2010 (CB, CS); Bosco

Fanuso, 20 .VI .20 10 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Uncom-

mon in Ficuzza, but common in the rest of Sicily

and at low altitudes. Adult was collected on flo-

wers of Umbelliferae or attracted by sweet foods.

Clytus rhamni rhamni (Germar, 1817)

Chorotype and distribution. Clytus rhamni s.l.

has choro types Turano-European; widely distri-

buted in Europe, Asia minor, Middle East;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on various

deciduous trees and shrubs: Prunus, Robinia,

Castanea sativa, Quercus, Paliurus, Ulmus,

Styrax officinalis, Cistus, Coronilla emerus,

Pistacia lentiscus. Adult on flower.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1874; 1924;

Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 6. VI. 1975 (CR); Ficuzza

woods, 29.V.1981, 20.VI.2010 (CS); Ficuzza

woods, 29 .V.1981 (CB);

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon everywhere, in meadows, glades of woods,

along paths, in spring and summer, on flowers, in

particular, Umbelliferae.

Plagionotus arcuatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on broadleaves as Castanea, Carpinus, Fagus,

Salix, Prunus, Robinia and, in particular, Quer-

cus. Adult usually stationary on host plants, often

on various flowers from May to July.

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 11. VI. 1983 (CR);

Alpe Cucco, 20 .VI. 20 10 (CB); Valle Agnese,

4 .VII .20 10 (CB).

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

200 8 ; B ellavista ,2010).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species widespread in Sicily, in particular,

although uncommon; collected several times in

Ficuzza woods and of which were unknown.

Plagionotus siculus (Castelnau & Gory, 1835)

-scalar is Brulle, 1832

Chorotype and distribution. Western (Cen-

tral-Mediterranean; reported in the central and

southern regions of Italy, and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on root of

Malvacee as the Lavatera stenopetala e Malva

sylvestris. Adult usually found on the flowers of

same species.

References. Ramusa (Pincitore Marott, 1873

sub Clytus floralisf, Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1874,

1924); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Materials. Scanzano lake, 29.V.1981 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species common in Sicily where it is found in

open fields and clearings of forests; nearly

always on the flowers of Malva.

Chlorophorus varius (Muller, 1766)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on deciduous

plants: Quercus, Pistacia, Castanea sativa, Vitis,

Robinia, Spartium, Crataegus, Salicornia, Paliu-

rus, Juglans. Adult on flowers.

References. Ramusa (Pincitore Marott, 1873

sub Clytus ornatus)’, Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924);

Ficuzza and Piana degli Albanesi (Sama &

Schurmann, 1982); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 21. VI. 1962

(CVA); Alpe Cucco, 24 .VIII. 1969 (CR); Ficuzza

woods, 27.VII.1972 (CR); Alpe Cucco,

13.VII.2010 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily, found in the adult stage during sum-

mer months on the flowers of Umbelliferae, in fal-

low fields, edges of woods, or in open and arid

environments with low vegetation cover (Fig. 21).

Chlorophorus glabromaculatus (Goeze, 1777)

Chorotype and distribution. European;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in dead wood

of various deciduous plants: Quercus , Populus,

Prunus, Castanea sativa, Vitis, Robinia, Acer,

Ulmus, Salix\ reported on Zelkova crenata, a plant

of exotic origin, and on conifers (Juniperus com-

munis). Adult on host plants from June to August.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1874 sub

Clytus 4 punctatus)', Ficuzza (Sama, 1988; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, ex Castanea

sativa, VI. 1981 (CR); Falde Rocca Busambra,

Piano Tramontana, 3. VIII. 1986 (CR); Scanzano

lake, 8 .VII .200 8 (CS) and 27.VIII.2009 (CB);

Alpe Cucco, 16.VIII.2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species emerges in summer; widespread

throughout Sicily.

Chlorophorus trifasciatus (Fabricius, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

reported in some areas of Central Europe (Hun-

gary and Ticino); throughout Italy, excluding

Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in the roots of

herbaceous plants as Onosis natrix and Doryc-

nium hirsutum (Sama, 1988). Adult on host

plants or in flowers from May to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1874; 1924;

Sama, 2005); Godrano (Sama, 1988); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Road for Godrano, 23 .VII. 1972

(CR); Ficuzza, 27.VII.1972 (CR); Ficuzza,

20.VII.2009 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species widespread in Sicily, however always

collections in few specimens (Sparacio, 1992);

usually in grass or on the edges of vegetated

areas, mainly on flowers. Also uncommon in

Ficuzza woods.

Chlorophorus sartor (Muller, 1766)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on many deciduous trees and shrubs. Adult on

flower from May to July.

References. Ficuzza (Sama, 1988; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Val dei Conti, 15.VI.1974 (CR);

Ficuzza, 29.V.1981 (CB); Valle Agnese, ex

Castanea sativa, 7. Ill .20 10/8. VI .20 10 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species common throughout Sicily. At the adult

stage it is found in the meadows and the forest

edges; in spring and summer months on flowers

and many plant species (Fig. 22).

Subfamily Lamiinae

Pedestredorcadion etruscum (Rossi, 1790)

Chorotype and distribution. Apennine; Conti-

nental Italy; Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in the roots of

Gramineae and other herbaceous plants.

References. Ficuzza woods (Luigioni &

Tirelli, 1912); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Materials. Valle Maria, 29.IV.2000 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Spo-

radic in Ficuzza woods, can be found at the adult

stage, usually nomadic in open ground, on trails,

or in the glades of woods.

Morinus asper asper (Sulzer, 1776)

Chorotype and distribution. South-European;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

in dead wood of broadleaves, such as Fagus,

Populus, Juglans, Tilia, Acer, Hedera helix, Salix

and conifers (Abies, Pinus, Cedrus). Adult is sta-

tionary on host plants, or can be found on wood

piles; nomadic in open ground from April to July.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924 sub M.

funereus)\ Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 12.VI.1928; VI. 1929 (CRA);

7.V.1973 (CR); Bivio Lupo, 16.VI.2008 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon species in Sicily. Adult male is very characte-

ristic for its long antennae, usually found in spring

and summer months in open ground, on wood piles

and roads through woods (Figg. 23-24).

Herophila tristis tristis (Linnaeus, 1787)

Chorotype and distribution. South European;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larva in dead wood

of decidous trees (Ficus carica, Morus, Salix,

Tamarix, Populus ) or in roots of herbaceous

plants: Dianthus (Muller, 1949-1953), Astra-

galus (Demelt, 1963), Melilotus (Sturani, 1981),

Onopordon and Artemisia (Sama, 2002). Adult

near the same host plants from April to July.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama &

Schurmann, 1982, Sama, 1988); Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, Scalilli, 20 .VI. 1969 (CR);

Scanzano dike, 25.11.1992 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. The

adult of this species is commonly found in spring

and summer months, nomadic on open ground,

and along roads or forest trails; sometimes, in the

winter months under stones or plant debris.

Mesosa nebulosa (Fabricius, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. European,

extended to the Maghreb; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae in dead and

even rotting wood of various decidous trees

including Quercus, Castanea sativa, Carpinus,

Ostrya, Fagus, Tilia, Corylus, Aesculus hip-

pocastanunr, rarely on conifer (Picea excelsa ).

Adult in the winter months in pupal cells, can be

found on the host plant from April to August.

References. Ficuzza (Sama, 2005); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, inside branches of Quer-

cus sp., 20 .VI. 1969 (CR); Ficuzza woods, 600 m,

26.X. 1980, inside branches of Quercus pube-

scens (CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species uncommon in Sicily; specimens col-

lected in the Ficuzza woods were all found in

pupal cells inside oak tree branches.

Agapanthia cardui (Linnaeus, 1767)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano- Mediter-

ranean, extended to Macaronesia; throughout

Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on herbaceous species: Urtica, Cirsium,

Scolymus, Carduus, Melilotus, Heracleum,

Senecio, Eupatorium, Chrysanthemum, Dipsacus,

Valeriana, Salvia and Py rethrum. Adult is found

on the same plants.

References. Ficuzza woods (Pincitore Marott,

1873); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama & Schur-

mann, 1982; Sama, 1988); Ficuzza woods

(Rapuzzi & Sama, 2006; Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 23.V.1940, 31.V.1941

(CDS); Ficuzza woods, 19.VII.1964 (CVA);

Ficuzza, 25 .V. 1965 (CR); Scanzano lake,

8 .VII .2008, 2. VI .2009 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon throughout Sicily and the Ficuzza woods.

Adult is found from March to June on plant

stems, in particular Carduacee, or using the net in

pastures.

Agapanthia suturalis (Fabricius, 1767)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean; in

Italy, reported in Calabria and Sicily (Rapuzzi &

Sama, 2006).

Biology and host plants. Apparently similar to

A. cardui.

References. Ficuzza woods (Pincitore Marott,

1873; Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Fig. 19

Fig. 18

Fig. 20

Fig. 21

Fig. 22

Fig. 23

Figure 18. Cerambyx scopolii scopolii, Palermo, Fondo Micciulla, 10. VI. 2009.

Figure 19. Stenopterus rufus rufus, Valle Agnese, 20. VI. 2010.

Figure 20. Callimus abdominalis, Bosco Fanuso, 25. VI. 2010.

Figure 21. Chlorophorus varius, Alpe Cucco, 13. VII. 2010.

Figure 22. Chlorophorus sartor, Ficuzza woods, 20. VI. 2010.

Figure 23. Particular of Morinus asper asper mandibles, Alpe Cucco, 27.V.2010 (photo C. Muscarella).

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Materials. Ficuzza, 12.VI.2008 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species recently separated from A. cardui

(Rapuzzi & Sama, 2006). The species differs in

that it is has an extended form, elytra covered

with yellowish pubescence and significantly

weakened in the back, antennae sometimes

reddish in color with the bottom of the scape

covered with dense bristles. The ventral surface

of the body has a dense and lying pubescence, a

lobe of median edeago with an angular

protuberance that is absent in A. cardui. Based on

these characteristics, we attribute the specimens

indicated to this territory along with A. cardui

and A. suturalis just as Pincitore Marott (1873)

had indicated for Ficuzza woods.

Agapanthia violacea (Fabricius, 1775)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy. Sardinia (?).

Biology and host plants. Larvae on varius

herbaceous plants: Centranthus ruber, Psoralea

bituminosa, Carduus collinus, Knautia arvensis,

Onobrychis viciifolia, Medicago, Scabiosa. The

adult is found on the same plant.

References. Ficuzza (Sama & Schurmann,

1982; Sama, 1988; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 29 .V. 1975 (CVA);

Ficuzza woods, 29.V.1981 - 28.V.1983 (CS);

Ficuzza, 22 .V. 198 3 (CR); Portella del Vento,

11.VI.1983 (CR); contrada Giardinello, 8.V.1986

(CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Adult

is found in Ficuzza woods on stems of Centran-

thus ruber from April to June.

Agapanthia maculicornis davidi (Slama, 1986)

Chorotype and distribution. Subspecies

endemic to Central and Southern Italy and Sicily;

A. maculicornis maculicornis is widespread in

central and south-eastern Europe and western

Siberia.

Biology and host plants. Larval growth on

Campanula conglomerata, Dianthus superbus,

Helianthemum (see Sama, 2002); reared in Sicily

from the dead stems of thistles (Sama & Schur-

mann, 1982; Sama, 1988). Adult on host plants

from May to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936; Sama, 1988; Sama, 2005).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species widespread in Sicily but uncommon

elsewhere.

Agapanthia asphodeli (Latreille, 1804)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

throughout Italy, periodically in the Northern

regions.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Asphodelus;

also reported on Carduus spp., Thapsia spp. and

Ferula spp. (Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama,

1988, 2002; Pesarini & Sabbadini, 1994; Sparacio,

1999; Rastelli et al., 2001). Adult found on the

same plants from March to May.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Slopes of Rocca Busambra,

28.V.2008 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Adult

can be found on the stems of host plants in early

spring. Species reported in Sicily as well as the

island of Lampedusa (Pisciotta et al., 2008).

Agapanthia sicula sicula (Ganglbauer, 1884)

Chorotype and distribution. Endemic of

Sicily; la ssp. malmerendii (Sama, 1981) in Cen-

tral and Southern Italy and Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Carduacee

and Chrysanthemum coronarium (Sturani,

1981). Adult is found on the same plant from

April to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Rocca

Busambra (Sturani, 1981: ex Onopordon sp.,

Carduus and Chrisanthemum coronarium)',

Ficuzza, Bivio Godrano (Sama, 2005); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 19.V.1961;

16.V.1990 (CVA); Pizzo di Case, 17.V.1981, on

Onopordon sp. (CS); Bivio Lupo, 29 .V. 1981

(CS); Ficuzza, 18.VI.1982 (CFA); Alpe Ramosa,

4.VI.1991, on Onopordon sp. (CS); Valle Maria,

1. VII. 1992; Alpe Cucco, 27.V.1995, 22.V.1999

(CS); Scanzano lake, 8.VII.2008 and 2.VI.2009

(CS); Ficuzza woods, 14.VI.2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily and in Ficuzza on the edges of the

woods and along the trails in meadows and open

areas in general. Adult is commonly found from

April to June on the stems of various thistles

(Figg. 25-26).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Agapanthia irrorata (Fabricius, 1787)

Chorotype and distribution. West Mediter-

ranean; Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Thapsia,

Onopordon, Ferula, Salvia, Daucus, Phoenicu-

lum and Chrysanthemum. Adult is found on the

same plant from April to June .

References. Marraccia (Pincitore Marott,

1873); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Piano di Tramontana, 28. VI. 1982

(CR); Portella del Vento, 11. VI. 1983 (CR);

Ficuzza woods, 5. VII. 19 87 (CVA); Alpe Cucco,

27 .V. 1995 - 21/22.V.1999 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon species in Sicily. The adult is found from

May- June mainly on the slopes of Rocca Busam-

bra in Ficuzza woods, on the stems of carduacee

(i Onopordon ) and Ferula communis.

Calamobius filum (Rossi, 1790)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on wild and

cultivated Gr amine ae. Adult is found on the same

plants.

References. Ramusa (Luigioni & Tirelli,

1912); Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza woods

(Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza 15.V.1927, 12.VI.1928

(CRA); Ficuzza woods, 15.V.1961; 16.V.1990

(CVA); Ficuzza, 23 .V. 1940 (CDS); Ficuzza

woods, 29 .V.1981 (CS); Ficuzza, 12.VI.1983 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon throughout Sicily, including Ficuzza woods

and neighbouring areas. Adult can be found in

the spring on the stems of Gramineae.

Niphona picticornis (Mulsant, 1839)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

throughout continental Italy, Sicily and Sardinia;

sporadic in the North.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on deciduous trees, in particular, Ficus carica,

Spartium junceum, Pistacia, Robinia, Castanea

sativa, Quercus, Caly cotome and Euphorbia den-

droides', reported on conifers ( Pinus ) (Sturani,

1981). Adult hibernates in pupal cells on host

plants; from May to August, attracted by artifi-

cial light.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924); Ficuzza:

Bivio Godrano (Sama, 1988; Sama, 2005); Ficuzza

woods (Bellavista et al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza IX. 1935 (CRA); Ficuzza,

5 .III . 1 992/4 . VI . 1 992 , ex Ulmus (CS) (Fig. 27).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Very

common in Sicily; adult is commonly found in

the summer months, attracted by artificial lights.

Parmena subpubescens (Hellrigl, 1971)

Chorotype and distribution. Tyrrhenian;

Southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia (see Biscaccianti,

2002b, 2003).

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

Ficus carica and Nerium oleander.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, along road for Corleone,

ex Ficus carica, 6 .III .1983/9 .VI .1983 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species reported on the island of Marettimo

(Hellrigl, 1971), really more widespread in Sicily

and elsewhere in the Tyrrhenian (Biscaccianti,

2002b, 2003).

Parmena pubescens (Dalman, 1817)

Chorotype and distribution. Mediterranean;

South-European subspecies (limited to the Italian

peninsula, Sicily and Malta).

Biology and host plants. Larvae has been

reported on Ferula, Foeniculum, Euphorbia,

Lavatera, Carduacee, Ficus carica in Sicily

(Sama & Schurmann, 1982).

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936; Sama & Schurmann, 1982; Sama, 1988,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, 16.1.1974, 11. XI.

1990 (CVA); road for Godrano, 24.XI.1974 (CR);

Ficuzza, 9.1.1982 (CR); Valle Maria, 9.1.1982

(CR) ; Ficuzza woods, 23.XII.1978, 29 .V.1981,

24 .111.1984 (CS); Ficuzza, 6.111.1983/ 25.VI.1983,

ex Euphorbia sp. (CS); Scanzano dyke, 5. III. 1992

(CS) ; Godrano, Gorgo del Drago, 14. Ill .2004

(CS); Ficuzza woods, 30.III.2009 (CB); Valle

Agnese, 29.IV.2010 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Ficuzza. Found in the adult stage in win-

ter months, under stones or barks of trees, parti-

cularly Eucalyptus and oaks, and even in small

colonies (Fig. 28).

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Deroplia troberti troberti (Mulsant, 1843)

Chorotype and distribution. West-Mediter-

ranean; Italian continental, sporadic in Northern

Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Quercus,

Pistacia lentiscus, Laurus, Nerium oleander and

Juglans regia. Adult on the same plants from

March to May.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species no longer found in Ficuzza.

Pogonocherus hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-European-

Mediterranean; throughout Italy. Sardinia (?).

Biology and host plants. Larvae on decidu-

ous broadleaves trees and shrubs: Ficus carica,

Hedera, Rhamnus frangula, Alnus, Morus,

Sambucus, Sorbus, Populus, Cornus, Fraxinus,

Tilia , Corylus, Quercus and various Rosaceae.

Adult on the same host plants from August to

September.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Baviera

& Sparacio, 2004); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et

al., 2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. 1 ex Ficuzza 11. VI. (19)09 (CV);

Ficuzza, VII .2009 (CB).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Larvae

found on the Ficus carica in Sicily (Sama &

Schurmann, 1982). Species uncommon in nature

in the adult stage.

Leiopus nebulosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. European;

throughout Italy. Sardinia (?).

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on deciduous trees, including shrubs, but rarely

on conifers: Picea and Abies alba (cfr. Sama &

Schurmann, 1982). Adult on the same host plants

from May to July.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 1. VII. 1992, in a wood-

shed (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species uncommon in Sicily (Rapuzzi e Sama,

2006). Remains were found in an old woodshed

in Ficuzza woods.

Aegomorphus clavipes (Schrank, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae polyphagous

on deciduous trees, in particular, Betula, Popu-

lus , Prunus avium and Juglans ; also: Castanea,

Quercus, Corylus, Tilia, Fagus, Morus, Nerium

oleander and more. Adult on the same host plants

from May to July.

References. Ficuzza: Bivio Godrano (Sama &

Schurmann, 1982; Sama, 2005); Godrano (Sama,

1988); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Valle Maria, on Fraxinus angusti-

folia, 29 .V. 1981 (CS); Bosco del Cappelliere on

Populus sp., 1 .VII. 1992 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Speci-

mens found were collected from the stumps of

Fraxinus and Populus during daylight hours.

Flicker holes and remains of adults in the gal-

leries were present.

Opsilia coerulescens (Scopoli, 1763)

Chorotype and distribution. Asian-European;

throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Borra-

ginaceae ( Echium , Cerinthe, Cynoglossum,

Anchusa, Symphitum, Lithospermum, Lycopsis );

also Inula conyza (Kovacs & Hegyessy, 1995),

and other herbaceous plants (Sama, 2002). Adult

on host plants from April to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

1988, 2005); Ficuzza (Sturani, 1981: ex Echium

sp.); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Portella del Vento, 6. VI. 1975,

17.VI.1984 (CR); Ficuzza, 6.VI.1975, (CVA);

Ficuzza, 25.V.1981 (CS); Alpe Cucco, 22.V.1999

(CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in meadows and open areas in throughout

Sicily. In Ficuzza the adult is found exclusively

on host plants, usually Echium sp.

Phytoecia rufipes (Olivier, 1795)

Chorotype and distribution. Western Mediter-

ranean; Central and Southern Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larval development

in Sicily on Foeniculum vulgare (Sama & Schur-

mann, 1982) but also on Ferula galbanifera

(Muller, 1949-53). Adult on host plants from

May to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Fig. 24

Fig. 25

Fig. 26

Fig. 27

Fig. 28

Fig. 29

Figure 24. Morinus asper asper male, Bivio Lupo, 16. VI. 2008.

Figure 25. Agapanthia sicula sicula, Ficuzza woods, 14. VI. 2009.

Figure 26. Agapanthia sicula sicula flying, Ficuzza, 14.V.2009 (photo C. Muscarella).

Figure 27. Niphona picticornis, Ficuzza, 4.VI.1992.

Figure 28. Parmena pubescens, Bivio Lupo, 13. XI. 2010 (photo C. Muscarella).

Figure 29. Phytoecia virgula, Vallone Rocca d’Elice (beginnins at Alpe Cucco), 18. VI. 2010 (photo C. Muscarella).

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Materials. Ficuzza VI. 193 8 (CRA); Portella

del Vento, 11.VI.1983, 17.VI.1984, 21.V.1989

(CR) ; Ficuzza, along “Vecchia strada ferrata”

(old railroad line) 23 .VI. 1996 (CR).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily and Ficuzza woods on meadows

where host plants srow.

Phytoecia nigricornis (Fabricius, 1781)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; troughout Italy except Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae mainly on

Tanacetum vulgar e but also Artemisia, Solidago,

Galatella, Achillea and Chrysanthemum.

References. Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al.,

2008; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, along “Vecchia strada fer-

rata” (old railroad line), 23 .VI. 1996 (CR)

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species uncommon in Sicily and in Ficuzza.

Phytoecia caerulea (Scopoli, 1772)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; Central and Southern Italy and Sicily.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Brassi-

caceae, genus Sinapis, Sisymbrium, Rapistrum

and others; also reported on Linum (Kovacs &

Hegyessy, 1995). Adult on host plants from

March to May.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Sama,

2005); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Contrada Giardinello, 6. V. 19 84

(CS) ; Portella Cerasa, 10.V.1997 (CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. Com-

mon in Sicily and Ficuzza woods on meadows

with Cruciferae during the spring season

months .

Phytoecia virgula (Charpentier, 1825)

Chorotype and distribution. Turano-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy except Sardinia.

Biology and host plants. Larvae on Car-

duacee, Artemisia, Daucus, Chrysanthemum,

and Hieracium. Adult on host plants from April

to June.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Road for Godrano, 26 .V. 1973,

1.V.1977 (CR); Contrada Giardinello, 8.V.1986

(CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects. The

reported findings were discovered with the use of

net litters on meadow (Fig. 29).

Oberea oculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean; throughout Italy.

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

Salix.

References. Marineo (Sama & Schurmann,

1982).

Remarks and other biological aspects. We are

signalling this species for the area studied based

on the findings of Sama & Schurmann (1980) on

a neighbouring territory.

Tetrops praeusta (Linnaeus, 1758)

Chorotype and distribution. Siberian-Euro-

pean-Mediterranean; throughout Italy (Sama,

1994; 2002).

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

many broadleaves: Quercus, Populus, Salix,

Acer, Rhamnus, Ulmus, Tilia, Crataegus, and

Amygdalus.

References. Ficuzza (Ragusa, 1924; Vitale,

1936); Ficuzza woods (Bellavista et al., 2008;

Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza, 6. VI. 1991 (CFA).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Reported as a common species in Ficuzza by

Ragusa (1924).

Tetrops starkii (Chevrolat, 1859)

Chorotype and distribution. European;

extended to the Caucasus Region. Reported in

some Northern regions of Italy and Basilicata

(Sama, 1994; 2002).

Biology and host plants. Larvae and adult on

Fraxinus.

References. Ficuzza woods, Alpe Cucco

(Bellavista et al., 2009; Bellavista, 2010).

Materials. Ficuzza woods, Alpe Cucco, ex

Fraxinus angustifolia, 9.1.2009/13 14.IV.2009

(CS).

Remarks and other biological aspects.

Species discovered recently for the first time in

Sicily (Bellavista et al., 2009).

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Chorotypes

Number of species

Percentage (%)

CHOROTYPES AT WIDE DISTRIBUTION

Sub-cosmopolitan or cosmopolitan chorotype

6,2

Olartic

1,3

Palearctic

2,5

A si atic -Europe an

2,5

Central Asian-Mediterranean

1,3

Siberian-European- Mediterranean

2,5

Siberian-European

8,7

T urano-Mediterranean

6,2

T urano-European

18,7

T urano- European-Mediterranean

7,5

EUROPEAN CHOROTYPES

European

5,0

South- European

6,2

MEDITERRANEAN CHOROTYPES

Mediterranean

11,3

Eastern-Mediterranean

1,3

West-Mediterranean

6,2

ENDEMIC CHOROTYPES

Tyrrhenian

1,3

Apennine

3,8

Sicilian

7,5

Total

100,0

Table 2. Chorotypes of Cerambycidae living in Ficuzza.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Research in the Ficuzza woods was con-

ducted over the last year and intensified from

2007 to 2010, integrating field data with infor-

mations derived from the study of public and pri-

vate collections; 80 species of Coleoptera Ce-

rambycidae were identified. Of these, 17 are new

to the Ficuzza woods, 11 of wich were reported

in Bellavista et al. (2008) and Bellavista (2010)

and one species, Tetrops starkii, is new for Sicily

(Bellavista et al., 2009). Regarding the

chorotypes (Table 2), the prevailing widespread

species were 46 (57.5% of total) of which 15 are

Turan-European (18.7% of total), followed by

the Mediterranean species (15 species, 18.7% of

total). Ten species (12,5%) are endemic or have a

very restricted area of distribution. Six of them

(7.5%) are endemic only to Sicily. In the case of

the subspecies, the chorotypes, is referred to the

distribution of a subspecies itself.

The entire population of Cerambycidae of the

Ficuzza woods represented 63.78% of all the

species reported in Sicily, estimated at 127

species.

Italy is the European country with the highest

number of saproxylic beetles (255 species), fol-

lowed by France, Slovakia, Spain and Austria

(Nieto & Alexander, 2010). The high number of

species living in Ficuzza is probably the result of

the strong heterogeneity of the forest vegetation.

The narrow altitudinal range accounts for the

lack of communities linked to the low-altitude

coastline, and the communities of mountain

forests. Few species are related to the pine woods

despite the presence of large areas planted with

Pinus pinea. This confirms that pine is allochtho-

nous.

The rearing of larvae confirms the relation-

ship between certain species of trees or shrubs

and several species of Cerambicydae (Table 3).

The results from traps, direct searching, and

rearing of larvae allowed to formulate this list in

order of importance for Cerambycidae diversity:

mixed Fraxinus and Quercus woods, grassland

and shrubs> riparian vegetation > holm oak and

pubescent oak woods> ash woods> abandoned

agricultural land or cultivated with common fig,

walnut ...> pubescent oak wood> Cork oak

woods> Quercus gussonei woods> Chestnut

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

Host Plants

Cerambicydae

Fraxinus angustifolia

Xylotrechus arvicola , Aegomorplius clavipes, Tetrops starki

Quercus pubescens s.l.

Grammoptera ustulata, Xylotrechus arvicola, Mesosa nebulosa

Quercus suber

Cerambix welensii

Ulmus minor

Leptidea brevipennis

Ulmus sp.

Trichoferus fasciculatus, Niphona picticornis

Castanea sativa

Poecilium alni, Chlorophorus glabromaculatus , Chlorophorus sartor,

Phymatodes testaceus, Gracilia minuta

Ficus carica

Trichoferus fasciculatus , Parmena subpubescens

Populus nigra

Aegomorplius clavipes, Aegosoma scrabicorne

Pinus pinea

Arhopalus ferus

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Phoracantha semipunctata, Phoracantha recurva

Spartium junceum

Deilus fugax

Euphorbia sp.

Parmena pubescens

Rubus sp.

Gracilia minuta

Onopordon sp.

Agapanthia sicula

Carduus

Agapanthia sicula

Chrisanthemum coronarium

Agapanthia sicula

Echium sp.

Opsilia coerulescens

Rosa canina

Gracilia minuta, Stenopterus rufus

Centranthus ruber

Agapantha violacea

Table 3. Cerambycidae of the Ficuzza woods to be related to the host plant

(larva breeding, discovery of adults, or the remains of adults in pupal cells ...).

wood> Eucalyptus wood> Pinus pinea wood>

holm hoak dominated wood.

The differences are closely related to vegeta-

tion and do not depend on dead wood because in

Ficuzza woods it is very present in different

types of vegetation. Some studies in various parts

of the world suggest, in fact, that about 20% of

the insect fauna living in the forests is associated

with old trees and dead wood Grove (2002)

found that “Volume of coarse woody debris

proved the strongest positive correlate of species

richness, while the basal area of larger-diameter

trees proved a more robust indicator of abun-

dance, incidence and assemblage composition,

and was also correlated with species richness”.

For this reason, dead wood is one of the indi-

cators chosen to assess the state of forests and the

sustainability of their management (MCPFE,

2003; EEA, 2007) and was included among the

parameters to be collected in the recent national

forest inventory in Italy (Pignatti et al., 2009).

Throughout Europe, saproxylic insects have been

identified as a highly threatened group (Davies et

al., 2008).

Many authors consider this is a consequence

of an intensive forestry which has modified the

biotic and abiotic processes occurring within

forest and woodland ecosystems (Davies et al.,

2008); the removal and reduction in quality of

dead and decayng wood is considered one of the

principal reasons for the decline in the

saproxylic invertebrate fauna (Davies et al.,

2008).

Another important aspect regarding the popu-

lation of Cerambycidae of Ficuzza, is the rarity

of some Longhorn beetles species living in the

Ficuzza woods, in fact, 35 (44%) of all Ceramby-

cidae of Ficuzza woods, 28% of Cerambicydae

of Sicily, are included in the Cerambycidae red

list (Table 4).

Everything has implications for management;

Davies et al. (2002), identify some best practices

to conserve the saproxylic diversity: i)

“Promoting the value of veteran trees and old-

growth wooded habitats”; ii) “Encouraging

microhabitat heterogeneity”. Also, the study of

the ecology of xylophagous beetles can provide

important information for forest history and for

the adoption of more accurate measures of forest

management (Vodka et al., 2009). So far the

majority of the studies have been conducted in

forest environments in Fennoscandia.” (Davies

et al., 2002), it is therefore necessary to

implement research in Mediterranean forests.

Longhorn beetles of the Ficuzza woods (W Sicily, Italy )

Species

IUCN

Red List

Category

(EU 27)

IUCN Red

List

Criteria

(EU 27)

Endemic

Europe?

Endemic

EU 27?

Aromia moschata

Brachypteroma

YES

ottomanum

Callimus abdominalis

YES

Callimus angulatus

Cerambyx cerdo

Cerambyx miles

Cerambyx scopolii

Cerambyx welensii

Chlorophorus

YES

g labromaculatus

Chlorophorus sartor

Chlorophorus varius

Clytus clavieornis

Blab(iii)+2a

Blab(iii)+2ab

Yes

b(iii)*

(iii)*

Clytus rhamni

Deilus fugax

Gracilia minuta

Hesperophanes sericeus

Hylotrupes bajulus

Nathrius brevipennis

Penichroa fasciata

Phymatodes testaeeus

Plagionotus areuatus

Plagionotus detritus

Poecilium alni

Poecilium lividum

Prinobius myardi

Prionus eoriarius

Purpuricenus kaehleri

Stenopterus ater

Stenopterus atricornis

B2ab(iii)*

Stromatium unicolor

Triehoferus fasciculatus

Trichoferus griseus

Triehoferus holo sericeus

Xylotrechus antilope

Xylotrechus arvicola

Table 4. Status of Sicily Cerambicydae (from Nieto & Alexander, 2010)

LC: Least Concern; NT: Near Threatened; VU: Vulnerable; *: Under Section V (the criteria for Critically Endangered,

Endangered and Vulnerable) there is a hierarchical alphanumeric numbering system of criteria and subcriteria (see IUCN, 2001).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was carried out with funds from

the University of Palermo, (FRS, 2006 - ex quota

60%). Project: “The dynamics of biodiversity in

forest and pre-forest ecosystems in Sicily”

(responsible T. La Mantia). The study would not

possible without the active cooperation of the

“Dipartimento Regionale Azienda Foreste

Demaniali” (DRAFD) who authorized the rese-

arches in the Reserve.

In particular, we thank F. De Luca already Head

of the Provincial office of DRAFD and the mana-

gers, G. Landini and F. Castiglia, the technical

agent, G. Landini, and the forest workers. We are

also grateful to S . Ciccarello for collaborating to

the English translation, C. Muscarella for some

photos and C. Di Leo for drawing the figure 1.

T. La Mantia, M. Bellavista, G. Giardina & I. Sparacio

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Biodiversity Journal, 2010, 1(1-4): 45-55

Notes on new or rare taxa of Crustaceans and Molluscs from a

‘fontanile” in Arzago d'Adda, Bergamo, Italy (Crustacea, Mollusca)

Enrico Pezzoli

Via Chiesa, 6 - 24030 Bedulita, Bergamo, Italy.

ABSTRACT The present work is a continuation of previous researches and censuses carried out by the Author, reports on

Italian biotopes characterized by typical fauna inhabiting springs and other fluvial (or freshwater). During the

last decades, many of these areas were severely altered and/or even obviated; nevertheless, at the same time,

new stations harbouring a rich biodiversity were discovered. This paper provides data on ecology and fauna

composition of some “fontanili” of Lombardia Region, (Italy), focusing on new or rare taxa of molluscs and

crustaceans found in a “fontanile” of Arzago d'Adda (Bergamo).

KEY WORDS Census, Freshwater Ecology; North Italy “fontanili”, Alzoniella.

Received 05.11.2010; accepted 23.12.2010; printed 30.12.2010

INTRODUCTION

When listing biotopes with a restricted

distribution, presenting microhabitats with very

specific abiotic conditions and abundant in rare

and/or endemic taxa, the “fontanili” (springs fed by

phreatic water) of the Padana alluvial plain are an

automatic choice.

A detailed revision of literature (Girod,

1965a; 1969; Bianchi et al., 1975; AA.VV., 1994;

Lavorano et al., 1993) and data on the

environmental status of the “fontanili” of

Lombardia Region (Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000;

Pezzoli, 2004; 2007; AA.VV., 2008) are useful

tools in order to locate the stations the ecological

conditions of which have been better preserved

and maintained despite of environmental

alterations occurred in the last decades.

Molluscs and crustaceans inhabiting and

characterizing these highly interesting biotopes

were chosen as biological models due to the

presence of many species highly sensitive to

ecological changes, including pollution and

lowering of groundwater level which make them

extremely powerful biological indicators

(Arcangeli, 1942; Girod, 1965b; Ruffo & Vigna

Taglianti, 1967; Karaman, 1975; 1977; 1993;

Karaman & Ruffo, 1979; Giusti & Bodon, 1984;

Stoch, 1988; Bodon & Giovanelli, 1995).

Currently, data on the presence of these taxa

in Lombardia are available in several studies

carried out in the western part of the region and,

to some extent, in Bergamo surroundings during

the ‘60s and the ‘90s (see Pezzoli et al., 1994 and

references quoted therein).

One of these studies reported on the “ fontanile

Brancaleone” (51 BG Pezzoli et al., 1994; Pezzoli

& Spelta, 2000), Gavazzolo locality (Caravaggio),

in the southern part of Bergamo province, which,

till the second half of the XX century, resulted to

be the most interesting “fontanile” of the Region

due to its ecological, zoological and botanical

assets.

The list of mollusc and crustacean species

inhabiting such an important biotope (the census

of which was made during the past years), along

with a some information on the history of the

station, are reported below.

ENRICO PEZZOLI

UTM Coordinates

32 TNR 51 41

Geographic coordinates

sexagesimal

9°39’53” E, 45°31’17”N

Table IGM

F 46 IV SE, Treviglio

Height above the sea level

120 m

1 . The “fontanile” Brancaleone was added to

the list of biotopes and geotopes of Lombardia

Region (regional council no. 471 of 3/12/1981)

on the recommendation of the Museum of

Natural Sciences of Bergamo that considered the

rich community of Crustacea (see below) of this

station, which included also a few endemic

species (Arrigoni, 1974; Karaman, 1993), as

worth-recording .

Crustacea:

Niphargus bajuvaricus grandii Ruffo, 1937

Niphargus elegans elegans (Garbini, 1894)

Niphargus microcerberus Sket, 1972

Niphargus pupetta Sket, 1962

Niphargus transitivus Sket, 1971

Synurella ambulans (O. F. Muller, 1846)

Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mollusca:

Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Radix peregra (O. F. Muller, 1774)

2. A few years later, thanks to the Author and

the late lamented Antonio Valle, a few interesting

species of Mollusca Hydrobiidae (Pezzoli &

Giusti, 1980) were added to the list:

Graziana alpestris (Frauenfeld, 1863)

Sadleriana fluminensis (Krister, 1852).

3. In “Natura in Lombardia. Biotopi e

Geotopi” (AA.VV., 1982), the “fontanile” was

described as characterized by an extremely

important fauna of invertebrates, although

malacological species and relative literature

were not reported in details. A similar

description can be found in the volumes

“Riserve Naturali della Lombardia” edited by

Lombardia Region (1987).

4. In the ri-edition of the census (Pezzoli,

1988) it was pointed out that the conservation

status of the “fontanile” was heavily damaged.

5. Furlanetto (1989), on the other hand,

ignored the environmental decay of the

“fontanile” Brancaleone and the disappearing of

the original malacological fauna.

6. Pisoni & Valle (1992) provided the first

official (from the Museum of Natural Sciences of

Bergamo) data on the decay of the conditions of

this biotope.

7. Pezzoli et al. (1994) strongly stressed that

the environmental conditions of the “fontanile”

were getting worse and worse.

8. After almost ten years, at the beginning of

2000, the “Natura 2000” Network (the ecological

network of protected areas in EU) was instituted,

with the aim to put in practice the European

Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE) to

protect and maintain seriously threatened species and

their natural habitats. To this goal, several “S.C.I.”

(Sites of Community Importance) were defined, but,

unfortunately, at least in many cases, the choise was

mainly based on ancient bibliografic records without

an accurate check of the current status.

One of these S.C.I.s is the “fontanile”

Brancaleone (code IT2060013) (Lorenzi &

Ferlinghetti, 2006) which although being

previously one of the most interesting “fontanile”

of the Region for its extraordinary characteristics,

at the moment it is just a spectre of its former self.

9. Finally, at the beginning of the new

millennium, the Centre for Environmental

Studies (University of Bergamo) started a

rigorous survey of the status of the fontanili in

Bergamo province in order to locate other

biotopes characterized by the extremely

interesting taxa which have to date disappeared

from the “fontanile” Brancaleone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During the last decades many studies on

several “fontanili” of Lombardia Region have

Notes on new or rare taxa of Crustaceans and Molluscs from a “font anile” in Arzago d'Adda

been carried out aiming to report of as many

species as possible and monitoring environmental

status of these very interesting biotopes.

(Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000; Pezzoli, 2004; 2007;

AA.VV., 2008).

These “fontanili” have been included in

numerous censuses performed in the last years

(Pezzoli, 1988; 1992; 1996; Pezzoli et al.,

1994; Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000), even if recently

a ri-numbering of the “fontanili” has been

proposed (Pezzoli, 2004 and successive

updates released in DVD; AA.VV., 2008); in

the present work, in line with the above

mentioned literature, the old numbering is

maintained.

Researchers have been performed in the

field by collecting samples both directly and

with special nets for crustaceans and molluscs,

employed as biological models to determine

environmental integrity of the places under

investigation.

Taking into account that for the systematic

description and classification of Mollusca

Hydrobiidae snail soft parts are needed, living

animals were harvested by nets and filter-

endowed pipes. It was originally planned to

conduct sampling on a monthly basis but,

unfortunately, within a few months, most pipes

placed in the fontanili had been willfully

removed, presumably by vandals, seriously

compromising results of our research.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed a few critical items

characterizing the area under study including

periodical drying up of almost all groundwaters,

environmental pollution of many different kinds

and invasion of allochthonous species. Never-

theless, surprisingly, two areas showing high

levels of environmental quality, attested by the

occurrence of numerous and stable populations

of rare Mollusca Hydrobiidae and Crustacea,

were reported.

One of these areas is located in the far eastern

Bergamo surroundings, on the bank of the Oglio

river, at Pumenengo (Figs. 1-5), inside the S.C.I.

known as “Boschetto della Cascina Campagna”

code IT2060014.

“Fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo,

Bergamo (station no. 90 BG).

UTM Coordinates

32 TNR 68 35

Geographic coordinates

sexagesimal

9°52’49” E, 45°27’59”N

Table IGM

F 46 II NE, Rudiano

Height above the sea level

96 m

Headwaters

Mollusca:

Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Theodoxus danubialis (Pfeiffer, 1828)

Sadleriana fluminensis (Kiister, 1852)

Graziana alpestris (Frauenfeld, 1863) (Figs. 12,13)

Iglica sp.

Pisidium personatum Malm, 1855

Pisidium casertanum (Poli, 1791)

Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843)

Emmericia patula (Brumati, 1838)

Corbicula fluminea (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Crustacea:

Niphargus elegans elegans (Garbini, 1894)

Echinogammarus stammeri (Karaman, 1931)

Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

This hydrographic system, highly complex,

comprises headwaters and numerous independent

springs. Moreover, waters are partly employed for

the functioning of a fish farming facility and, in

addition, feed the “Cavo Molinara” stream, which

runs parallel to the Oglio river. Due to these

contaminations a few alien species including

Potamopyrgus antipodarum , Emmericia patula

(Fig. 25) and Corbicula fluminea (Fig. 26) have

been found. As for Theodoxus fluviatilis and

T. danubialis, since these taxa have never been

recorded before, it was not possible to establish

whether they are autochthonous (i.e. native)

or not.

ENRICO PEZZOLI

K H G n C BA

Fig. 1

Figure 1 .

Figures 2, 3.

Figures 4, 5.

Outline of the initial section of the “fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo; the letters indicate independent

springs.

Headwaters of the “fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo.

Initial stretch of the “fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo.

Notes on new or rare taxa of Crustaceans and Molluscs from a “font anile” in Arzago d'Adda

The second station with ecological conditions

very similar to the high-quality parameters

originally characterizing the “fontanile”

Brancaleone is located between the Serio and

Adda Rivers, in Arzago d’Adda (Figs. 6-9). This

area, probably due to the lack of severe

environmental threats (i.e. corn intensive

cultivations), still shows an unexpected

environmental “ancientness” and integrity. This

is also confirmed by the fact that within

Mollusca, no recent invasion of any alien species

( Haitia acuta has been recorded in Italy from a

long time) has been reported. Moreover,

noteworthy, many of the species currently found

are the same as those listed in the ‘60s,

confirming an amazing biodiversity; in

particular, most Crustacea species inhabiting this

station are the same as those currently missing

from the “fontanile” Brancaleone.

“Fontanile” near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago

d’Adda, Bergamo (station no. 124 BG).

UTM Coordinates

32 TNR 43 3

Geographic coordinates

sexagesimal

9°32’57” E, 45°27’59”

Table IGM

F 46 III NO, Rivolta d’Adda

Height above the sea level

101m

Headwaters “B”

Crustacea:

Niphargus cfr. bajuvaricus grandii Ruffo, 1937

Niphargus microcerberus Sket, 1972

Niphargus pupetta Sket, 1962

Niphargus transitivus Sket, 1971

Niphargus stygocharis italicus G. Karaman 1976

Niphargus duplus G. Karaman, 1976

Mollusca:

Sadleriana fluminensis (Kiister, 1852)

Graziana alpestris (Frauenfeld, 1863)

Alzoniella cfr. bergomensis n. sp.

Iglica sp.

Along watercourse

Crustacea:

Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mollusca:

Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Haitia acuta (Linnaeus, 1758)

Valvata piscinalis (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Valvata cristata O. F. Muller, 1774

Planorbarius corneus (Linneus 1758)

Planorbis carinatus O. F. Muller, 1774

Roggia Renga close to the “Fontanile” no. 124,

Arzago d’Adda

Mollusca:

Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Valvata piscinalis (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Physa fontinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Stagnicola sp.

Radix peregra (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Planorbarius corneus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Planorbis carinatus (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Acroloxus lacustre (Linnaeus, 1758)

Beyond the very common crenobiont species

Sadleriana fluminensis and Graziana alpestris,

powerful biological indicators of unpolluted and

perpetual waters, two stygobiont species, never

recorded before in the “fontanili” of Lombardia

Region, were reported. For the first taxon, many

living specimens, in addition to some empty shells,

were collected in Argazo d’Adda. This little

Hydrobiidae was found for the first time in a spring

on Monte Canto-Monte dei Frati (Figs. 10, 11)

(Pezzoli, 1993 sub “ Bythiospeum forumjulianumT’,

Pezzoli, 1996 sub “ Bythiospeum sp.” see

Manganelli et al., 2000), and in a few neighboring

stations, while, more recently, at Sombreno (on the

hills of Bergamo) (Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000 sub

“ Bythiospeum sp. 2”).

Although anatomical description of soft parts

of a few specimens was already employed to

briefly describe this taxon as “ Alzoniella

bergomensis ” ( nomen nudum in Pezzoli, 2004),

nevertheless, aiming at conforming such a record

to the ICZN current instructions (1999) it is re-

described.

ENRICO PEZZOLI

Alzoniella bergomensis n. sp.

Shell (Figs. 14-19, 27, 30, 32, 34): very small,

more or less elongate, conical; spire consisting of

3-4 convex whorls, last whorl wide; sutures

deep; aperture wide and ovoid; umbilicus open,

narrow.

Dimensions: shell height 2.2-3 mm; shell

diameter 1-2 mm.

Male genitalia (Figs. 28, 29, 31) are

characterized by the simple penis, without lobes

but little dilated on left side before the apex.

Female genitalia (Figs. 33, 35, 36) are

characterized by a pallial oviduct with two

seminal receptacle and one bursa copulatrix.

Type material: the holotype collected in

“Cascinale Arzuffi”, Sombreno (station no. 325

A BG: Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000), 28.XI.1998,

legit E. Pezzoli, is deposited in the collection E.

Pezzoli (Bedulita, Bergamo). Paratypes: 114

shells and 50 specimens complete of soft parts

collected in type locality have been deposited

as follows: 4 paratypes at the Museum of

Natural Sciences “E. Caffi”, Bergamo (nos.

MNSBG 9347-9348-9349-9350), 100 paratypes

in E. Pezzoli collection (Bedulita, Bergamo),

60 paratypes in the M. Bodon collection,

24.IV.2002, legit E. Pezzoli et M. Bodon

(Genova).

Etymology: from Bergamo province,

(Lombardia, Italy), where the new species was

found.

Distribution: The new species is present in

some stations in Bergamo province, Lombardia

Region, in particular in some springs in the

outskirts of Bergamo hills, slope of Sombreno

and Monte Canto-Monte dei Frati, between the

Adda and Serio Rivers. This species is likely to

be endemic of Lombardia Region.

Stations currently known are: springs close

to the farmhouse San Bartolomeo, Valle San

Martino, Monte Canto, Pontida, Bergamo

(station no. 144 BG see Pezzoli & Spelta,

2000); spring of Valle San Martino, northern

slope of Monte Canto-Monte dei Frati ridge

and, adjacent to the previous one, spring of

Valle San Martino (station nos 226 BG and 227

BG, respectively cf. Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000);

Bergamo hills, Sombreno: spring inside the

cellar of the old farmstead “Cascinale Arzuffi”

at the medieval centre of Sombreno (station no.

325 A BG: Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000); not far

from the previous area, the well in the locality

known as “I Rucc”, Paladina (station no. 325 B

BG Pezzoli & Spelta, 2000); Fontanile at the

Lake Carlotta, Arzago d’Adda, Bergamo

(station no. 124 BG).

The genus Alzoniella Giusti & Bodon, 1984 is

characterized by the shape of the male genital tract.

Infact, the penis shows 1-2 glandular appendices,

rounded or pointed, one of these located further up

on the left side, the other, when present, located at

the base, on top of the penis.

The female genitalia are characterized by a

large loop of the renal oviduct on which two

seminal receptacles and a bursa copulatrix are

implanted. The new species A. bergomensis is

characterized, when compared to the congeneric

ones, by the lack of glandular lobes on the penis;

nevertheless it is placed within the genus

Alzoniella based on shell features, almost

indistinguishable from Alzoniella finalina Bodon

& Giusti, 1984, and on the female genital tract,

very similar to that of other species of this genus,

which, in turn, is markedly different from that of

the Hydrobiidae Iglica A. J. Wagner, 1928,

Paladilhiopsis Pavlovfc, 1913 and Graziana

Radoman, 1975, always showing one seminal

receptacle.

Description of this new species has been

based on anatomical analyses performed on

specimens collected in the spring of the

farmstead “ Cascinale Arzuffi”, Sombreno.

The second Hydrobiidae taxon was found

for the first time, one specimen, in the

“fontanile” Fontana Vecchia (Pumenengo),

and, successively, in other stations between the

Serio and Adda Rivers, nearby Arzago D’Adda,

where unfortunately only numeorus empty

shells were recovered (Iglica paganii Arzuffi &

Pezzoli, 2008 nomen nudum : AA.VV., 2008;

Pezzoli, 2010). Therefore, up to now, it has

been impossible to provide an accurate

description of male and female genital

apparatus for taxonomic diagnosis. However,

based on shell features this taxon might be

ascribed to the genus Iglica and, at the moment,

is reported as Iglica sp.

Notes on new or rare taxa of Crustaceans and Molluscs from a “font anile” in Arzago d'Adda

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Figure 6. Headwaters “A” of the “fontanile” near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago d’Adda, high flow conditions.

Figure 7. Headwaters “A” of the “fontanile” near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago d’Adda, flow regime.

Figure 8. “Roggia Renga” close to the “fontanile” no. 124, near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago d’Adda.

Figure 9. Roggia Cremasca in the western part of the municipality of Arzago dAdda.

Figures 10, 11. Springs close to the farmhouse San Bartolomeo, Valle San Martino, Monte Canto, Pontida, where Alzoniella cfr.

bergomensis n. sp. was found for the first time.

ENRICO PEZZOLI

Figures 12, 13. Graziana alpestris from “fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo.

Figures 14, 15. Alzoniella cfr. bergomensis n. sp. from springs close to the farmhouse San Bartolomeo, Valle San Martino, Monte

Canto, Pontida.

Figures 16, 19. Alzoniella cfr. bergomensis n. sp. from “fontanile” near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago d’Adda.

Figures 20, 21. Iglica sp. from “fontanile” near the Carlotta Lake, Arzago d’Adda.

Figures 22, 24. Iglica sp. from “Fontanelle al Barich”, Arzago d’Adda

Figures 25, 26. Emmericia patula (Fig. 25) e Corbicula fluminea (Fig. 26) alien species from watercourses of the “fontanile”

Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo.

Notes on new or rare taxa of Crustaceans and Molluscs from a “font anile” in Arzago d'Adda

Figures 27 , 36. Alzoniella bergomensis n. sp. from old farmstead “Cascinale Arzuffi”, Sombreno: shells (Figs. 27, 30, 32, 34);

body of a male (Fig. 28); penis (Figs. 29, 31); female genitalia (Figs. 33, 35, 36). Abbreviations: BC, bursa copulatrix;

CT, ctenidium; OS, osphradium; PR, prostate; S, stomach; SRI, first seminal receptacle; SR2, second seminal recep-

tacle; VD, vas deferens

ENRICO PEZZOLI

Iglica sp.

Shell (Figs. 20-24): very small, cilindrical,

acicular, translucent when fresh, spire consisting

of 5-6 very convex whorls; sutures deep;

aperture wide, ovoid and sligtly oblique; thick

margin, umbilicus very narrow.

Dimensions: shell height 2-3 mm; shell

diameter 1-1.2 mm.

Male and female genitalia: unknown.

Distribution: Shells attributable to Iglica sp.

have been found in the following sites:

“fontanile” Fontana Vecchia, Pumenengo,

Bergamo (station no. 90 BG); “fontanile” west of

Arzago at Roggia Signora, Arzago d’Adda

(station no. 125 BG); “fontanile” 2, Arzago in

Monteverdi, Arzago d’Adda (station no. 127

BG); “fontanile” known as “Fontanelle al

Barich”, Casirate d’Adda (station no. 128 BG);

“fontanile” Cavo Carino, near the farmstead

“Seriole” (station no. 129 MI).

This taxon is a typical stygobiont, widespread

from Albenza to the Alpine foothills up to Verona

surrounds. It shows peculiar shell features,

including a slimmer shell, convex, with a high

number of whorls and aperture roundish.

Further researches are certainly needed to

collect living specimens for providing a proper

anatomical description.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlighted, to both the

scientific community and local administration the

extremely high environmental quality of the

“fontanili” of Pumenengo and and, in a particular

way, Arzago dAdda. As far as concerns the

“fontanile” of Arzago dAdda, bearing in mind that

the ecological conditions of this very interesting

biotope are highly menaced, it might be added to

the list of sites of community importance. Further

researches are still in progress either to locate

stations with relevant environmental properties and

characteristics or monitor the populations of

crustaceans and molluscs already recorded.

As far as taxonomic classification is

concerned, in order to address the questions

raised in the present paper, further field surveys

need to be carried out to collect a sufficient

number of living specimens of the taxa under

study to better define the populations belonging

to Alzoniella bergomensis n. sp. and provide a

description of the taxon reported as Iglica sp.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank A. Arzuffi (Bergamo, Italy) for his

help and M. Bodon (Genova, Italy) for

anatomical analysis of the new species.

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