The taxonomy and distribution of the genus Hybos Meigen in the Palaearctic Region is reviewed with a special reference to the European fauna. Twenty-three species have been recorded from the Palaearctic, of which only four species are known from Europe. We describe two new species, H. andradei sp. nov. (Portugal) and H. mediasiaticus sp. nov. (Middle Asia). The status of two previously consider...

The introduction of species into new ecosystems, especially in small and isolated regions such as islands, offers an excellent opportunity to answer questions of the evolutionary processes occurring in natural conditions on a scale that could never be achieved in laboratory conditions. In this study, we examined the Mexican red rump tarantula Brachypelma vagans Ausserer (Mygalomorphae: Therapho...

The hypnorum-complex of bumblebees (in the genus Bombus Latreille, 1802) has been interpreted as consisting a single widespread Old-World species, hypnorum (Linnaeus, 1758) s. lat., and its closely similar sister species in New World, B. perplexus Cresson, 1863. We examined barcodes for evidence species’ gene coalescents within this complex, using related vagans-group to help calibrate Poisson-...

New data are presented on the taxonomy and distribution of some species of Otiorhynchus Germar, subgenus Arammichnus Gozis, in Sicily. Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) ferrarii Miller is recorded from Sicily for the first time. Three new species are described: Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) vagans n. sp., Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) pseudosetosulus n. sp., and Otiorhynchus (Arammichnus) adrianus n. sp. Th...

BACKGROUND Pantoea vagans is a commercialized biological control agent used against the pome fruit bacterial disease fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora. Compared to other biocontrol agents, relatively little is currently known regarding Pantoea genetics. Better understanding of antagonist mechanisms of action and ecological fitness is critical to improving efficacy. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS G...