Volume 24 – 2020 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24
Contributions to the knowledge of the Lepidoptera of Vlăsia Plain (Muntenia, Romania) Valeriu Albu1 & Sebastian Albu2 123032 Oak Meadow Ln., Friant, CA 93626 2California Department of Food and Agriculture Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab, 3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832-1448 e-mail: valalbu@netptc.net, sebastian.albu@cdfa.ca.gov article no.: ER24202001 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.1 Summary: This study presents the results of an investigation carried out between 1966 and 2013, aiming to record the lepidoptera fauna of the Vlăsia Plain, a region centered on Bucureşti, Romania, and part of the more extensive Valahia Plain. 1251 lepidoptera representing 458 species were collected from forests, steppes, marshy areas and hilly zones situated between Bucureşti and the border of the Carpathian foothills. From these collections, 33 previously unrecorded species were added to the Valahia Plain checklist. Isolated populations of several species previously considered extinct from the area or with a doubtful occurrence, were re-discovered and re-confirmed in wooded habitats near Bucureşti (Lopinga achine and Ancylis upupana), on the hills at Târgovişte (Zerynthia polyxena) and in forest clearings around the city of Piteşti (Brintesia circe). Key words: Lepidoptera biodiversity, European butterflies and moths, Balkan invertebrate fauna, lepidoptera of Romania	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Nutritional and Gut Microbial Analyses of Adult Male Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) (Dictyoptera, Blattodea) from Three Locations in Abeokuta, Nigeria Kehinde Olutoyin Ademolu1, Oluwatosin Yetunde Mustapha1 & Adewunmi Babatunde Idowu1u 1Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria e-mail: kennyademolu@yahoo.com, tosinmustapha2013@gmail.com, tomiwo2@yahoo.com article no.: ER24202002 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.2 Summary: Cockroaches are cosmopolitan insects and are found in different parts of the house. There has been an increase call for their inclusion in the diet of both man and livestock. However, their nutritional value and gut microbial load based on different locations had received little attention in literature. This study aimed at investigating nutritive value and the microbial load in the gut of male cockroaches found in different locations (dumpsite, kitchen and toilet). Thirty (30) adult male cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), ten (10) from each location were used. The gut was taken out for microbial analysis and the other parts of the cockroaches were arranged for proximate composition, minerals and vitamins analysis using standard methods. Data analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student Newman Kuel was used for mean separation of significant means. The gut microbial analysis from the three locations revealed that bacterial and fungal counts (2.00×105 cfu/ml, 9.00×105 cfu/ml respectively) in cockroaches from the dumpsite were significantly higher (p<0.05) than other sites. Cockroaches collected from the kitchen had highest Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations while cockroaches from the dumpsite had the least. Proximate composition showed that cockroaches from the kitchen had significantly higher (p <0.05) protein, ash, fat and carbohydrate content than other locations. This study showed that location affects the nutritional and microbial content of cockroaches. Key words: cockroaches, nutritional value, location, microorganisms	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Non-invasive methods for morphometric analyses of lepidopteran wings Mihai A. Martin1, Cristian Sitar2 & László Rákosy3 1Doctoral School in Integrative Biology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Universității 7-9, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Zoological Museum, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7. Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: mihai_alexandru.martin@yahoo.com, cristiansitar@yahoo.com, laszlorakosy@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER24202003 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.3 Summary: Butterfly wings are commonly used in morphometric studies. For this reason they are detached from the body in order to get a clearer image for the analysis. In some cases this is not desirable as it would destroy a butterfly that may have greater value displayed. Our results show that displayed butterflies can also be used in morphometric analyses. Key words: butterfly, wing, morphometrics, displayed, detached, Melanargia galathea	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Plusiinae) found again in Romania after more than 150 years Levente Székely1 & Vlad Dincă2 1Bd. George Moroianu 29, Săcele, 505600, Jud. Brașov, Romania 2Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, Oulu, 90014, Finland e-mail: levi.szekely@gmail.com, vlad.e.dinca@gmail.com article no.: ER24202004 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.4 Summary: Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775) is recorded in the Romanian fauna based on a specimen collected at Enisala Fortress (northern Dobrogea, Tulcea County). This specimen represents the first record in the country in over 150 years. Some aspects regarding the presence of this species in Romania are clarified. Rezumat: Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775) este semnalată în fauna României pe baza unui exemplar colectat la Cetatea Enisala (nordul Dobrogei, județul Tulcea). Acesta reprezintă prima semnalare din țară în peste 150 de ani. Sunt clarificate unele aspecte privind prezența acestei specii în România. Key words: Dobrogea, Romania, Thysanoplusia orichalcea	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Dysgonia rogenhoferi (Bohatsch, 1880) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) in the Danube Delta (Romania): Westernmost record in Europe Levente Csukás1, Levente Székely2 & Vlad Dincă3 1Str. Fodorkert, 52 A, Miercurea Ciuc, 530201, Jud. Harghita, Romania 2Bd. George Moroianu 29, Săcele, 505600, Jud. Brașov, Romania 3Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, Oulu, 90014, Finland e-mail: levi.szekely@gmail.com, vlad.e.dinca@gmail.com article no.: ER24202005 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.5 Summary: Dysgonia rogenhoferi (Bohatsch, 1880) is recorded for the first time in Romania based on material collected in the Danube Delta (Chilia Veche, Tulcea County). This species has likely recently reached the Danube Delta, but it remains to be seen if it will develop stable populations in the region. Two hypotheses are formulated about the presence of this species in the Danube Delta: (1) Accidental introduction (involuntary transport by ships navigating the Danube), and (2) natural expansion. The latter is regarded as the most likely, based on recent faunistic data from Eastern Europe. The specimens from the Danube Delta represent the westernmost records of this species in Europe, approximately 600 km west of the most recent site discovered in south-eastern Ukraine. Rezumat: Dysgonia rogenhoferi (Bohatsch, 1880) este semnalată pentru prima dată în fauna României, pe baza unui material colectat în Delta Dunării (Chilia Veche, Județul Tulcea). Cel mai probabil, această specie a pătruns recent în Delta Dunării, însă rămâne de văzut dacă va dezvolta populații stabile în regiune. Sunt formulate două ipoteze cu privire la prezența acestei specii în Delta Dunării: (1) introducere accidentală (transport involuntar cu nave care tranzitează Dunărea), și (2) expansiune naturală. Cea din urmă este considerată cea mai probabilă, pe baza datelor faunistice recente din estul Europei. Exemplarele din Delta Dunării reprezintă cele mai vestice semnalări ale aceste specii în Europa, fiind situate la aproximativ 600 km vest față de locația recent descoperită în sud-estul Ucrainei. Key words: Dysgonia rogenhoferi, Danube Delta, Romania, Europe, distribution	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Xestia sextrigata (Haworth, 1809) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) a new species expanding into Romania László Rákosy1 & Demetra Rákosy2 1Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; AG Spatial Interaction Ecology (SIE), German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. e-mail: laszlo.rakosy@ubbcluj.ro, demetra.rakosy@gmail.com article no.: ER24202006 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.6 Summary: Records from Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova collected in the last 30 years suggest that Xestia sextrigata (Haworth, 1809) is extending its range towards South-Eastern Europe. Here we report the first genuine record of X. sextrigata from Romania. Older records from the literature are shown to be erroneous.. Rezumat: Pe baza datelor de colectare din ultimii 30 de ani din Austria, Ungaria, România, Ucraina și Republica Moldova, Xestia sextrigata (Haworth, 1809) este considerată o specie expansionistă cu tendințe de lărgire a arealului spre sud-estul Europei. X. sextrigata este pentru prima dată menționată cu certitudine din România. Datele mai vechi din literatură sunt considerate eronate. Key words: Xestia sextrigata, Romania, Europe, distribution, expansion.	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Corrigendum to: Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Plusiinae) found again in Romania after more than 150 years Levente Székely1 & Vlad Dincă2 1Bd. George Moroianu 29, Săcele, 505600, Jud. Brașov, Romania 2Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, Oulu, 90014, Finland e-mail: levi.szekely@gmail.com, vlad.e.dinca@gmail.com article no.: ER24202007 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.24.7	[details, abstract]	[pdf]