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In this page, you can find about new publications about the Chalcid wasps of Cyprus (and not only).
New publications
New publications
From now on, Chalcid wasps of Cyprus website has its own citation!
From now on, Chalcid wasps of Cyprus website has its own citation!
Tittle: Highlighting overlooked biodiversity through online platforms: The “Chalcid Wasps of Cyprus” website
Abstract: Biodiversity data platforms including databases, websites and data repositories underpin conservation efforts by collecting spatiotemporal data of discovered native and alien species and maps of their distributions. Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) are one of the most diverse insect groups estimated to include half a million species. Being mostly parasitoids of other arthropods, they have been successfully used as biological control agents against serious agricultural pests worldwide. In Cyprus, only 124 species of chalcid wasps have been recorded, with 53 species being alien to the island. Their true biodiversity is predicted to be much larger because the island is both under-sampled and under-researched. A number of biodiversity data platforms focusing on the biodiversity of Cyprus are currently online; however, an online platform dedicated on the chalcid wasps of Cyprus is lacking. In the framework of the Darwin Plus Fellowship (DPLUS202) “Species richness and biological invasions of Chalcid wasps in Akrotiri Peninsula”, the “Chalcid wasps of Cyprus” website (https://sites.google.com/view/chalcidwaspscyprus) is presented. This online, dynamic database aims to: (1) raise public awareness regarding a rather neglected and yet ecologically important insect group, (2) provide data on the morphology, ecology and biodiversity of Chalcidoidea on Cyprus, as well as (3) promote conservation needs by setting a baseline for the future assessment of both native and alien chalcid wasp species. This online platform will be regularly revised in order to provide an up-to-date, user-friendly digital environment to the scientific community, policy-makers and citizens.
cite as: Koutsoukos E, Demetriou J, Georgiadis C, Mitroiu M-D, Compton S, Martinou A (2024) Highlighting overlooked biodiversity through online platforms: The “Chalcid Wasps of Cyprus” website. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e129367. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e129367
Title: Playing both fig sides: the presence and host‑switch of Pleistodontes imperialis (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) is confirmed in Greece and Cyprus
Abstract: Several Oriental and Australian species of Ficus have been introduced outside their native range and planted as ornamentals in urban habitats throughout the Mediterranean. This translocation of plant species has led to the introduction of host-specific insects such as their pollinating fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae). Here, the Australian fig wasp Pleistodontes imperialis Saunders, 1882 is reported for the first time from Greece. Partial COI genes were sequenced for specimens sampled in Greece and Cyprus, and they appear to share identical haplotypes. Interestingly, this species specific wasp not only develops in figs of its usual host, Ficus rubiginosa, but also in figs of Ficus watkinsiana, another Australian species introduced in Greece, which is pollinated by a second agaonid species (Pleistodontes nigriventris Girault, 1915) in its native range. Although no negative economic or environmental impacts have been observed yet, monitoring of alien Ficus spp. in the region is encouraged to prevent their possible establishment in natural habitats.
cite as: Koutsoukos E, Demetriou J, Martinou AF, Compton SG, Avtzis DN, Rasplus J-Y (2024) Playing both fig sides: the presence and host-switch of Pleistodontes imperialis (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) is confirmed in Greece and Cyprus. Phytoparasitica 52, 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-024-01158-2
Workshop (13-14/02/2024)
Workshop (13-14/02/2024)
Title: Monitoring Biodiversity and Zoonoses - The One Health Approach
Summary: Invited speaker at the workshop organised by the Joint Services Health Unit Akrotiri UK SBA in the framework of DPL00014 “Raising awareness about the importance of arthropods” and DPL00056 "Hedgehog conservation initiative at the Western SBAs Cyprus" projects.
Contribution: Jakovos Demetriou and Evangelos Koutsoukos presented on the “Potential health impacts of invasive alien insects”, a collaborative work under DPLUS200 and DPLUS202 projects.
Notes: As expected, no alien chalcid wasp was found to be associated with some sort of impact on human health.
Wasp guardians for food production
Wasp guardians for food production
Date of publication: 08 January 2024
Contribution: Written by Evangelos Koutsoukos and Jakovos Demetriou for the BCF Newsletter titled as "Food for Thought
Paving the way to food sustainability".
Tittle: A new species of Ormyrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Ormyridae) developing in figs of Ficus microcarpa in Europe
Abstract: Known by many names, the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa L.) is a monoecious plant species originating from south-eastern Asia which has been introduced as an ornamental in numerous areas outside its native range, including the Mediterranean. Like every species of Ficus, it is associated with a series of chalcid wasp species, known as fig wasps. These species are distributed in the families Agaonidae, Epichrysomallidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae and Pteromalidae. In this publication, we describe a new species of Ormyrus Westwood, 1832 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Ormyridae), O. microcarpae Askew & Koutsoukos sp. nov., reared from figs of F. microcarpa collected from Greece and Cyprus. The new species is compared with O. lini and O. watshami. This species is likely to be a parasitoid of Meselatus bicolor Chen, 1999 (Hymenoptera, Epichrysomallidae). In addition, the previously unknown female of O. lini is also described and illustrated. This publication constitutes the first report of species of Ormyrus associated with figs in Europe.
Cite as: Koutsoukos E, Compton SG, van Noort S, Avtzis DN, Askew RR (2024) A new species of Ormyrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Ormyridae) developing in figs of Ficus microcarpa in Europe. European Journal of Taxonomy, 917(1), 170-193. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2024.917.2397
Tittle: New records of Encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Greece and Cyprus with the description of a new species associated with Macrohomotoma gladiata Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)
Abstract: The increasing translocation of people and goods has led to the introduction of species outside their native range. Amongst these “alien” or “non-native” species, a wide range of introduced trees have established in the Mediterranean, with their health, growth and/or value being negatively affected by insect pests. Encyrtidae are well-known for their use as biological control agents of scale insects and psyllids, with the latter groups including non-native pests of economic significance for introduced ornamental plants. Surveys in Greece and Cyprus unveil a total of 11 encyrtid wasps out of which three represent new records for Greece, i.e., Coccidoxenoides perminutus Girault, 1915, Cryptanusia aureiscutellum (Girault), and Isodromus ustianae Hoffer & Trjapitzin, 1967, and three for Cyprus, i.e., Isodromus luppovae Trjapitzin, Leptomastix gigantum Japoshvili, and Psyllaephagus macrohomotoma Singh & Agarwal, 1993. Psyllaephagus schauffi sp. nov. was collected from Greece and Cyprus, being described and illustrated as a new species to science. Additionally, Cacopsylla pulchella (Löw) is recorded as a new host for Prionomitus mitratus (Dalman), with the presence of the latter species in Greece being confirmed. The number of known encyrtid wasps for Greece and Cyprus are raised to 90 and 29, respectively, whereas further studies are necessary to assess the biodiversity of Encyrtidae distributed in both countries as well as the impacts of non-native species.
Cite as: Japoshvili G, Koutsoukos E, Vamvakas G, Perdikis D, Demetriou J (2023) New records of Encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Greece and Cyprus with the description of a new species associated with Macrohomotoma gladiata Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Phytoparasitica 51, 1095–1103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-023-01105-7
Tittle: Alien Chalcidoidea of Cyprus, 11th HELECOS Conference, Patra, 4-7/10/2023
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