The first record of Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825) (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae) in Romania

The sap beetle, Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825) originates from the North American continent and was introduced in Europe, Oriental Region and in the Near East. It is recorded from Romania for the first time.

Coleoptera (Insecta) collected or observed around Chelopech Village, Western Bulgaria

A list of 58 species of order Coleoptera registered around Chelopech Village, Sofia District, Western Bulgaria, is presented. All the species are reported for the first time from this region. Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825), representing a recent American introduction in the Palaearctic fauna, is new country record.

Beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area, Northeastern Brazil

The species richness, abundance and seasonality of Coleoptera fauna associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area were examined. Tray, pitfall and modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 4,851 beetles were collected, belonging to 19 families and 88 species. Staphylinidae (2,184) and Histeridae (1,264) were the most abundant families and accounted for 71.1% of the specimens collected. Scarabaeidae (15) showed the highest species richness. The most abundant species were Atheta iheringi Bernhauer, 1908 (Staphylinidae) (1,685), Euspilotus sp. (Histeridae) (461), Stelidota geminata (Say, 1825) (Nitidulidae) (394), Xerosaprinus diptychus(Marseul, 1855) (Histeridae) (331) and Dermestes maculatus De Geer, 1774 (Dermestidae). Amongst these species, X. diptychus showed to be strongly influenced by seasonality, since 96.1% of the specimens were collected during the dry season.

First record of sap beetles Epuraea ocularis and Stelidota geminate (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) from Caucasus

Two invasive species of the sap beetles, Epuraea ocularis Fairmaire, 1849 and Stelidota geminate (Say, 1825), are recorded from Caucasus for the first time: from Abkhazia and from Russia (Krasnodar Territory) and Abkhazia, respectively. Stelidota geminata is also a new species for the fauna of Russia.

Stelidota geminata. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Stelidota geminata (Say). Coleoptera: Nitidulidae. Hosts: strawberry (Fragaria spp.). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Austria; Belgium; Mainland France; Germany; Gibraltar; Hungary; Mainland Italy; Portugal; Serbia; Slovenia; Canary Islands and Mainland Spain; and Switzerland), Asia (Turkey), North America (Ontario, Canada; Mexico; and Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin), and Central America and Caribbean (Bahamas, Cuba and Puerto Rico) and South America (Paraiba and São Paulo, Brazil; Colombia; and Peru).

Impact of Insecticide Application and Mass Trapping on Infestation by Strawberry Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

The impact of insecticide application and mass trapping on the level of infestation by the strawberry sap beetle, Stelidota geminata Say (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), was assessed in cultivated strawberry. In total, more than 17,000 adults were captured in traps baited with whole wheat bread dough. Early in the season, captures were similar for traps at the periphery of and within the strawberry field, whereas captures were lowest within the field after fruits had begun to ripen. The presence of peripheral traps slightly increased captures of adults within the strawberry planting, suggesting that mass trapping of adults with food-baited traps may not be a viable management strategy. Applications of fenpropathrin at dusk or mid-day, between the appearance of ripe fruits and the first harvest, reduced infestation of fruits by sap beetle larvae. Fruits located on the ground were more heavily infested by sap beetles than fruits in the plant canopy, which either is due to foraging movements of adults on the ground or reflects differential suitability of strawberry fruits as a food resource for sap beetles. A positive relationship between captures of adults in traps and the abundance of ripe fruits suggests that the spatial distribution of foraging adults is influenced by the availability of food resources.