Current issue: Volume 27 – 2023 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27
An overview of the Romanian Meessiidae, Eriocottidae and Tineidae (Lepidoptera, Tineoidea) summarizing the current knowledge in an updated and annotated checklist Zoltán Kovács1 & Sándor Kovács2 1str. Câmpul Mare nr. 133, RO–530240, Miercurea Ciuc, România 2str. Oltului nr. 57 bloc 6 sc. A ap. 6, RO–520027 Sfântu Gheorghe, România e-mail: kovkopp@gmail.com, skovacssandor@gmail.com article no.: ER27202301 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27.1 Summary: An up-to-date reassessment of the Romanian Meessiidae, Eriocottidae and Tineidae fauna is presented. In the Romanian fauna a total of 7 Meessiidae species had been given, but only 6 species, all in Eudarcia Clemens, 1860, are currently accepted. Eudarcia balcanicum (Gaedike, 1988) is recorded in Romania for the first time and a photograph of the adult male is provided for the first time. The presence of E. pagenstecherella (Hübner, 1825) in Romania requires confirmation. The Eriocottidae is represented by only one species. From the total of 83 Tineidae species ever recorded, 76 are currently accepted for the Romanian fauna, 9 of them are the first records: Nemapogon falstriella (Haas, 1881), Matratinea rufulicaput Sziráki & Szőcs, 1990, Tinea basifasciella Ragonot, 1895, Niditinea truncicolella (Tengström, 1848), Monopis jussii Kaila, Mutanen, Huemer, Karsholt & Autto, 2020, M. weaverella (Scott, 1858), M. neglecta Šumpich & Liška, 2011, Pelecystola fraudulentella (Zeller, 1852) and Wegneria panchalcella (Staudinger, 1871). The presence of Nemapogon quercicolella (Zeller, 1852) needs confirmation. Two species, Tenaga nigripunctella (Haworth, 1828) and Monopis christophi Petersen, 1957, are deleted from the checklist in this paper, five others were deleted earlier. Of the three families treated a total of 29 additions and other corrections are provided for the regional distribution of the Romanian fauna. We recommend that the information about the Meessiidae and Tineidae in the latest Romanian checklist (Rákosy & Goia 2021) is replaced by that in this publication. Key words: Romania, Meessiidae, Eriocottidae, Tineidae, faunistic overview, annotated checklist, first records, deleted species	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Sexual differences in size and chemical composition of antennae of American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera, Blattodea) Abiodun Oladipupo Joda1, David Olugbemi Babayemi2, Funmilola Ewerinde3, Akolade Julius Bamidele3, Adewunmi Babatunde Idowu3 & Kehinde Olutoyin Ademolu3u 1Department of Crop Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria 2Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria 3Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria e-mail: kennyademolu@yahoo.com article no.: ER27202302 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27.2 Summary: Insect make use of their antennae for sensory purposes, in search for food, mating partners and any other necessary communications. In this study, sexual differences in the measurements and ionic concentration of the adult American cockroach, Periplaneta americana was investigated. Adult male and female cockroaches were antennectomised in order to measure (antennal length, antennal number of segments) and determine mineral composition (Na+, Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, PO42-, and Cl-) using standard methods. The insect body weight, body length and body width were also measured. The adult female cockroaches had significantly higher (p<0.05) body weight and body width than the adult male roaches, while antennal length and number of antennae segments of adult male were higher than their female counterparts. A strong and positive relationship existed between the weight and antennae length (R2=0.662). Adult male cockroaches recorded higher concentration of Na+, Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+ in their antennae than the adult females. Thus, sexual variation exists in the size and antennae ionic composition of P. americana which possibly influences its reproductive behavior. Key words: Peripleneta americana, antennae, ions, antennal segments	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) found again in Romania after more than 100 years Viorel Olteanu1 1Str. Gura Vadului, sector 3, București, România e-mail: viorelandreig@yahoo.com article no.: ER27202303 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27.3 Summary: Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) was recent reported from Romania based on a few specimens collected in the southern Dobrogea (Constanța county). These are the first records from Romania in over 100 years and the first reports for Dobrogea. Some aspects regarding the presence of this species in Romania are clarified. Rezumat: Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) a fost semnalată recent în fauna României pe baza câtorva exemplare colectate în sudul Dobrogei (județul Constanța). Acestea sunt primele semnalări din România în peste 100 de ani și primele semnalări pentru Dobrogea. Sunt clarificate unele aspecte privind prezența acestei specii în România. Key words: Utetheisa pulchella, Dobrogea, Romania	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
Investigating butterfly communities in peri-urban areas of Alba Iulia, Romania Isabelle-Maria Crăciun-Bogdan1,2, Cristina Craioveanu1,3u 1Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT), Campus de Gambelas, Edifício 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal 3Babeş-Bolyai University, Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources 3B – Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: isabelle.craciun@yahoo.com, cristina.craioveanu@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER27202304 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27.4 Summary: More than 50% of the human population lives in cities presently, and the expansion of urban areas is more accelerated than ever. This affects natural ecosystems through habitat fragmentation, pollution, degradation of habitats etc. Urban ecology studies increased over the last 20 years to address all problems related to urbanisation, from biodiversity conservation to sustainability and resource management. Studies investigating urban and peri-urban biodiversity are useful for the development of sustainable cities, and are very scarce in Romania. Our study documented the butterfly diversity and community assemblages over two years, of a periurban area of the city Alba Iulia, in Romania. We produced a species list and documented the composition of butterfly communities in two habitat types (grassland and park), that are widespread in and around Transylvanian cities. Key words: peri-urban biodiversity, indices, community composition, ecological profile	[details, abstract]	[pdf]
First record of Parornix atripalpella Wahlström, 1979 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) in Romania Florin-Mihai Pop1, László Rákosy2 1Doctoral School in Integrative Biology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2Department of Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty for Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania e-mail: mihaipopbioeco@gmail.com, laszlo.rakosy@ubbcluj.ro article no.: ER27202305 doi: 10.24193/entomolrom.27.5 Summary: Parornix atripalpella Wahlström, 1979 has been reported for the first time in Romania. This species is present in 10 European countries, most of them on the western side of the continent. Key words: Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, new record, general distribution, Romania	[details, abstract]	[pdf]