Afgiftekantoor 2 1 70 Merksem 1 ISSN 077 1 -5277

Periode: oktober november - december 2008 Erkenningsnr. P209674
Redactie: Dr. J.-P. Borie (Compiègne, France), Dr. L. De Bruyn (Antwerpen), T. C. Garrevoet
(Antwerpen), B. Goater (Chandlers Ford, England), Dr. K. Maes (Tervuren), Dr. K. Martens
(Brussel), H. van Oorschot (Amsterdam), W. O. De Prins (Leefdaal).

Redactie-adres: W. O. De Prins, Feefdaal 40 1B, B-3061 Leefdaal (Belgium).
e-mail: willy.de.prins@telenet.be.

Jaargang 36, nummer 4 1 december 2008

Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri , the most differentiated
subspecies of the P. bavius species-group.
Pseudophilotes fatma, a distinct species (Lepidoptera:
Lycaenidae, Scolitantiditi)

John G. Coutsis

Abstract. Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri (Hemming, 1932) is shown, on the basis of its
male genitalia, to be the most differentiated subspecies within the Pseudophilotes bavius
(Eversmann, 1832) species-group, and it is suggested, pending DNA sequencing, that it may
eventually be shown to represent a distinct species. Pseudophilotes fatma (Oberthür, 1890) is
being separated at species level from P. bavius on the basis of pronounced differences in the
valvae and falces.

Samenvatting. Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri, de meest afgescheiden subspecies van de P.
bavius soortengroep. Pseudophilotes fatma, een aparte soort (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae,
Scolitantiditi).

Op basis van kenmerken in de mannelijke genitalia wordt aangetoond dat Pseudophilotes bavius
casimiri (Hemming, 1932) de meest afgescheiden subspecies is in de soortengroep van
Pseudophilotes bavius (Eversmann, 1832). Misschien zal DNA-onderzoek zelfs aantonen dat het
om een aparte soort gaat. Pseudophilotes fatma (Oberthür, 1890) wordt als aparte soort
afgescheiden van P. bavius op basis van belangrijke verschillen in de valvae en falces.

Résumé. Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri, la sous-espèce la plus différenciée dans le groupe
d'espèces de P. bavius. Pseudophilotes fatma', une bonne espèce (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae,
Scolitantiditi).

Se basant sur des différences dans les genitalia males, 1'auteur considère Pseudophilotes bavius
casimiri (Hemming, 1932) comme la sous-espèce la plus différenciée dans le groupe d'espèces de
Pseudophilotes bavius (Eversmann, 1832). Des recherches de DNA pourront certainement
montrer qu'il s'agit d'une espèce différente. Pseudophilotes fatma (Oberthür, 1890) est considéré
comme espèce distincte basée sur des différences dans les valvae et les falces.

Key words: Lycaenidae - Scolitantiditi - Pseudophilotes - bavius - casimiri - fatma - male
genitalia - androconia - Greece - Pelopónnisos - Algeria - Morocco.

Coutsis, J. G.: 4 Glykonos Street, GR - 10675 Athens, Greece (e-mail: kouts@otenet.gr)

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 121

Introduction

The species-group taxon Pseudophilotes bavius (Eversmann, 1832), has been
subdivided into the following subspecies: The nominal bavius , from European
Russia (TL Bashkiria, South Ural Mts.) and Kazakhstan; hungahcus
(Diószeghy, 1913), from Hungary, Romania, and according to Nekrutenko
(1995), Crimea; macedonica (Schulte, 1958), from the Republic of Macedonia
and Northern Greece; casimiri (Hemming, 1932), from Pelopónnisos, Southern
Greece; egea (Herrich Schaffer, [1852]), from West and Central Anatolia, and
according to Tuzov et al. (2000), provisionally also from the Caucasus; vanicola
Kogak, 1977, from Van, Hakkari and §imak Provinces, Turkey; eitschbergeri
Ko^ak, 1975, from Urfa and Mardin Provinces, Turkey, as well as from Syria
[Descriptions, colour figures and distribution maps for the latter three subspecies
are given in Hesselbarth, van Oorschot & Wagener (1995)]; onalpe Ko£ak,
1975, from Ankara Province, Turkey; fatma (Oberthür, 1890), from Algeria and
Morocco. Some of these subspecies have since been lumped together, but
irrespective of the actions taken all but one of the taxonomie decisions
conceming the group have been based solely on extemal wing characters. The
exception relates to fatma , for which the male genitalia have also been taken into
consideration.

Male genitalia

Drawings were made of the falces of all the subspecies listed above with the
exception of those of nominal bavius , which have been studied in the past but
not drawn, and of onalpe , which were never made available. Subspecies bavius ,
hungahcus, macedonica , egea , vanicola and eitschbergeri, have identical to
each other genitalia in all respects, and are characterized, among others, by the
shape of the falces, which usually are narrow and always gradually taper to a
very narrow distal extremity (figs. 1-10). In subspecies casimiri the falces are
wide and their sides are just about parallel to each other, resulting in a wide and
blunt distal extremity (figs. 1 1-16). Subspecies fatma, already known to possess
different genitalia (Higgins 1975), differs to such an extent from the other
members of the group both in the shape of the valva, as well as in the extreme
narrowness of the falces, that it becomes clear that it deserves to be treated as a
separate species. In fatma the valval dorso-distal process is in the form of a
prominent, downwards-pointing hook, and the distal part of the valval ventrum
is evenly curved towards the valval distal edge; in all the subspecies of bavius
the valval dorso-distal process possesses a small ventral spine that is surmounted
by a massive, dorsally convex and distally pointed prominence, and the distal
part of the valval ventrum forms a right angle with the valval distal edge (figs.
17-19).

Androconia

Androconia samples taken from casimiri as well as from Greek examples of
macedonica showed that those of the fonner are considerably smaller and
narrower than those of the latter (figs. 20-24).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 122

Figs. 1-16. Ventral view of right half of tegumen, together with right labis and falx. 1.
Pseudophilotes bavius hungaricus, Hungary, Vieze, Com. Szamos, 23. iv. 1935. 2-4. Pseudophilotes
bavius macedonica. 2. Republic of Macedonia, Treska Gorge. 3, 4. Greece, Makedonia, Kozani
Distr., near Siatista, 800-1000 m. 3. 10. v. 1989. 4. 19.V.1990. 5, 6. Pseudophilotes bavius egea.
Turkey. 5. Konya Province, 15 km S of Karaman, 1200 m, 22-23. vi. 1982. 6. Antalya Province,
Güzelbag, 300-500 m, 15-16.V.1988. 7-9. Pseudophilotes bavius vanicola, Turkey. 7, 9. Hakkari
Province, Dez Valley, 20 km NE of Hakkari, 1500-2000 m, 3-10.vii.1992. 8. Van Province, 8-32
km N of £atak, 1900-2200 m, 13-19. vi. 1990. 10. Pseudophilotes bavius eitschbergeri, Syria, Ain
Khadra, 900-1050 m, 24. iv. 1997. 11-16. Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri, Greece, Pelopónnisos. 11-
15. Ahaia Distr., Zahloroü, near Kalavrita, 600 m. 11. 23.V.1990. 12. 5.V.1971. 13, 15. 27.V.1975. 14.
27.V.1979. 16. Arkadia Distr. vic. of Tripolis, 750 m, 24.V.1989.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 123

Figs. 17-19. Pseudophilotes male genitalia. 17, 18. Side view of outer face of left valva. 19. Ventral
view of right half of tegumen, together with right labis and falx. 17. Pseudophilotes bavius
macedonica, Republic of Macedonia, Treska Gorge. 18, 19. Pseudophilotes fatma , Morocco, Middle
Atlas, Ifrane, 1700 m, 1 5-1 7.v. 1988.

Figs. 20-24. Androconia of Greek Pseudophilotes drawn to same scale. 20-22. Pseudophilotes
bavius macedonica , Makedonia, Kozani Distr., near Siatista, 800-1000 m, lO.v.1989. 23, 24.
Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri. Pelopónnisos, Ahaia Distr., Zahloroü, near Kalavrita, 600 m,
23. v. 1990.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 124

Discussion

The constant differences between the male genitalia of subspecies casimiri
and those of all the other subspecies of bavius , coupled with differences present
in wing characters (the male of the former always has bright orange sub-
marginal markings on HW upper-side in sic, s2 and s3, while in all the other
subspecies these markings, when present, are reduced in number and are not as
bright), clearly suggest that the geographically isolated casimiri has diverted
itself from the norm to a point where it may conceivably be shown in the future,
and through DNA sequencing, as representing a distinct species. It is also
interesting to note that casimiri is unjustly being totally ignored by Higgins &
Riley (1970).

The distinct specific position of fatma , as explained above, is based on
extensive genitalic differences. These were recorded in Higgins (1975), but were
obviously deemed not important enough to warrant its separation at species
level.

Acknowledgments

In concluding I would like to express my thanks to Willy De Prins, Alain
Olivier and Dirk van der Poorten for supplying a good many of the specimens
used in this endeavour.

References

Hesselbarth, G., van Oorschot, H. & Wagener, S. 1995. Die Tagfalter der Tvrkei, 3 vols. pp. 1-1354,
1-847, pis. 1-141, maps I-IV, 1-342. — Selbstverlag S. Wagener, Bocholt (Germany).

Higgins, L. G. 1975. The Classification of European Butterflies. — Collins, St. James’ s Place,
London, 320 pp.

Higgins, L. G. & Riley, N. D. 1970. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. —
Collins, St. James’s Place, London, 384 pp., 63 colour plates, 384 distribution maps.

Nekrutenko, Y. P. 1985. EyjiaBoycbie HemyeKpbuibie KpbiMa. Onpe^enHTenb. — KneB: HayK.
JlyMKa., 152 pp., 24 colour plates. (In Russian).

Tuzov, V. K., Bogdanov, P. V., Churkin, S. V., Dantchenko, A. V., Devyatkin, A. L., Murzin, V. S.,
Samodurov, G. D. & Zhdanko, A. B. 2000. Guide to the Butterflies of Russia and Adjacent
Territories ( Lepidoptera , Rhopalocerd). — Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow, Vol. 2, 580 pp. 88 colour
plates.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 125

Boekbespreking

LIKONA: LIKONA Jaarboek 2007.

21 x 26 cm, 108 p., doorlopend in kleur geïllustreerd; Provinciaal Natuurcentrum, Het Groene Huis,
Domein Bokrijk, B-3600 Genk (D/2008/5857/43).

Dit is alweer het 17de jaarboek van LIKONA. Net als de vorige delen bevat het meer dan 100
pagina's interessante informatie over de natuur in de provincie Limburg. Niet minder dan 137 auteurs
hebben de verschillende teksten bij elkaar geschreven. Zoals gewoonlijk bevat het jaarboek een rijke
en gevarieerde keuze uit onderwerpen.

Het begint met een studie van de geologie van de landcommanderij Alden Biesen in het
Limburgse dorp Rijkhoven (gemeente Bilzen), met een overzicht van de geologische geschiedenis en
de tot 33 miljoen jaar oude fossielen die in de verschillende aardlagen werden aangetroffen.
Eveneens geologisch van aard is het stuk over de cirkelvormige depressies in de Vlakte van Bocholt.
In dit gebied, gelegen tussen Hamont, Bree en Kinrooi, komen ongeveer 200 cirkelvormige
depressies in het landschap voor met een doormeter van ca. 140 m en verhoogde wallen van
gemiddeld 1,50 m.

Op botanisch gebied volgen twee stukjes, nl. over het dwergwratj esmos ( Cololejeunia
minutissima), waarvan een blad ongeveer 0,2 mm groot is, en over het klein warkruid ( Cuscuta
epithymum), een zeldzame plant van heidegebieden die er een holoparasitaire levenswijze op
nahoudt. Dit wil zeggen dat de plant zichzelf niet van water of voedingsstoffen kan voorzien, maar
doorvoor is aangewezen op zijn gastheer. Met speciale boorworteltjes dringt hij in de stam van de
gastheer en onttrekt er zo de nodige stoffen.

Voor de entomologen zijn er eveneens twee onderwerpen: het doen en laten van de zeldzame
zadelsprinkhaan ( Ephippiger ephippiger ) in de gebieden met Opglabbekerzavel (gemeenten Genk, As
en Opglabbeek). Als toetje bij dit artikel hoort een reeks opnames, voorzien van een korte uitleg, van
de paring en de eiafzet van de zadelsprinhaan. Het tweede entomologisch artikel handelt over de
eikenprocessierups ( Thaumetopoea processioned). Deze voor de mens erg irriterende soort is sedert
het einde van de jaren tachtig weer volop aan het toenemen en door deze populatiegroei kwamen er
ook stelselmatig ook meer parasieten en predatoren mee. Daarvan wordt een overzicht gegeven en de
meest voorkomende soorten worden meer in detail besproken (parasieten Pales processionae,
Carcelia iliaca en Pipla processionae ; predatoren Troilus luridus, Rhinocoris iracundus, R.
annulatus, Dendroxena quadrimaculata, Calosoma inquisitor en C. sycophantd).

Het jaarboek bevat verder nog een studie over de kortsnavelboomkruiper ( Certhia familiaris
macrodactyla), een nieuwe broedvogel in Limburg (Voeren) en Vlaanderen, een studie over het
voorkomen van de eikelmuis ( Eliomys quercinus ) in Limburg, en een onderzoek naar de verspreiding
van de Europese hamster ( Cricetus cricetus) in Limburg in de 21ste eeuw.

Achteraan in dit jaarboek volgt nog een becommentarieerd literatuuroverzicht van publicaties in
diverse media die over de natuur in Limburg handelen. Daarbij zijn er 22 met een entomologisch
onderwerp.

Zoals steeds is dit jaarboek bijzonder keurig uitgegeven. Het is een must voor wie in de
Limburgse natuur geïnteresseerd is.

Willy De Prins

Phegea 36(4) (01 .XII.2008): 126

Clepsis dumicolana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), new to
the Belgian fauna

Willy De Prins & Jean-Yves Baugnée

Samenvatting. Clepsis dumicolana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), een nieuwe soort voor de
Belgische fauna.

Op 17 augustus 2008 werd te Luik een exemplaar van Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847)
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) waargenomen rustend op Hedera helix, in de buurt van de Kennedy-
brug, leg. J.-Y. Baugnée. Nadien werd in dezelfde stad nog een veertigtal exemplaren
waargenomen op twee plaatsen op de hellingen van de citadel. Het is de eerste maal dat deze
soort uit België wordt vermeld. Details over de levenswijze en de verspreiding worden gegeven.

Résumé. Clepsis dumicolana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), une espèce nouvelle pour la faune
beige.

Le 17 aoüt 2008, un exemplaire de Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae),
posé sur une feuille de Hedera helix, fut observé a Liège, prés du pont Kennedy, leg. J.-Y.
Baugnée. Une quarantaine d'autres exemplaires furent ensuite notés dans la même ville, en deux
endroits des Coteaux de la Citadelle. C'est la première fois que cette espèce est mentionnée pour
la faune de Belgique. Des informations concernant sa biologie et sa répartition sont données.

Key words: Clepsis dumicolana - Faunstics - First record - Belgium.

De Prins, W.: Dorpstraat 40 1B, B-3061 Leefdaal, Belgium. willy.deprins@gmail.com.

Baugnée, J.-Y.: Observatoire de la Faune, de la Flore et des Habitats, Centre de Recherche de la
Nature, des Forêts et du Bois, 22, Avenue de la Faculté, B-5030 Gembloux.
Ext.Baugnee@mrw.wallonie.be.

On 17 August 2008, a specimen of Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847) was
observed in the city of Liège near the "Pont Kennedy", while it was resting on a
leaf of Hedera helix , leg. J.-Y. Baugnée (Fig. 1). In September 2008, more than
forty specimens were observed in the same city, respectively at the "Esplanade
Saint-Léonard (8 September) and at the "Terrasse des Minimes" (29 September),
in a south exposition, leg. J.-Y. Baugnée. It is the First time that this species is
observed in Belgium and it increases the number of Tortricidae species recorded
from Belgium to 363 (De Prins & Steeman 2008).

The species is readily recognized as a Clepsis mainly by its wing shape, but it
is quite different from the other Clepsis species which have been recorded from
Belgium (De Prins & Steeman 2008). The male has a costal fold. The head is
orange brown. The thorax is of the same colour as the basal blotch or a little bit
darker brown and has a yellowish ochreous collar. The ground colour of the fore
wings is brownish grey and the markings are darker brown, in fresh specimens
with a faint violet hue. The basal blotch is less dark brown than the medan band,
but in many specimens more prominent than in the picture in Razowski (2002,
pl. 15). In some specimens, the basal blotch has almost the same colour as the
ground colour of the forewing, but then at least two small dark brown spots
remain delimiting the proximal edge of this blotch. The postmedian fascia is very
broad and sometimes connected to the rather small subapical blotch. lts interior

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 127

border shows two concave waves. Both the basal blotch and the median fascia
are edged with some light ochreous yellowish scales (Fig. 1).

Distribution

Clepsis dumicolcma has a Southern European distribution but it is expanding
its areal northwards during the last years. Whether this is due to anthropogenic
factors or is caused by the active expansion of its areal, has to be studied. It is
known from the following countries or islands (Aarvik 2007): Corsica, Italy,
Sardinia, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. It has furthermore been
recorded from Austria, Croatia and mainland France; the most northem localities
in this country are situated in Saöne-et-Loire (Seliger et al. 2008). Outside
Europe, it occurs in Syria and Lebanon (Razowski 2002: 118).

In 2006, it was observed for the First time in Germany, Baden-Württemberg,
when in many regions of the city of Stuttgart well established populations of the
species were noticed (Hausenblas 2006, 2007). The species was common in the
same localities in 2007. C. dumicolana was furthermore recorded in Germany
from Gaggenau (Hausenblas 2006) and from Berlin-Steglitz (Peschel et al.
2008). In 2007, the species had spread till Nordrhein-Westfalen. Many
specimens were observed on 3 October in the city of Kempen, flying around
Hedera helix which was growing on a Southern exposed wall (Seliger et al.
2008).

In June 2008, C. dumicolana was First reported from the Netherlands when
some specimens were seen in Amsterdam (Werkgroep Vlinderfaunistiek).

It is unclear how this species reached Germany and Belgium. Perhaps, it was
imported with its foodplant. It can certainly establish strong populations in a
short period as was observed in several German cities (Seliger et al. 2008). The
Belgian specimens could well have originated from the population in Kempen,
but it is also possible that it has been imported from the Mediterranean region by
anthropological activities. The fact that the species has been recorded from
several localities in Central Europe, makes it clear that the species is expanding
its range, probably in part by its own means, and partly because of the
introduction of specimens in more northem regions.

Biology

The early stages are still not described (Razowski 2002: 118) but the biology
of the species is rather well known. The eggs are deposited on the leaves of
Hedera helix. As far as known, the caterpillars feed exclusively on this foodplant
(Spuler 1910: 248). First instar larvae consume the upper layer of the leaves, and
later instars eat holes in the leaves. The species was bred indoors at ca. 18°C
from eggs laid in October producing the First adult in March of the next year
(Seliger et al. 2008).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 128

Figs. 1-2. Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847), Pont Kennedy, Liège, 17.viii.2008, leg. J.-Y. Baugnée;
3. Southern exposed wall at Liège partly covered with Hedera helix (photo J.-Y. Baugnée).

Under natural circumstances the species hibemates in the larval stage. Full-
grown larvae have been found in April-May. Pupation takes places between
leaves of the foodplant spun together. Adults usually fly in the evening around
the larval foodplant, but sometimes they are also active during daytime. The
flight period is from mid May till mid July (Razowski 2002: 118). However, the
species was observed in Belgium from mid August to end of September and in
Baden- Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen in October which presumes the
occurrence of a (partial) second generation. Such a generation has never been
recorded from the south of Europe. The Belgian records are situated in between
the known dates and this makes it difficult to distinguish clearly between
generations. It is perhaps possible that the Caterpillar develops whenever the
favourable temperatures are reached, which, in the temperate climate zone, can
be throughout the year, except for the cold winter months. In South Europe, it
might be too hot and dry during the summer months for the Caterpillar to
develop.

The species seems to prefer xerotherm habitats as in most of the observations
the moths were present in gardens, graveyards, parks etc. where Hedera helix
was growing on walls, tree trunks or other substrates directed to the south.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 129

References

Aarvik, L. 2007. Fauna Europaea: Tortricidae. - In: Karsholt, O. & van Nieukerken, E. J. (eds.),
Fauna Europaea version 1.3. — www.faunaeur.org [accessed 30.ix.008].

De Prins, W. & Steeman, C. 2008. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium. — www.phegea.org
[accessed 30.ix.2008],

Hausenblas, D. 2006. Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) - ein für die
Fauna Deutschlands neuer Kleinschmetterling. — www.entomologie.de/stuttgart/lepi/aktuelles/
lepi_aktuell.htm [accessed 30.ix.2008].

Hausenblas, D. 2007. Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler) - ein neuer Wickler für die Fauna Deutschlands
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). — Entomologische Zeitschrift, Stuttgart 117(2): 67-70.

Peschel, T., Wiegleb, G. & Brunk, I. 2008. Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847) in Berlin nachgewiesen
(Lepidoptera). — Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte 51: 232.

Razowski, J. 2002. Tortricidae of Europe. Volume 1. Tortricinae and Chlidanotinae. — Frantisek
Slamka, Bratislava. 247 pp., 16 colour plates.

Seliger, R., Randazzo, P. & Kinkler, H. 2008. Drei neuen Wickler-Arten fur Nordrhein-Westfalen:
Clepsis dumicolana (Zeiler, 1847), Crocidosema plebejana Zeiler, 1847 und Cydia lobarzewskii
(Nowicki, 1860) (Lep., Tortricidae). — Melanargia 20(2): 39-42.

Spuler, A. 1910. Die Schmetterlinge Europas. Band 2. — Schweitzerbarfschen

Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart.

Werkgroep Vlinderfaunistiek 2008. De kleine vlinders van Nederland. —
www.microlepidoptera.nl/soorten/species.php?speciescode=00148&p=l [accessed 30.ix.2008].

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 130

Loopkevers (Coleoptera: Carabidae) aan de Belgische
oostkust

Willy Troukens

Abstract. Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at the Belgium east coast.

A list is given of the 50 species of carabid beetles which were observed during 1975-2005 at

Wenduine and in the nature reserve "Het Zwin" at Knokke-Heist (Belgium, Province of West-

Vlaanderen).

Résumé. Coléptères carabiques (Coleoptera) sur la cöte oriëntale de Belgique.

Pendant la période 1975-2005, 1'auteur a noté les Carabidae a Wenduine et dans la réserve

naturelle "Het Zwin" a Knokke-Heist (Belgique, Flandre occidentale). La liste des 50 espèces est

donnée.

Key words: Belgium - faunistics - Coleoptera - Carabidae.

Troukens, W.: Ninoofsesteenweg 782/8, B-1070 Anderlecht.

In de periode 1975-2005 bezochten mijn vrouw en ik geregeld de Belgische
oostkust. Al wandelend en fietsend ging onze aandacht vooral naar de
plaatselijke natuur. Daarom verbleven we het liefst in Wenduine met zijn 150 ha
zee- en binnenduinen en zijn uitgestrekte polders.

Bij gelegenheid werd ook Het Zwin te Knokke-Heist bezocht. Dit
natuurgebied bestaat uit 125 ha zeeduinen, slikken en schorren. Het is uniek
omwille van zijn zoutminnende flora en fauna waaronder enkele typische
insecten. In de loop der jaren verzamelden wij een schat aan gegevens. Ook de
loopkevers (Carabidae) werden vlijtig geïnventariseerd. Bij het napluizen van
mijn oude logboekjes en mijn collectiemateriaal telde ik 50 soorten. Dit is zowat
één derde van alle loopkeversoorten die na 1950 aan de oostkust werden
aangetroffen (Desender 1986).

Sommige van deze kevers zijn typische kustbewoners; ze worden zelden of
nooit waargenomen in het binnenland. Het zijn zoutminnende of

warmteminnende soorten die zich alleen thuisvoelen op de schorren of in de
duinen. Op de landzijde van de duinen heerst 's zomers als het ware een
Middellands-Zeeklimaat waardoor continentale kevers met een meer zuidelijk
areaal zich hier nog best kunnen handhaven (Goetghebuer 1928: 22). Mij
baserend op de kaartjes van Desender (1986) gaat het om volgende soorten:
Dyschirius salinus, Bembidion minimum , B. normannum , Pogonus chalceus,
Amara tibialis, A. convexiuscula, Dicheirotrichus gustavii, Harpalus servus ,
Mesoreus wetterhallii en Demetrias mono stigma.

In de tabel (p. 13-14) volgt een opsomming van alle Carabidae die sinds
1975 met zekerheid werden gedetermineerd. Naast elke soort wordt met een
kruisje (+) de lokaliteit aangeduid. Voor de naamgeving werd de nomenclatuur
gevolgd van Boeken et al. (2002).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 131

Figuur 1. Natuurreservaat Het Zwin, Knokke-Heist (België, West- Vlaanderen) op 14 juni 1976.

Figuren 2-9. Carabidae aan de Belgische kust; 2- Cicindela hybrida Linnaeus; 3 - Leistus
spinibarbis (Fabricius); 4.- Blemus discus (Fabricius); 5 - Calathus fuscipes (Goeze); 6- Dyschirius
thoracicus (P. Rossi); 7- Broscus cephalotes (Linnaeus); 8. Amara bifrons (Gyllenhal); 9-
Panagaeus bipustulatus (Fabricius).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 132

Tabel 1. Lijst van de Carabidae geobserveerd aan de Belgische oostkust

Soortnaam

Cicindela hybrida Linnaeus, 1758
Leistus spinibarbis (Fabricius, 1775)
Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius, 1792)
Notiophilus biguttatus (Fabricius, 1779)
Dyschirius salinus Schaum, 1843
Dyschirius thoracicus (P. Rossi, 1790)
Broscus cephalotes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Blemus discus (Fabricius, 1792)

Treebus quadristriatus (Schrank, 1781)
Bembidion lampros (Herbst, 1784)
Bembidion varium (Olivier, 1795)
Bembidion minimum (Fabricius, 1792)
Bembidion normannum Dejean, 1831
Bembidion lunulatum (Geoffroy, 1785)
Bembidion femoratum Sturm, 1 825
Bembidion tetracolum Say, 1 823
Pogonus chalceus (Marsham, 1 802)
Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger, 1798)
Pterostichus strenuus (Panzer, 1797)
Calathus erratus (C. R. Sahlberg, 1827)
Calathus fuscipes (Goeze, 1777)

Calathus melanocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Calathus mollis (Marsham, 1802)

Agonum marginatum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Agonum muelleri (Herbst, 1784)

Amara plebeja (Gyllenhal, 1810)

Amara aenea (De Geer, 1774)

Amara curta Dejean, 1828
Amara familiaris (Duftschmid, 1812)
Amara spreta Dejean, 1831
Amara tibialis (Paykull, 1798)

Amara bifrons (Gyllenhal, 1810)

Amara fulva (O. F. Müller, 1776)

Amara convexiuscula (Marsham, 1 802)
Pseudoophonus rufipes (De Geer, 1774)
Harpalus affinis (Schrank, 1781)

Harpalus anxius (Duftschmid, 1812)
Harpalus rubripes (Duftschmid, 1812)
Harpalus servus (Duftschmid, 1812)
Harpalus tardus (Panzer, 1797)
Dicheirotrichus gustavii Crotch, 1871

Wenduine Het Zwin

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

1 +

+

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 133

Stenolophus mixtus (Herbst, 1784)
Badister bullatus (Schrank, 1798)
Badister dilatatus Chaudoir, 1837
Panagaeus bipustulatus (Fabricius, 1775)
Masoreus wetterhallii (Gyllenhal, 1813)
Demetrias monostigma Samouelle, 1819
Paradromius linearis (Olivier, 1795)
Syntomus foveatus (Geoffroy, 1785)

Dankwoord

Dit artikel is het resultaat van jarenlang veldwerk. Ik dank hierbij mijn
echtgenote Nicole, evenals Aubin De Turck (Wenduine) en niet in het minst de
leerlingen van de 3de klas van de basisschool "De Vlinder" (Dilbeek) die mij
behulpzaam waren bij tal van speurtochten. Mijn dank gaat ook naar Konjev
Desender (K.B.I.N., Brussel), voor zijn gewaardeerde hulp bij het determineren
van enkele twijfelgevallen.

Bibliografie

Boeken, M, Desender, K., Drost, B., van Gijzen, T.; Kroese, B., Muilwijk, J., Turin, H. &
Vermeulen, R. J. 2002. De loopkevers van Nederland & Vlaanderen (Coleoptera: Carabidae). —
Stichting Jeugdbondsuitgeverij, Utrecht.

Desender, K. 1986. Distribution and ecology of Carabid beetles in Belgium (Coleoptera: Carabidae),
part 14. — Studiedocumenten van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen
26, 27, 30, 34. Brussel.

Goetghebuer, M. 1928. Rapport du Président: Faune entomologique du littoral et particulièrement du
schorre du Zwijn. — Bulletin et Annales de la Société entomologique de Belgique 68: 17-23.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 134

Seasonal abundance of the leaf-cutting bee, Megachile
minutissima (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Mohamed A. Shebl, Soliman M. Kamel, Talaat A. Abu Hashesh & Mohamed A.
Osman

Abstract. Solitary bees such as bees belonging to the family Megachilidae are most efficiënt
pollinators of alfalfa, Medicago sativa. During April to June of the years 2005-2007, artificial
nests of leaf-cutting bees were transferred to an experimental farm to study the seasonal
abundance of the bees. Samples of bees were taken by a sweeping net in an experimental field of
alfalfa, three times per day: at 10 am, 1 pm and 3 pm respectively. The collecting was repeated
every 7 to 10 days from the beginning of flowering time till the end of the season. The results
revealed that alfalfa had a flowering time in the experimental farm of about 8 weeks starting
from late March till the end of May. During the flowering time Megachile minutissima
(Radoszkowski, 1876) visited and pollinated the alfalfa flowers. Observations also indicate that
males of leaf-cutting bees start flying a few days before females but there is no role for males in
tripping of alfalfa flowers. Females start to visit alfalfa flowers not before 9 am, the maximum
activity was at 1 pm and there is no activity after 5 pm.

Samenvatting. Seizoensgebonden talrijkheid van de bladsnijderbij, Megachile minutissima
(Hymenoptera: Megachilidae).

Solitaire bijen, voornamelijk bijen uit de familie Megachilidae, zijn de meest efficiënte
bestuivers van alfalfa, Medicago sativa. Kunstnesten met bladsnijderbijen werden van april tot
juni in de jaren 2005, 2006 en 2007 opgesteld in een experimenteel veld om de
seizoensgebonden aanwezigheid van de bijen te bestuderen. Stalen van de bijen werden 3 keer
per dag (10, 13 en 15 uur) genomen door met een sleepnet door de alfalfa-vegetatie te slepen, en
dit met een interval van 7 tot 10 dagen vanaf het begin van de bloei tot het einde van het seizoen.
De resultaten tonen aan dat alfalfa gedurende 8 weken bloeit van einde maart tot begin mei.
Megachile minutussuma (Radoszkowski, 1876) bezocht en bestoof de alfalfa bloemen.
Mannetjes begonnen enkele dagen vroeger te vliegen dan vrouwtjes maar zij spelen geen rol in
de "tripping" van de alfalfa bloemen. Vrouwtjes starten hun activiteit vanaf 9 uur; de maximale
activiteit lag rond 13 uur en na 17 uur stopt de bestuiving.

Résumé. Abondance saisonnière de 1'abeille solitaire, Megachile minutissima
(Hymenoptera: Megachilidae).

Des abeilles solitaires, comme les Megachilidae, sont parmi les meilleurs pollinisateurs d'alfalfa,
Medicago sativa. Pendant la période d'avril-juin des années 2005-2007, des nids artificiels furent
construits et placés dans un champ expérimental d'alfalfa afin d'étudier 1'abondance saisonnière
des abeilles. Des échantillons d'abeilles furent pris avec un filet trois fois par jour: a 10, 13 et 15
h, et cela tous les 7 a 10 jours pendant la saison des fleurs. Les résultats montrent que 1'alfalfa a
une période de floraison de 8 semaines, de fin mars jusqu'a fin mai. Megachile minutissima
(Radoszkowski, 1876) visitait et pollinisait les alfalfa. Les observations ont aussi montré que les
males commencent a voler quelques jours avant les femelles mais qu'ils ne jouent aucun röle
dans la pollinisation. Les femelles commencent leurs activités a partir de 9 heures; 1'activité
maximale se situe a 13 h. et qu'après 17 h. il n'y a plus d'activité.

Key words: Artificial nesting - alfalfa pollination - population dynamics - seed production
- Megachile minutissima - Megachilidae

Shebl, M. A. et al:. Dept. of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University,
Ismailia, Egypt. mohamedshebl@hotmail.com.

1. Introduction

Alfalfa flowers, Medicago sativa Linnaeus, 1753, require visiting bees to trip
the sexual column, thereby providing pollination and subsequent pot and seed

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 135

set. Previous studies have compared the pollination values of different bee
species solely by the speed with which they handle flowers and the proportion of
visited flowers tripped.

Fig. 1. Foam pieces used for artificial nesting of leaf-cutting bees.

Fig. 2. Complete artificial nest of leaf-cutting bees.

Females of the alkali bee, Nomia melcmderi (Cockerell, 1906) and the alfalfa
leaf-cutting bee Megachile rotundata (Fabricius, 1793) tripped 81% and 78% of
visited flowers, respectively. Males of these species were significantly less
effective (61% and 51 %, respectively), but still significantly superior to the

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 136

honey bee Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758) (22% of visited flowers tripped). One
candidate pollinator, Osmia sanrafaelae Parker 1985, shows promise (44%
tripped), but not the congeneric O. aglaia (Sandhouse, 1939) (13% tripped)
(Cane 2002). However, tripping done by a specialized group of bees which enter
the flowers and press their keel by their own weight thereby releasing male and
female organs to distribute pollen and effect cross- pollination (Abrol 1993).

Leaf-cutting bees are the main pollinators of alfalfa, the activity of these bees
are regulated by both temperature and light intensity (Klostermeyer & Gerber
1969). The number of flowers visited per trip, the time spent flying from flowers
tripped per unit time are influenced by weather conditions (i.e. temperature and
light intensity), agronomic practices (i.e. plant or flower density and irrigation),
and the alfalfa cultivar. Females visit from five flowers per minute under cool,
partly cloudy weather conditions in a thin plant density, to 25 flowers per minute
under hot, clear conditions in a thick plant density. Each flower visit averaged
approximately four times longer under the first condition, but the percentage of
flowers pollinated under both conditions was similar (Richard 1984).

The flight activity of the bees, Megachile nana (Bingham, 1897) and
Megachile flavipes (Spinola, 1838) on alfalfa were affected by environmental
factors, specially cessation of light intensity and solar radiation. Also, Abrol
(1990) found a positive correlation with air temperature, light intensity, solar
radiation, nectar sugar concentration and negative correlation with relative
humidity. Path coëfficiënt analysis revealed that the direct of solar radiation on
M. nana and solar radiation and light intensity on M. flavipes was pronounced.
While the direct effect of other factors were negative or negligible, M. nana
spent less time than M. flavipes with an average of 2.35 seconds. However, the
mean tripping efficiency was higher in the latter species (89.5 %) than the
former (87.5 %) (Abrol 1990). The excessive high temperatures (40° C or
above) in the nesting media can kill the eggs and early instar larvae. Poorly
constructed shelters can act as heat traps and thus produce lethal temperatures. If
nesting media are exposed to direct sunlight this can result in high cell
temperatures. Cell temperatures below 4° C can cause immature mortality
though it is doubtful whether this occurs in the field (Mayer 1992).

The flight activity of Osmia cornuta (Latreille, 1805) started at 7.40-10.20
am and at 9-12° C and ended at 6.00-6.30 pm, often after sunset. Females mark
their nest entrance with secretions, probably from the mandibular glands, and
individuals with severed antennae are unable to recognize their nesting cavity
(Vicens & Bosch 2000). The population dynamics and foraging behaviour of
Megachile rotundata , as well as the alfalfa bloom and pollination rates in two
fields in eastem Oregon were studied by Bosch & Kemp (2005). Despite marked
differences in bee management, establishment was very similar in the two fields
(0.5 females per nesting cavity) and a lagged peak bloom by 2 weeks.
Pollination rates increased from 0-10% in the first 3 weeks to 80-90% in week

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 137

4-5. By then, M. rotundata females had difficulty finding untripped (non-
pollinated) flowers and visited large numbers of already tripped or not fully
matured flowers. The mortality of the M. rotundata progeny was very high (54-
78%). Estimated seed yields were similar in both fields. We contend that similar
seed yields, and improved bee production, could be accomplished with smaller
bee populations, better timed with alfalfa bloom (Bosch & Kemp 2005).
Artificial nests were prepared and moved to the experimental field (Kamel et al.
2007). The present work is aimed to study the population abundance of leaf-
cutting bees during the season and their relation to the blooming season of
alfalfa with the aim to obtain higher rates of pollination and seed yields.

Nesting activities of Megachile uniformis (A.) started shortly after the
emergence of the females, i.e. during the mating period, and continued to the end
of the activity season. The emergency of bees started on 10 April in the two
seasons of 2001, and 2003. Females were active from 10 April 10 to 6 June. A
female usually hovers around the nests to select a suitable nesting site for
herself. After selecting the nest, she starts cleaning it before inhabiting it
(Shoukry et al. 2004).

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Artificial nesting of Megachile minutissima (Radoszkowski, 1876)

Artificial bee nests were prepared during the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 in
March and transformed to natural nest sites in Tel El Kebir (30°33'30"N, 31°56'
13"E) about 50 km west of Ismailia in the Delta of River Nile (Kamel et al.
2007). The artificial material used for nesting bees was foam. The nests consist
of 50 pieces of foam, each piece 50 cm long, 12 cm wide and 2 cm thick. Each
piece of foam has 26 holes of 1 0 cm depth and 6 mm diameter. After sticking the
foam pieces upon each other, holes were created in this block and the shelter was
performed. Straws of paper tubes 10 cm in length and 5.2 mm intemal diameter,
one tube was put in each hole. All foam nests were painted in black to imitate
natural nests. The artificial nests were transferred to the natural nesting sites in
different villages of Tel El Kebir in April till the end of July in the years 2004,
2005 and 2006 (Fig. 1 and 2). By the end of June the foam nests were collected
from the natural nest sites and transferred to the experimental field for
emergency of bees in the following year, the nests were preserved and kept from
any damage by other pests and ants.

2.2. Experimental field preparation

In the beginning of October 2005, 2006 and 2007 the experimental field of
the bees research unit, Suez Canal University, Ismailia was prepared for alfalfa
seed cultivation. The variety used was Ismailia 1 produced by the Agricultural
experimental station in Ismailia. The grown distance between the plants was
30 cm and there were a total number of 1200 plants in the field. Normal nitrogen
fertilizer was added to the field. The experimental field was divided into three

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 138

parts: nearest to the nest (20 m), near to the nest (30 m), and far from the nest
(40 m).

2.3. Population dynamics of Megachile minutissima on alfalfa flowers

The experiment conducted at the experimental field of Bee research unit,
Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. Artificial bee nests were installed at the
eastem part of the experimental field to be in the front of the sun rise in March
of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The emergency of M. started after the
blooming of alfalfa flowers which usually occurs around late March. Samples of
bees were taken by a sweeping net in the experimental field of alfalfa, D25
doublé strokes per sweepD. Samples were taken three times a day of work at
1 0 am, 1 pm and 3 pm respectively. This was repeated every 7 to 1 0 days from
the beginning of blooming till the end of the season. Numbers of bees were
recorded and bees were released again into the field for maintaining the
population of bees till the end of the season.

However, samples of M. minutissima were taken from three different
distances of bees from the artificial nest site, at 20, 30 and 40 m2. In each area
samples of bees were taken in the same times as in the previous experiment. The
number of bees was recorded and the bees were released again.

2.4. Meteorological data at the time of the experiment

The high and low temperature and relative humidity from March to June
have been recorded during March until July 2005, 2006, and 2007 using a
thermo-hygrograph .

3. Results

3.1. The seasonal abundance of leafcutting bees

The seasonal abundance of leafcutting bees was different at the start and the
end of the generation. For the season 2005, the bees started flying at the
beginning of April and the season lasted until the last day of May (Fig. 3). For
the season 2006, the bees started flying mid April until the First day of June (Fig.
4). In 2007, the bees started flying mid March and the season lasted till mid
May. (Fig. 5).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 139

2 8-04-05

~m~ Relative h um idity |

08-05-05
20 05

70

9405 1274/05 17/4/05 29405 7/905 14/505 2 1/5/05 265/05 31/905

jT~ ' Male BFemale j

Fig. 3. Seasonal and daily activity, numbers of males, females and the total of Megachile minutissima
(Radoszkowski, 1876) bees on alfalfa flowers at three different distances: the First distance (20 m),
second distance (30 m) and third distance (40 m), away from the nests during 2005.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 140

90

80

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

18-04-06 23-04-06 28-04-06 03-05-06 08-05-06 13-05-06 18-05-06 23-05-06 28-05-06 02-06-06 07-06-06

— Temperature Relative humidity [ T and RHat2006

234/06 15/06 85/06 165/06 195/06 22556 285/2006 30556 1556

Ui Male R Female

Fig. 4. Seasonal and daily activity, numbers of males, females and the total of Megachile minutissima
(Radoszkowski, 1876) bees on alfalfa flowers at three different distances: the First distance (20 m),
second distance (30 m) and third distance (40 m), away from the nests during 2006.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 141

90

50
40
30
20
10
0

19-03-07 29-03-07 08-04-07 18-04-07 28-04-07 08-05-07 18-05-07

date

♦ Temperature —fjj~ Relative humidity j

70

0 Male H Female

Fig. 5. Seasonal and daily activity, numbers of males, females and the total of Megachile minutissima
(Radoszkowski, 1876) bees on alfalfa flowers at three different distances: the First distance (20 m),
second distance (30 m) and third distance (40 m), away from the nests during 2007.

3.2. The daily abundance of leafcutting bees

The daily activity of bees has been studied for three seasons from 2005, 2006
and 2007. The bee numbers increased from 9 am to reach maximum numbers at
1 pm, after that the activity decreased till sunset (tables 1, 2, and 3, and fig. 6).
However, the number of bees were so high in the distances so close to the nest
than far. There is a linear relationship between the distance and the number of

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 142

bees, increasing the distance is followed by decreasing of bees numbers (table 1,
2, and 3, and fig. 7).

Table 1. Total number of bees at different times and distances in 2005.

Time

Distance 20 m

Distance 30 m

Distance 40 m

Total

No

%

No

%

No

%

No

%

10 am

76

9.9

65

8.5

75

9.9

216

28.3

1 pm

169

22.1

102

13.3

65

8.5

336

43.9

3 pm

71

9.3

92

12.0

50

6.5

213

27.8

Total

316

41.3

259

33.8

190

24.9

765

100.0

Table 2. Total number of bees at different times and distances in 2006.

Time

Distance 20 m

Distance 30 m

Distance 40 m

Total

No

%

No

%

No

%

No

%

10 am

136

23.8

52

9.1

0

0.0

188

32.9

1 pm

200

34.9

52

9.1

20

3.5

272

47.5

3 pm

92

16.1

20

3.5

0

0.0

112

19.6

Total

428

74.8

124

21.7

20

3.5

572

100.0

Table 3. Total number of bees at different times and distances in 2007.

Time

Distance 20 m

Distance 30 m

Distance 40 m

Total

No

%

No

%

No

%

No

%

10 am

290

19.4

225

15.1

151

10.1

666

44.6

1 pm

308

20.6

220

14.7

118

7.9

646

43.2

3 pm

79

5.3

62

4.1

42

2.8

183

12.2

Total

677

45.3

507

33.9

311

20.8

1495

100.0

4. Discussion

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, had a blooming period in the experimental farm of
about 8 weeks from late March till the end of May. During the blooming period
Megachile minutissima visited and pollinated the alfalfa flowers. Observations
indicated that males of leaf-cutting bees start flying a few days before the
females but there is no role for the males in the tripping of alfalfa flowers. In this
way the male has no efficiency in the pollination of alfalfa (Cane 2002).
Moreover, the numbers of males were lower in the season 2006 (Fig. 4 ). This is
due to the strong wind in the spring of 2006 destroying some artificial nests.
Bees start to visit alfalfa flowers around 9 am, the number of bees increased
considerably at 10 am; bees were most active around 1 pm (Fig. 6).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 143

| ■ 2005]

2006

1 * 1 ' 1 ' 1 ' 1 ' ! — ' 1 ' 1

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Time

Fig. 6. The total number of bees at three times per day at 2005 (centre), 2006 (below) and 2007
(above).

The influence of temperature and light intensity at the beginning of flight of
males and females was studied. Bees start foraging under conditions of low
temperature and high light intensity or vice versa. By adapting to new
conditions, the bee has become more widely used to pollinate alfalfa. Peak flight
occurs during midday and at high temperatures. Decreasing light intensity
appears to be the main factor that ends daily foraging, even though summer
temperatures during early evening are often above 20°C. The females spend the
night in the nest, faced inward. As temperatures rise in the moming, they turn
around and face the entrance but do not come out and fly only when the
temperature exceeds 20°C and the sun’s radiation reaches 0.7 Langley. Bees
foraged at 1075 lux when the temperature was 25°C but needed 6450 lux at
17°C. Bees stopped foraging in the evening when radiation dropped to 0.3
Langley and also stopped if clouds reduced radiations to that level. Leaf-cutter
bees fly approximately lA mile to fmd food (Peterowski 1991). Alfalfa flower
production in commercial fields declines exponentially over the season (after an
initial burst of bloom). In addition, standing erop of open flowers declines
exponentially at a more rapid rate than open flower production, suggesting that
the decline in standing erop of flowers is due in part to increasing pollinator

Phegeg>36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 144

activity. The more rapid decline in open flowers per raceme close to bee shelters
was consistent with this interpretation. The model of alfalfa pollination predicts
a similar decline in flower standing erop of open flowers decreases and thus
pollination was completed sooner. An exponential decline was standing erop of
open flowers provides an explanation for the advantage of using large numbers
of bees to pollinate alfalfa rapidly (Strickler 1997). The impact of flower
abundance and pollinator movement on seed or fruit yield is of economie
importance, and may have implications for erop pollinator management. Field
observations of within versus between plant movement of the pollinator,
Megachile rotundata , indicate that the bees visit more flowers per raceme when
standing erop is high than when standing erop is low (Strickler 1999). Fig. 7
shows that increasing distance from the nest correlates with a decreasing number
of bees.

700-,

650-

600-

550-

500-

450-

$ 400-

CD

-Q 350-
'o

300 -j

Z 200-

150-

100-

50-

0 —
0

7 '■ 2005 !

lj:7^772006j

r ■z2b07|

10

~i — i — | — t — -7—

20 25 30

Distance

35

Fig. 7. The total number of bees at three distances from the nest at 2005 (centre), 2006 (below) and
2007 (above).

The number of open flowers and nectar availability declined more rapidly
close to bee shelters than at a distance. Interrupted the rapid decline in floral
resources partly as a result of steady pollination over time (Strickler & Freitas
1999). The bee pattems of abundance and distribution vary on many scales
across years, that pattems were not consistent between years, and raised
questions as to what this implies about bee-plant host relationships (Messinger &
Griswold 2002). The problems with the seasonal abundance and the plant-

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 145

pollinator relationship of leaf-cutting bees and other bee pollinators need more
studies in order to understand many remaining questions.

Conclusion

Leaf-cutting bees are considered as one of the most important pollinators of
alfalfa worldwide. The emergency of leaf-cutting bees from artificial nests is
synchronized with the alfalfa blooming seasons in Ismailia, Egypt. The leaf-
cutting bees' activity varied at three different times per day but it reached its
maximum at 1 pm. The number of bees decreased by increasing the distance
from the artificial nests. So, if farmers use artificial nests with alfalfa leaf-cutting
bees it is recommended to distribute the nests to cover the whole field instead of
putting the artificial nests at one site of the field only.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to bee research unit workers and employments at the Faculty
of Agriculture, Suez Canal University. Our deep thanks for the chief editor and
the reviewers of this joumal for valuable suggestions, and for the Egyptian
Academy for Science and Technology for fmancial aid of the work.

References

Abrol, D. P. 1990. Pollination activity of alfalfa-pollinating subtropical bees Megachile nana and
Megachile flavipes (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). — Tropical Ecology 31(1): 106-115.

Abrol, D. P. 1993. Energy intake and expenditure in alfalfa pollinating bee Megachile femorata
Smith (Hymenoptera : Megachilidae). — Tropical Ecology 34(2): 173-180.

Bosch, J. & Kemp, W. P. 2005. Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee Population Dynamics, Flower Availability,
and Pollination Rates in Two Oregon Alfalfa Fields. — Journal of Economie Entomology 98(4):
1077-1086.

Cane, J. H. 2002. Pollinating bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) of U.S. alfalfa compared for rates of
pod and seed set. — Journal of Economie Entomology 95(1): 22-27 .

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Richard, K. W. 1984. Alfalfa leaf cutter bee management in western Canada. — Cat. No. A53-
1495/1984 E.

Shoukry, A., Kamel, S. M., Abo Hashesh, T. A. & Aziz, A. R. 2004. The changes in the seasonal
activity and nesting behavior of Megachile uniformis (A.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) based
on artificial nesting site data figures in Ismailia. — Agriculture Research Journal, Suez Canal
University 3(1): 139-144.

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and monitoring studies. - In: Richards, K. W. (ed.), Proceedings, International Symposium on
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Strickler, K. & Freitas, S. 1999. Interaction between floral resources and bees (Hymenoptera:
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Vicens, N. & Bosch, J. 2000. Weather dependent pollinator activity in an apple orchard, with special
reference to Osmia cornuta and Apidael. — Environmental Entomology 29(3): 413-420.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 147

Boekbespreking

Bengtsson, B. A. & Palmqvist, G.: Fjarilar: Kakmalar-sackspinnare (Lepidoptera:

Micropterigidae-Psychidae).

22,5 x 28 cm, 646 pagina’s, doorlopend in kleur geïllustreerd, te verkrijgen bij Apollo Books,
Kirkeby Sand 19, DK-5771 Stenstrup, Denmark, apollobooks@vip.cybercity.dk, gebonden met
veelkleurige stofomslag, 2008, 49,- € (ISBN978-9 1-88506-60-3).

Dit boek is het derde deel dat in de prestigieuze reeks “ Nationalnyckeln till sveriges flora och
fauna ” (National encyclopedia of the Swedish flora and fauna) verschijnt, en meteen het dikste,
hoewel het over de zogenaamde Microlepidoptera handelt. De twee eerder verschenen boeken
bevatten respectievelijk de dagvlinders (2005) en de families Lasiocampidae, Endromidae,
Satumiidae, Lemoniidae, Sphingidae, Notodontidae, Nolidae, Arctiidae en Lymantriidae (2007). In
het huidige deel worden de meest primitieve vlinderfamilies bewerkt: Micropterigidae, Eriocraniidae,
Hepialidae, Nepticulidae, Opostegidae, Heliozelidae, Adelidae, Prodoxidae, Incurvariidae,
Tischeriidae, Tineidae, Lypusidae en Psychidae.

In de algemene, maar redelijk korte inleiding geven de auteurs een goed beeld van deze
primitieve motjes, hun fylogenie en systematiek, biologie, morfologie en tevens worden raadgevingen
opgesomd voor het bestuderen van deze groep insecten. Dit inleidend deel is geïllustreerd met
prachtige foto’s van vlindertjes in hun natuurlijk milieu. Dit deel sluit af met een systematisch
overzicht van alle behandelde soorten. Dat zijn niet alleen de strikt Zweedse soorten, maar alle
soorten die in Scandinavië, Finland en Denemarken voorkomen.

In het systematisch deel worden de verschillende groepen op zeer uitgebreide wijze behandeld.
Eerst komt er een overzicht van de familiekenmerken, rijkelijk geïllustreerd met foto’s uit de natuur,
tekeningen van vleugeladering, kop, mannelijke en vrouwelijke genitalia en een hoogst praktische
determineertabel. In de linkerkolom staan de kenmerken opgesomd in het Zweeds, in de rechterkolom
in het Engels en in het midden staan de vlindertjes in kleur afgebeeld met streepjes naar die
kenmerken waarop moet gelet worden.

Elke soort krijgt daarna minstens 1 pagina waarop de morfologische kenmerken uitgebreider
worden herhaald en waar ook info over de biologie en de geografische verspreiding wordt gegeven.
Aan de nomenclatuur wordt veel aandacht besteed: de volledige Latijnse naam met alle synoniemen
indien van toepassing, de Zweedse naam, de etymologie van de Latijnse naam en de uitspraak
(weliswaar voor Zweedse lezers). Deze teksten zijn in het Zweeds maar telkens is er een korte
samenvatting in het Engels afgedrukt. Bij elke soort hoort ook minstens 1 afbeelding in kleur, een
tekening van de genitalia, meestal beide geslachten en een verspreidingskaartje van Noordwest-
Europa.

Omdat veel van de behandelde soorten bladmineerders zijn, wordt aan dit fenomeen extra
aandacht besteed in een apart hoofdstuk met tekeningen van alle mijnen en bijhorende uitleg.

Achteraan in het boek worden nog eens alle behandelde soorten op kleurenplaten afgedrukt,
meestal in een vergroting van 5*. Deze figuren worden ook gebruikt in de determineertabellen en op
de individuele soortenpagina’s. Het zijn schitterende aquarellen door Ronald Johansson.

Het boek sluit af met een verklarende woordenlijst, een literatuurlijst en een alfabetische index.
Het is zeer keurig uitgegeven en stevig ingebonden. De prijs is haast belachelijk laag te noemen voor
een werk van deze kwaliteit, maar dat komt door een stevige subsidiëring van het Zweedse
koningshuis. Hoewel het boek overwegend in het Zweeds is opgesteld, is het toch handig bruikbaar
voor elke vlinderliefhebber die ook met Engels overweg kan. Ik kan het ten zeerste aanbevelen!

Willy De Prins

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 148

First record of the Strepsiptera genus Caenocholax in
Baltic amber with the description of a new species

Jeyaraney Kathirithamby & Hans Henderickx

Abstract. A new species of Strepsiptera, Caenocholax groehni sp. n., in Baltic amber
(44 myo) is described. This might prove morphological stasis and the existence of a largely
recent New World lineage in the Baltic region more than 40 million years ago. It also supplies
evidence conceming the ancient origin of Strepsiptera, and shows that species of this genus were
in existence throughout most of the Tertiary. A revised diagnosis of the genus Caenocholax is
also provided.

Samenvatting. Eerste vermelding van het genus Caenocholax (Strepsiptera) in Baltische
barnsteen en beschrijving van een nieuwe soort.

Een nieuwe soort Strepsiptera, Caenocholax groehni sp. n., uit Baltische barnsteen (44 miljoen
jaar oud) wordt beschreven. Deze soort kan eventueel morfologische stasis bevestigen en het
bestaan aantonen van een tamelijk recente verbinding van de Baltische streek met de Nieuwe
wereld iets meer dan 40 miljoen jaar geleden. Het biedt tevens bewijs voor het oeroude ontstaan
van de Strepsiptera en toont verder aan dat de soorten uit dit genus voorkwamen gedurende het
Tertiair. Een aangepaste diagnose voor het genus Chaenocholax wordt gegeven.

Résumé. Première mention du genre Caenocholax (Strepsiptera) dans 1’ambre baltique avec
description d’une espèce nouvelle.

Une espèce nouvelle de Strepsiptère, Caenocholax groehni sp. n., provenant de 1’ambre baltique
(44 millions d’années) est décrite. Cette découverte pourrait confirmer le stasis morphologique et
T existence d’une relation entre la région baltique et le Nouveau Monde d’il y a plus de 40
millions d’années. De plus, Torigine trés ancienne des Strepsiptera est ainsi confïrmée ainsi que
la présence des espèces de ce genre pendant la période tertiaire. Une diagnose revisée du genre
Chaenocholax est présentée.

Key words: Strepsiptera - Baltic amber - Caenocholax - new species.

Kathirithamby, J.: Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford 0X1 3PS, UK.

jeyaraney.kathirithamby@zoo.ox.ac.uk (author for correspondence).

Henderickx, H.: Department of Biology, University Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020
Antwerpen, Belgium.

Introduction

Since the description of the first strepsipteran by Rossi in 1793,
morphological stasis has been observed in Strepsiptera, mainly from extant
species. However, in the present study we report that fossil Strepsiptera display
stasis for 40 million years, and we describe a new species of Caenocholax
(Myrmecolacidae) from Baltic amber.

The sexes in Strepsiptera exhibit extreme dimorphism: adult males are
morphologically highly specialized and free-living, while females are neotenic,
endoparasitic (except in the family Mengenillidae), and devoid of most
recognizable insect features. The extreme sexual dimorphism in Strepsiptera
extends in the members of the family Myrmecolacidae even to their hosts which
are disparate: the sexes parasitize hosts belonging not only to different species,
but to different orders of insects. Heteronomy is found in only two lineages of
insects: the strepsipteran family Myrmecolacidae (Kathirithamby 1991) and the
hymenopteran subfamily Aphelinidae (Walter 1982), both of which are parasitic

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 149

insect groups. Males of Myrmecolacidae parasitize Hymenoptera (ants) and
females parasitize Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) and Mantodea
(Ogloblin 1939, Kathirithamby 1991, Kathirithamby & Hamilton 1992,
Kathirithamby & Johnston 2004). The here described new myrmecolacid
appears to belong to Caenocholax, a genus with extant members that are
morphologically remarkably similar but genetically very divergent.

Materials and Methods

The specimen is fossilized in a clear yellow piece of Baltic amber
(14x5x2 mm) showing a tracé of the original ernst and stellate hairs which are
typical of this amber.

FTIR analysis was conducted. In the graphic of the sample (Fig. 1) the
typical 'Baltic shoulder curve' is clear (Y. Sashoua, personal communication).

After examination, the amber was coated for preservation on a rotating
device in viscoused Epoxy (Araldite 2020). Examinations and measurements
have been carried out with a Leitz microscope and Optika Photolib software,
additionally with a Zeiss measuring ocular and object plate. Pictures were taken
with a Fuji Finepix S2 camera, combined when necessary with Helicon Focus
software.

All measurements are in mm.

Family Myrmecolacidae Saunders

Myrmecolacides Saunders, 1872

Genus Caenocholax

Caenocholax Pierce, 1 909

Type species: male Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce, 1909, from Cordoba,
Veracruz, Mexico: USNM type 10081, originally part of the Fenyes collection at
the Califomian Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.

Diagnosis of Caenocholax'. The following are the general characteristics of
the Caenocholax complex:

Aedeagus: dorsally curved prong, with anchor-shaped dorsal terminal plate
with a long medial and two lateral spines (Kathirithamby & Johnston 1992,
Kathirithamby & Grimaldi 1993), or with median spine only.

Abdominal segment X: enlarged lobate plate overhanging abdominal
segment IX (Kathirithamby & Johnston 1992).

Wing: R2 short, R3 absent; MA slightly longer than CuA, CuP absent
(Kathirithamby & Johnston 1992).

Description

Caenocholax groehni sp. n. (Fig. 2)

Male fossil material: Type specimen in a clear piece of Baltic amber from
Kaliningrad, Russia, ex coll. Gröhn 1500, deposited at the Geologisch-
Palaontogisches Institut und Museum, Hamburg (GPIH 4495).

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 150

Etymology: named after the collector Carsten Gröhn.

Diagnosis:

Head: Mandibles short, 0.11 mm (L), 0.02 mm (W); maxilla 0.25 mm (L),
0.02 mm (W); eyes large with about 20 eyelets.

Antennae: 7-segmented; antennomere III (0.39 mm) lamellate; antennomere
IV (0.03 mm), V (0.18 mm) and VI (0.11 mm) almost half the length of
antennomere VII (0.20 mm).

Wing venation similar to C. fenyesi sensu lato: R2 short, R5 ending
considerably distant from wing margin; MA slightly longer than CuA; CuP
absent.

Tarsi: 4-segmented without pretarsal claws; sensory spots visible on
basitarsus.

Aedeagus: only the large and curved basal part is visible.

Abdominal segment X: large lobate plate, which narrows apically
overhanging abdominal segment IX.

Body length: 1.35 mm.

Caenocholax groehni sp. n. differs from the other three extant genera of
Myrmecolacidae in the absence of R3, CuAi and CuA2 veins ( Lyncholax Bohart,
1951), absence of CuP (which is long in Myrmecolax Westwood, 1861), and
absence of MAj (which is long in Stichotrema Hofeneder, 1910). The wing
venation (short R2, absence of MAj and CuP) and short mandibles in the new
fossil species are typical of Caenocholax. It differs from C. fenyesi sensu lato in
the proportions of the antennae. Antennomere III plus flabellum is shorter
(0.39 mm) in C. groehni sp. n. than in the two fossil specimens from Dominican
amber, C. dominicensis (, 1993) and C. brodzinskyi (Kathirithamby & Grimaldi,
1993). The antennomeres VI and VII are not equal in length (VII twice that of
VI) in C. groehni sp. n., whereas they are equal in length (VI 0.19-0.24 mm, VII
0.19-0.28 mm) in C. fenyesi and in both Dominican fossil species (C.
dominicensis VI, VII 0.71 mm; C. brodzinskyi VI, VII 0.56 mm in DR-10-3 and

O. 68 in DR-10-5). The large Xth abdominal segment, typical of C. fenyesi sensu
lato, narrows apically in C. groehni sp. n. whereas it is broad with a straight
posterior margin in C. fenyesi texensis Kathirithamby & Johnston, 2004 and C.
fenyesi waloffi Kathirithamby & Johnston, 2004 and distinctly narrowed and
notched apically in C. brodzinskyi.

Caenocholax groehni sp. n. differs from the fossil Palaeomymecolax
succineus (Kulicka, 2001) by the shape of the maxilla (which is round and
narrow, rather than wide and flat as in P. succineus ) and the antennomere VII is
three times as long as VI in P. succineus. The R3 and CuP veins are present in P.
succineus , P. giecewiczi Kulicka, 2001 and P. gracilis Kulicka, 2001, but are
absent in C. groehni sp. n.; the MP and CuA veins extend to the wing margin in

P. succineus, P. giecewiczi and P. gracilis but not in C. groehni sp. n.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 151

Fig. 1. Caenocholax groehni sp. n., holotype; ventral view of head with right antenna and right
mandibula.

Fig. 2. Caenocholax groehni sp. n., holotype; a: dorsal view, b: ventral view.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 152

WAVELENGTH (crrH)

Fig 3. FTIR analysis of Caenocholax groehni sp. n. holotype amber matrix, graphic, Baltic shoulder
indicated.

Based on the morphology of the striking wing venation similar with
Caenocholax fenyesi sensu lato, the shape of the Xth abdominal segment and the
antennal proportions this specimen appears to be closest to the genus
Caenocholax , and is therefore described in this genus.

Discussion

The hypothesis is that Strepsiptera originated in the Early Cretaceous or Late
Jurassic (Grimaldi et al. 2005, Grimaldi & Engel 2005). Fossil records of
Strepsiptera have shown punctuated change in extinct species (Grimaldi et al.
2005, Pohl et al. 2005). A primitive extinct strepsipteran, Cretostylops (Grimaldi
et al. 2005), was described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber while the
Eocene Baltic amber contained the most primitive strepsipteran Protoxenos, a
sister group to all other strepsipterans (Pohl et al. 2005), and the extinct
primitive genus Menge (Menge 1866). Myrmecolacids Stichotrema and
Palaeomyrmecolax have been found in the Baltic amber (Kinzelbach & Pohl
1994, Pohl & Kinzelbach 1995, Kulicka 2001), and lst instar larvae are known
from Eocene brown coal (Kinzelbach & Lutz 1985) but no Caenocholax has so
far been reported from this age. From the Miocene Dominican amber the extant
families Myrmecolacidae (Kinzelbach 1983, Kathirithamby & Grimaldi 1993,
Kinzelbach & Pohl 1994, Pohl & Kinzelbach 1995), Elenchidae (Kinzelbach

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 153

1979, Kinzelbach & Pohl 1994) and Bohartillidae (Kathirithamby & Grimaldi
1993, Kinzelbach & Pohl 1994) have been described. These fmdings suggest
that the Eocene was probably a transitional period between archaic and modem
Strepsiptera faunas (Grimaldi et al. 2005). Stasis has been observed in
Dominican amber in the case of Bohartilla megalognatha (Kathirithamby &
Grimaldi, 1993), two species of Caenocholax and three species of Stichotrema
(Kathirithamby & Grimaldi 1993, Kinzelbach & Pohl 1994). Caenocholax
groehni sp. n., however, is the first extinct species to indicate such an extensive
period of morphological stasis in Strepsiptera.

The discovery of the genus Caenocholax in Baltic amber offers a possible
explanation of the biogeography of the C. fenyesi species complex: the ancestors
were possibly widespread during the globally tropical/subtropical Eocene.
Recent males of Caenocholax have a general similarity in morphology and
secondary sexual characters through out their range from southem United States,
through Central America to South America, and from Vietnam (East Asia). The
present report of a myrmecolacid from Baltic amber, close to recent males of the
fenyesi complex, establishes even with more certainty that Strepsiptera undergo
long periods of morphological stasis. The extreme sexual dimorphism in
Strepsiptera allows stasis to be observed prominently only in one sex - the male.

Molecular genetic studies are revealing that there is cryptic speciation in
Strepsiptera. Recent male C. fenyesi are similar morphologically but show
dramatic underlying genetic divergence (Kathirithamby & Johnston 2004,
Kathirithamby et al. 2007). Speciation in this group of bizarre entomophagous
parasitoids might entail gradual Darwinian microevolutionary changes in genetic
divergence.

Morphological stasis in Strepsiptera has been observed over a wide
geographical range in recent taxa (Kathirithamby et al. 2007), and we here show
that it is also observed over a long time span. Morphological stasis is recognized
as one of the striking aspects of fossil records (Williamson 1981), and the
geological time of morphological stasis varies greatly between taxa.
Morphological stasis is seen here for the first time in Strepsiptera to be more
than 40 million years.

There are only two fossil records of parasitized ants. Pohl & Kinzelbach
(2001) describe a possible female myrmecolacid parasitic in a now extinct ant
subfamily Prionomyrmecinae, Prionomyrmex sp., from the Baltic amber. But the
photograph provided in the paper is not very convincing that it is a female
myrmecolacid. A more convincing suggestion that males of myrmecolacids
parasitized ants in the Eocene was advanced by Lutz (1990), who reports of a
fmd of a Camponotus sp. with two male puparia of Stichotrema in Middle
Eocene oil slate. Males of C. fenyesi have so far been found to parasitize the ant
subfamilies Dolichoridinae, Formicinae and Myrmicinae in the Nearctic, Central
and South America (Kathirithamby 2009, in press). All three subfamilies of ants
have also been found in Eocene Baltic amber (Grimaldi & Engel 2005). Only
two records of female strepsipterans are found in fossil records: one in an ant

Phegea 36 (4) (01 .XII.2008): 154

(doubtful if female, Pohl & Kinzelbach 2001) and a delphacid with a female
with lst instar larvae (Poinar 2004).

All fossil Myrmecolacidae are from the Eocene, and that they parasitized ants
in the Eocene is indicated by the parasitized Camponotus in the Eocene brown
coal. The age of the host-relations of the female myrmecolacids are more
difficult to estimate, as no specific records have been found. This may be
because stylopized hosts, especially those with endoparasitic female
strepsipterans exhibit a change in behaviour (Kathirithamby 2005). Hence more
fossil free-flying male strepsipterans are found than females which remain
endoparasitic in hosts (except in the family Mengenillidae).

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Yvonne Shashoua, National Museum of Denmark, for
performing the FTIR analysis; Carsten Gröhn, Glinde, Germany, for allowing
the fossil to be examined; Michael Engel and Spencer Johnston kindly
commented on an earlier versions of the manuscript; and. the AMNH New York
for the loan of specimens from Vietnam. The work is funded by the Leverhulme
Trust and St Hugh’s College, Oxford.

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potius Coleopterorum Familiae, Rhipiphoridis, meloidisque, propinquae, Monographia. —
Transactions of the Entomological Society ofLondon [1872]: 1 48.

Walter, G. H. 1982. ‘Divergent male ontogenies’ in Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): a
simplified classification and a suggested evolutionary sequence. — Biological Journal of the
Linnean Society 19: 63-82.

Williamson, P. G. 1981. Morphological stasis and developmental constraint: real problems for neo-
darwinism. — Nature 294: 214-215.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 156

Omalisus fontisbellaquei (Coleoptera: Omalisidae) in
België

Willy Troukens

Abstract. Omalisus fontisbellaquei (Coleoptera: Omalisidae) in Belgium.

The author examined the 1 1 5 specimens of O. fontisbellaquei in the Royal Belgian Institute of
Natural Sciences (Brussels), and he found only males, no females. Until now, the biology of this
beetle seems to be unknown.

Résumé. Omalisus fontisbellaquei (Coleoptera: Omalisidae) en Belgique.

L'auteur a examiné les 115 exemplaires de O. fontisbellaquei de 1'Institut royal des Sciences
naturelles de Belgique (Bruxelles). II n'a trouvé que des males. Jusque maintenant, la biologie de
ce coléoptère semble inconnue.

Key words: Belgium - faunistics - Omalisus fontisbellaquei.

Troukens, W.: Ninoofsesteenweg 782/8, B-1070 Anderlecht.

Op 29 juni 2006 werd in het Zoniënwoud te Sint-Genesius-Rode een
mannetje van Omalisus fontisbellaquei Geoffroy, 1785 ontdekt (fig. la). Deze
soort was in Brabant nooit eerder gezien. Qua uitzicht doet ze denken aan een
Lycidae-soort waar het trouwens ook mee verwant is (Geisthardt 1979: 9-14).

Figuur 1. Omalisus fontisbellaquei Geoffroy, 1785. België, Vlaams-Brabant, Sint-Genesius-Rode,
29.vi.2006, leg. W. Troukens. a. mannetje, b - wijfje (vrij naar Geisthardt 1979).

De mannetjes zijn langgerekte insecten van 5 a 10 mm lengte. De zwarte
sprieten zijn vrij lang. Kop en halsschild zijn zwart en vertonen een ruwe
stippelstructuur. De dekschilden zijn grof gestippeld-gestreept; ze zijn roodbruin

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 157

met een sterk verbrede, zwarte naadstreep die naar het uiteinde toe smaller wordt
en de achterrand niet bereikt. De dunne pootjes zijn bruin; de dijen donkerder.

Uit de bestaande literatuur blijkt dat rond O. fontisbellaquei nog heel wat
mysterie hangt. De wij § es zijn brachypteer; zowel de vleugels als de
dekschilden zijn sterk gereduceerd (fig. lb). Bovendien zijn ze haast onvindbaar.
Keer (1930: 415) meldde dat er in Nederland nog geen wijfjes gevonden waren,
hoewel de kever toentertijd niet zeldzaam was in Zuid-Limburg (Nederland). In
België is dat niet anders. In de collecties van het K.B.I.N. te Brussel bevinden
zich 115 mannetjes maar geen wijijes. Dit wijst erop dat de wijijes een zeer
verborgen leven leiden. Volgens Geisthardt (1979: 14) is over de biologie van O.
fontisbellaquei niets bekend. Aubert (1971: 14) beweert dat de Omalisidae zich
voeden met huisjesslakken zoals de soorten van enkele verwante families —
eveneens met brachyptere wijijes — zoals de Lycidae, Lampyridae en Drilidae.
Toch wordt dit door geen enkele andere auteur bevestigd.

Figuur 2. Verspreiding in België van Omalisus fontisbellaquei Geoffroy, 1785 (Bron K.B.I.N.,
Brussel).

O. fontisbellaquei moet gezocht worden in bossen, o.a. op bomen zoals eiken
( Quercus ), haagbeuken ( Carpinus betulus) en verder op grassen op
beschaduwde plaatsen (Keer 1930: 415). In België is de kever vooral te vinden
in juni ten zuiden van Samber en Maas en in het Zoniënwoud (fig. 2).

Dankwoord

Dit artikeltje kwam tot stand, dankzij de medewerking van Konjev Desender
en Alain Drumont (K.B.I.N., Brussel) die mij met raad en daad behulpzaam
waren bij het raadplegen van de collecties van het Departement Entomologie.
Hiermee was het mogelijk om het verspreidingskaartje samen te stellen.
Hartelijk dank!

Phegea 36 (4) (Ol.XII.2008): 158

Bibliografie

Aubert, L. 1971. Atlas des Coléoptères de France, Belgique et Suisse. Tomé II. — Boubée et Cie.,
Paris (VI).

Geisthardt, M. 1979. Lycidae. In Freude, Harde & Löhse (Eds.) Die Kafer Mitteleuropas. Band 6.
— Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld.

Keer, P. M. 1930. Calwer Keverboek. Band 1. — Thieme & Cie., Zutphen.

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 159

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES

Boekbespreking

Baytas, A.: A field guide to the butterflies ofTurkey.

14 x 21 cm, 218 p., NTV Yayinlari, Istanbul, te verkrijgen bij Entomologiezaak Vermandel,
paperback 2 1 ,20 € (ISBN 978-975-6690-79-6).

Dit boekje, dat ook in het Turks verscheen, bevat 756 kleurenfoto’s van bijna 350
dagvlindersoorten, alle genomen in de natuur. Het is in de eerste plaats bedoeld als veldgids en
daarom werd het formaat ook klein gehouden. Dat houdt natuurlijk ook beperkingen in; het is in zo’n
gids onmogelijk om alle soorten zodanig voor te stellen en te beschrijven dat een zekere determinatie
mogelijk is, zeker als men slechts één kant van de vlinder te zien krijgt. De auteur is zich daar terdege
van bewust en in de inleiding waarschuwt hij de lezer dat het bij de moeilijke genera, zoals
Polyommatus, Hyponephele of Pseudochazara , in vele gevallen onmogelijk zal zijn om een juiste
naam op een exemplaar te plakken.

De foto’s van de vlinders staan telkens op de rechterbladzijde, gemiddeld acht foto’s, en die zijn
van goede tot redelijk goede kwaliteit. Sommige zijn echter te donker om de onderscheidende
kenmerken te kunnen waarnemen. De auteur moet echter ongelooflijk actief zijn geweest in het veld;
van de 756 kleurenfoto’s zijn er slechts 153 door andere fotografen geleverd. En zelfs met de hulp
van die andere fotografen blijven er nog heel wat soorten niet afgebeeld. Die worden wel in de tekst
vermeld. De tekst is erg kort maar geeft toch heel wat informatie over het uiterlijk, de vliegtijd, de
biologie en de verspreiding van de afzonderlijke soorten.

Hoewel met deze veldgids een hele reeks dagvlinders uit Turkije in de natuur kunnen
gedetermineerd worden, blijft het oppassen geblazen voor meldingen van zeldzame en lokale soorten
door minder ervaren lepidopterologen. Men zal in vele gevallen toch een beroep moeten doen op de
driedelige, uitgebreide publicatie “ Tagfalter der Türkei ”.

Willy De Prins

3 9088 01435 8105

Inhoud:

Coutsis, J. G.: Pseudophilotes bavius casimiri, the most differentiated subspecies
of the P. bavius species-group. Pseudophilotes fatma , a distinct species

(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Scolitantiditi) 21

De Prins, W. & Baugnée, J.-Y.: Clepsis dumicolana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae),

new to the Belgian fauna 127

Kathirithamby, J. & Henderickx, H.: First record of the Strepsiptera genus

Caenocholax in Baltic amber with the description of a new species 149

Shebl, M. A., Kamel, S. M., Abu Hashech, T. A. & Osman, M. A.: Seasonal
abundance of the leaf-cutting bee, Megachile minutissima (Hymenoptera:

Megachilidae) 135

Troukens, W.: Loopkevers (Coleoptera: Carabidae) aan de Belgische oostkust ....

131

Troukens, W.: Omalisus fontisbellaquei (Coleoptera: Omalisidae) in België ..157
Boekbesprekingen 126, 148, 160

verantw. uitg. : W. De Prins, Dorpstraat 40 1B, B-3061 Leefdaal (Belgium) - Tel: +32-2-305.37.32

Phegea 36 (4) (01.XII.2008): 160