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Information is given about the finding of Hieracium pilosella L. in the Issyk River valley on the northern slope of the Zailiysky Alatau ridge. The habitat of the species, the composition of the plant community with its participation are described, the data on the population density of the species, the ratio of generative and vegetative individuals are provided. The appearance of this adventive species in the immediate vicinity of Almaty in the last decade is most likely due to the increasing recreational load on this territory.

In the Dnipro area, Veronica arguteserrata is a new adventitious species of Asian origin from the family Plantaginaceae Juss., growing in the same ecological conditions – in shaded areas with moderate anthropogenic impact due to trampling, on loose soils and on parchment plots. The species is ephemeral: begins to grow in the second half of April, blooms in mid-May, bears fruit at the end of the same month, turns yellow in June and dies. We used 160 plants to study the morphological and ecological variability of Veronica arguteserrata. For analysis, we measured plant height, root length, length of the first and second internodes, length and width of leaf blade, number of peduncles, number of flowers, width and length of bract, corolla diameter, length and width of the fruits, number of seeds in the nest and number of fruits on the plant. The average values of all components were determined, the errors and population density, the number of individuals per 0.01 m2 were determined. Using a grid of 20 × 10 cm, divided into eight squares 5 × 5 cm, calculated the density of plants in tenfold repetition. The accuracy of density estimation, calculated as the ratio of error of the arithmetic mean to the arithmetic mean and expressed as a percentage, was 3.8–6.3%. The accuracy of assessment of other traits ranged from 2.2 to 7.5%, which is quite acceptable for field research. Analysis of the data showed that Veronica arguteserrata in the study area forms a fairly dense density of grasses, in which almost no other species are immersed. With increasing density, there is a tendency to increase the length of the first internode and reduce the area of the leaf blade, the number of peduncles, flowers and fruits on individuals. Within the parks, the plants were mowed at the end of the growing season. Probably due to mowing, as well as a slightly greater impact of trampling, the density of park populations is lower than on the highway near buildings. Synecological analysis showed that in the conditions of Dnipro area Veronica arguteserrata is a xeromesophyte, mesotroph, sciogeliophyte and ruderant. In the studied phytocenoses with increasing population of Veronica arguteserrata there is a tendency to decrease plant height, length of the second internode, length and width of the leaf blade, number of peduncles and flowers, length and width of bracts, peduncle length, corolla diameter and corolla diameter increase and box length. The highest variability was observed in the following signs from the vegetative sphere of Veronica arguteserrata plants: root length, leaf blade length, in the generative sphere: the number of flowers and of fruit on the plant. It is these features that make the largest share in the morphological variability of the studied species and determine its overall ecological and morphological plasticity. As a result of analysis of variance, the influence of population density on morphometric characteristics of plants was statistically proved. The population density has the greatest influence on the following features of the vegetative sphere: the length of the first internode and the length of the leaf blade; in the generative sphere: the diameter of the corolla and the length of the bract. Thus, the variability of these traits can be considered as a mechanism of intra-population morphological adaptations of the new adventitious species Veronica arguteserrata in the Dnipro area. The new adventitious species needs further monitoring studies to assess the level of impact on the ecosystems of Dnipro area.

An Oriental species of whiteflies, Aleuroclava aucubae (Kuwana, 1911), was collected for the first time from the territory of Russia (the Black Sea Coast of Russian Caucasus, Sochi National Park). The species was found to form dense colonies of ultimolarvae (pseudopupae) on leaves of Ficus carica and Ulmus glabra. Some of the ultimolarvae were infected by the fungus Conoideocrella luteorostrata (Zimmermann, 1901) Johnson et al., 2009. A morphological description of the pseudopupa of A. aucubae, with the original figure and photos are provided.

The study was aimed to analyze the complexes of phyllophagous insect species with different ways of feeding on woody plants of certain genera. In 2017–2019, the research was carried out in street, park, and forest park plantations of Kharkiv on the material of woody plants of 13 genera: Tilia, Acer, Quercus, Ulmus, Populus, Aesculus, Robinia, Fraxinus, Betula, Sorbus, Salix, Alnus and Corylus. A total of 159 species of phyllophagous insects from 94 genera of 27 families of six orders were identified there. Representatives of Lepidoptera constitute 50.3% by the number of species, 50 and 51.9% by the number of genera and families, respectively, and Coleoptera – 35.8% of species, 28.7 and 22.2% of genera and families, respectively. The identified species of phyllophagous insects were divided into four groups based on the lifestyle and structure of the feeding apparatus of larvae: chewers, miners, galleries, and suckers. It was found that chewers and miners represent the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, gallers – Hymenoptera and Diptera, suckers – Homoptera and Hemiptera. The suckers dominate by the number of species. The adventive species were found among the lepidopterous miners: Cameraria ohridella (Deschka & Dimic, 1986); Macrosaccus robiniella (Clemens, 1859); Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata, 1963) and Parectopa robiniella (Clemens, 1863), as well as among the dipterous gallers, Obolodiplosis robiniae (Haldeman, 1847) was revealed. More than 30 similar species of phyllophagous insects were identified at typical forest plants, the most of them at the hazel (Corylus) and oak (Quercus) – 77 and 73 species (48.4 and 45.9% of all identified species), respectively. The similarity of the complexes of chewers from leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) at plants of certain genera is less than that of lepidopterous chewers, which is due to the biological characteristics of these insects. Thus, the polyphagia of lepidopterous chewers is explained by the limited ability of caterpillars to migrate in search of food at high population densities and severe defoliation of preferred plant species. Unlike lepidopterous caterpillars, the adults of leaf beetles are able to fly long distances in search of preferred plant species.

The article deals with the results of the structural-comparative analysis of taxonomic, ecological and geographical structure of watercourses flora of the Kiliya Danube Delta. The list of the aquatic plants consists of 41 species from 27 genera, 21 families, 16 orders, 4 classes and 3 divisions. The analysis of the taxonomic composition of the main taxonomic units and the relationship between them showed that the Magnoliophyta division predominates (90.2%) there and the class Liliopsida dominates (83.8%) within the former. The first three leading families include Potamogetonaceae, Lemnaceae and Hydrocharitaceae, which make up 36.6% of the total flora. The flora consists of six adventive species, one of them is archeophyte (Acorus calamus L.) and five are kenophytes (Azolla caroliniana Willd., Azolla filiculoides Lamark., Elodea canadensis Michx., Sagittaria latifolia Willd., Vallisneria spiralis L.). Rare plants, which are protected throughout Ukraine in watercourses, are represented by three species: Salvinia natans (L.) All., Nymphoides peltata (S.G.Gmel.) Kuntze and Trara natans L. s.l. Regional rare species, which are protected only in the Odessa region. include five additional species: Lemna gibba L. (vulnerable), Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla (insufficiently studied), Najas marina L. (insufficiently studied), Potamogeton gramineus L. (insufficiently studied), Typha grossheimii Pobed. (insufficiently studied). The investigated ecological structure is represented by three ecotypes, among which the largest number of hydrophytes comprises 23 species (56.1%). It is dominated by an eco group of biofilms on the water surface (22%). The ratio of ecotypes of hydrophytes, helophytes, hygrohelophytes is 4: 2: 1. In the chorological spectrum of zonal geographical groups, the largest number of species belongs to the plurizonal group – 18 species (44%). Among the regional groups, a circumpolar distribution that is characteristic of 18 species (44%) predominates. By the nature of the distribution of species in oceanic or inland waters, the largest number of species belongs to the group indifferent to continentality and oceanicity. A similar spectrum is characteristic of the aquatic flora of Ukraine and other flora of the different Eurasia temperate zone region

Впервые cоставлен конспект адвентивной флоры Новосибирской области, насчитывающий 305 видов. 34 из них проявляют себя в качестве инвазивных. Показаны экологическая приуроченность видов, распространение по административным районам, отмечены способ заноса и степень натурализации на территории области. Критически обработаны коллекции Центрального сибирского ботанического сада, расширено представление о распространении 74 видов, 19 из которых являются редко встречающимися в области чужеземными видами.

The aim of the research was to study the composition and the characteristics of the synanthropic flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains. The territory is located in the north-west of the Altai mountains (See Fig. 1). It is represented by the Kolyvan Ridge and a part of the adjacent Pre-Altai Plain with low stony arrays along the Alei river, the Loktevka river, the Belaya river and the Charysh River (within geographical coordinates 50°45'-51°45'N, 81°35,-82°46'E). About 300 years ago, on this territory there were discovered deposits of non-ferrous metals and ornamental stones. The start of mining originated from the beginning of deforestation and plowing of the adjacent steppe territories. Besides agricultural use, touristic and recreational use of the territory is being intensively developed nowadays. However, the western lowlands of the Altai mountains are the main areas for keeping the biological diversity of the Altai-Sayan region, especially the steppe biome. Therefore, synanthropic plants of this region need to be studied due to the anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems that creates a problem today. We have been studying the synanthropic flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains since 1996. This research includes the results of our field studies published earlier [Maslova OM, 2003] and recently (the herbarium is kept at ALTB and KUZ), as well as data of other researchers [Ebel AL, 2012; Silant’eva MM, 2013; Kopitina TM, Terehina TA and Nekrasova NV, 2003; Kleshcheva E, Korolyuk A and Lashchinsky N, 2005; Usik NA, 2014]. In the synanthropic flora, we included species which are adventive on the studied area and apophytes encountered in disturbed habitats. We analyzed systematic and typological structure of the synanthropic flora to identify its characteristics. The flora of the western lowlands was tested according to hemerobility [Kunick W, 1974; Klotz S, 1984; Frank D and Klotz S, 1990; Pestryakov BN, Cherosov MM and Ishbirdin AR, 2011] and hemeroby [Zverev AA, Sheremetova SA and Sheremetov RT, 2018] scales in the app IBIS (version 7.2). We established that the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains is represented by 1105 species, 455 genera and 109 families of vascular plants. The synanthropic fraction of the flora embraces 272 species, 173 genera and 41 families. Families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae are prevalent while Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Cyperaceae are losing their leading positions, traditional for the natural flora (See Table 1). Such genera as Chenopodium (8 species); Potentilla (7); Centaurea, Artemisia, Cirsium, Rumex (6 species each); Cuscuta, Plantago and Trifolium (including Amoria) (5 species each) are equally represented. The arealological analysis was carried out on the basis of the modern settlement of species; 11 types of areas were identified in the synanthropic fraction (See Table 2). Among alien species, Holarctic species hold the first place while Palearctic species prevail among apophytes. Ecological analysis was executed for the synanthropic fraction as a whole and its individual parts (apophytes and alien species) for two factors: the relation of plants to the conditions of moistening (See Table 3) and the stony substrate. In the synanthropic flora, xeromesophytes and mesophytes are prevalent. According to the stony factor of the substrate, two ecological groups were revealed: optional petrophytes (29.4%) and non-petrophytes (70.6%). There were 6 floristic complexes identified in the eco-coenotic structure of the synanthropic flora: ruderal, steppe, meadow, valley, shrub and forest. 105 adventive species and 44 apophytes are attributed to the ruderal complex. These are plants that are widespread in the anthropogenic habitats. Among them are apophytes, such as Amaranthus retroflexus L., Arctium lappa L., Carduus crispus L., Chelidonium majus L., Chenopodium album L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Cynoglossum officinale L., Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl, Dracocephalum thymiflorum L., Lactuca serriola L., Polygonum aviculare L., Psammophiliella muralis (L.) Ikonn., Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. et Schult., Sisymbrium loeselii L., and Spergularia rubra (L.) J. Presl et C. Presl. Some apophytes (123) are also found in natural (or intact) communities. The steppe complex includes 34 species encountered in common (Lappula consanguinea (Fisch. et C.A. Mey.) Guerke, Orobanche cumana Wallr., Sisymbriumpolymorphum (Murray) Roth) and stony steppes (Artemisiafrigida Willd., Erysimum cheiranthoides L., Potentilla bifurca L., Teloxys aristata (L.) Moq.). The meadow complex comprises 22 species from dry (Achillea millefolium L., Amoria repens (L.) C. Presl, Bromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub, Calamagrostis epigeios (L.) Roth, Medicago falcata L., Trifolium pratense L.) and saline (Cirsium esculentum (Siev.) C.A. Mey., Melilotus dentatus (Waldst. et Kit.) Pers., Polygonum patulum M. Bieb.) meadows. The valley complex contains 23 species (Calystegiasepium (L.) R. Br., Cirsium setosum (Willd.) Besser, Lycopus europaeus L., Potentilla anserina L.). The shrub complex (34 species) is extremely heterogeneous (Cuscuta lupuliformis Krock., Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Love, Galium vaillantii DC. et DC., Sonchus arvensis L., Artemisia glauca Pall. ex Willd.). The forest complex (10 species) is represented by the plants of forest meadows and forest edges (Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop., Dactylis glomerata L., Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., Prunella vulgaris L., Rumex acetosella L.). From the synanthropic flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains, 31 species are included in the Black Book of Siberian flora. On the whole, the adventive species in the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains rise up to 11.6%. To compare, the part of the alien species in the flora of Altai Region is 13.7%, in the Altai Republic - 10.6%, in Kemerovo Region - 11% and in the Baikal Siberia - 13%. In regional floras of Eastern Europe the part of alien species reaches 2025%. The low level of urbanization and the absence of large transport routes restrains the spread of synanthropic plants. On the contrary, the increasing use of the territory for recreational and touristic purposes leads to the intensification of the anthropogenic flora transformation. We found out that to analyze the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains, any scale of hemerobility and hemeroby is not suitable, specifically the scales of hemerobility developed for East Germany (DHEM), the Northern Volga region (IHEM) and the Yakutia (YA_HEM). This fact arises from a low compliance of these scales (IHEM - 58.5%; YA_HEM - 46.6%; DHEM - 47.2%) to the floristic list of the area being subject of studies. A high compliance was proved by using the hemeroby scale developed for the south of Siberia whose data amount to 91.9% of the studied flora. The integral disturbance index was calculated using the IBIS program. For the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains, it is equal to 3.5 (9 grades in the scale); its apophytic fraction is 3.3. In the composition of the synanthropic fraction of the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains, the proportion of highly tolerant species (gradations 8-9) significantly increases (See Table 4). We can conclude that the modern composition of the synanthropic flora includes 105 alien species and 167 apophyte species. In the spectrum of the leading families of the synanthropic flora, we revealed significant modifications as compared with the data of the overall flora complex. The analysis of typological elements established that synanthropic plants are mainly species widespread in large areas (Holarctic, Palearctic, West Palaearctic, cosmopolites); most of them are xeromesophytes and mesophytes; two thirds of them are non-petrophytes. Eco-cenotic analysis data show that 55% of aboriginal apophytes that migrate to anthropogenic habitats belong to the steppe and shrub complexes. The part of alien species (11.6%), as well as the results of the analysis on the hemeroby scale, indicate a low degree of transformation of the flora of the western lowlands of the Altai mountains. The paper contains 1 Figure, 4 Tables and 62 References.

The bark beetle, Ernoporus parvulus (Eggers, 1943) was collected from Pinellas County, Florida, USA representing the first North American record of the genus. Two species previously described from the Caribbean were examined and are synonymous: Ernoporus minutus (Bright & Torres, 2006) syn. nov. and E. exquisitus (Bright, 2019) syn. nov. This beetle is likely an overlooked exotic from Africa, known only from sea hibiscus, Talipariti tiliaceum (L.) Fryxell (Malvaceae). There is no evidence that this is a threat to commercial or ornamental Hibiscus and related species.

The present survey includes forty-three plant species with present-day medicinal applications that can be related to the Doctrine of Signatures (DoS). The main uses are for jaundice (33.3%), kidney stones (20%), and as an aphrodisiac (8%). Ten Doctrine of Signature uses (22.2%) are endemic (to Israel and Jordan), while none of these plant species are endemic to the region at all, their DoS uses are endemic. Summing up of all these data reveals that 73.2% of all uses found in present-day Israel could be considered as related to Muslim traditional medicine. About one quarter (24.4%) of the DoS uses are also common to Europe, and some (8.8%) to India. The two adventive species with DoS uses serve as evidence that the DoS practice is not necessarily based solely on its historical background but is still evolving locally in accordance with changes in the local flora. The current broad geographic distribution of many of the doctrine’s uses may serve as indirect evidence of its current prevalence, and not just as a vestigial presentation of ancient beliefs.

In this study, 56 adventive species have been identified in Khakas flora to date. In terms of the introduction method, xenophytes dominate; this group is composed of 44 species, which is 78.6% of all the adventive species under study. The ergasiophyte group consists of 12 species (21.4%). According to the naturalization degree, we identified three groups: epecophytes, agriophytes, and ephemerophytes. The epecophyte group is in the lead and consists of 21 species (37.5%). The agriophytes are represented by 19 invasive species (33.9%). The ephemerophyte group is composed of 16 species (28.6%). Thus, the ratios of the synanthropic-plant groups defined according to the introduction method and naturalization degree indicate that most of these adventive plants have been introduced unintentionally and successfully established themselves on a territory new to them. The adventive fraction of natural ecosystems in Khakas flora contains 20 species included in the report “The Black Book of the Flora of Siberia” [1].

Originally from eastern Asia, the giant resin bee, Megachile sculpturalis (Smith), was accidentally introduced into the United States in the 1990s. It is considered an adventive (not native and usually not established) species and is present in most states in the eastern US. Although these bees can be found on various plants, they typically prefer plants that have been introduced from their native area. Some have observed that when collecting pollen or nectar, Megachile sculpturalis will damage local flora, making it unusable to future bee visitors. However, evidence has shown that, although an adventive species, Megachile sculpturalis is thought to be a pollinator of a native and federally threatened plant, the Apios Pricenana.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1258 Also available on the Featured Creatures website: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/BEES/Giant_resin.html

Larvae, pupae and imagoes of Megabruchidius dorsalis have been found in October 2018 as a result of examination of the beans of the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) in the arboretum of the Dokuchaiev Kharkiv National Agrarian University. The seed beetles colonized in 52% of the beans harvested in the current year and in 81% of the beans harvested in the previous years.

The results show the effect of water extracts from dry biomass of adventive plant species with high invasive activity from Belarus on the growth of seedlings of test plants. High correlation between the effect of biologically active substances released from the seeds of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden on various test plants and plant species is discussed. The strong stimulating effect of water extracts on plant species from Cruciferae family is shown. Plant species from Poaceae family are mainly characterized by a neutral reaction to the biologically active substances emitted from H. sosnowskyi seeds. It has been found that water extracts at the concentrations from 0.01 to 0.001 % have a stimulatory effect on the growth and development of test plants, while an inhibitory effect was observed at the concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 %.

The presence of 267 vascular plants species from 190 genera, 63 families, 26 orders, 4 classes (Equisetopsida, Polypodiopsida, Pinopsida, Angiospermae) and 3 divisions (Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta, Spermatophyta) was established for Kuznetsov Mountain. The absolute majority of species belong to Spermatophyta (258 species, 96,7%), Angiospermae (257 species, 96,3%), Dicotyledones (228 species, 85,4%). Vascular spore plants are represented by 9 species belonging to 6 genera ( Equisetum , Matteuccia , Athyrium , Cystopteris , Dryopteris , Pteridium ), 5 families (Equisetaceae, Onocleaceae, Woodsiaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae), 2 classes (Equisetopsida, Polypodiopsida) and 2 divisions (Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta). The leading families according the species diversity are Compositae (44 species, 16,5%), Leguminosae (22 species, 8,2%) and Rosaceae (18 species, 6,7%). The leading families according the number of genera are Compositae (29 genera, 15,3%), Rosaceae (14 genera, 7,4%) and Labiatae (13 genera, 6,8%). The largest number of species is concentrated in the genera Trifolium (7 species), Viola , Campanula , Galium and Carex (4 species each). According to the climamorphic system of K. Raunkiaer, hemicryptophytes predominate in the flora (148 species, 55,4%). According to the biomorph system I.G. Serebryakov and T.I. Serebryakova - perennial polycarpic short-stemmed, long-rooted, and rod-root grasses (47,0%) predominate. 76,8% of the species are vegetatively still and immobile.

Composition of insect species pollinating Sorbus aucuparia and Aronia mitschurinii in Moscow Region, Russia was studied. It was collected 39 species – representatives of 4 orders and 21 families. The hypothesis that these two plants with same inflorescences and blossoming simultaneously are visited by the same insect species was not proved: 18 species were captured only on S. aucuparia and 16 species only on A. mitschurinii. Insects demonstrated selectivity towards aboriginal (Sorbus) and adventive (Aronia) plants. Only five species were registered on both plants: Bombus ruderarius Müller, 1776, Andrena haemorrhoa (Fabricius, 1781), Bellardia viarum obineauDesvoidy, 1830, Anthrenus scrophulariae Linnaeus, 1758 and Anaspis frontalis (Linnaeus, 1758). Sorbus aucuparia was more attractive for Diptera from the families Calliphoridae and Milichiidae, and Aronia mitschurinii – for Anthomyiidae, Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae. Selectivity was discovered at species level also: Andrena ruficrus Nylander, 1848 and Myopa polystigma Rondani, 1857 visited Aronia mitschurinii only and Andrena subopaca Nylander, 1848 and Myopa testacea (Linnaeus, 1767) – Sorbus aucuparia. The majority of collected insect species are polyphagous. Additional data on other plants visited by the same insects during the period of bloom of Sorbus and Aronia are given, including those from the genera Malus, Spiraea, Pyrus, Prunus, Rosa, Rubus, Cerasus Crataegus, Barbarea and Taraxacum.

The bryocorine mirid Tenthecoris tillandsiae Henry (Hemiptera: Miridae) was described as a new species in 2016. Although the type locality is Charleston, South Carolina, the species is considered adventive in the United States and native to Latin America. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides [L.] L.; Bromeliaceae) is the plant bug's only known host. Tenthecoris tillandsiae was found in three counties of the greater Charleston area in clumps of Spanish moss that grew on ten species of woody plants, especially Darlington oak (Quercus hemisphaericaW. Bartram exWilld.; Fagaceae) and live oak (Q. virginiana Mill.). Nymphs and adults fed on strands of the moss, on which they left dark spots of excrement. Overwintered eggs hatched in mid- to late April, with first-generation adults appearing by early May. Two additional generations were produced; nymphs were present into October, and an adult female was found as late as mid-December. Tenthecoris tillandsiae sometimes was syntopic with a native plant bug (Phytocoris tillandsiae Johnston) that specializes on Spanish moss. Pathways of entry that might have allowed T. tillandsiae to enter the southeastern United States from South America (where Spanish moss originated), Central America, or Mexico are discussed. This immigrant mirid is suggested to be a benign addition to the arthropod community associated with Spanish moss, a plant not only symbolic of the South, but also one known to help conserve insect biodiversity.

In the summer of 2010, two male specimens of the neotropical orchid bee genus Eufriesea Cockerell were collected in the Guadalupe Mountains of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, USA. We tentatively identified them as E. coerulescens (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau) because of the uncertainty surrounding the limits of this taxon and hypothesized that they were members of a persistent bee population, rather than long-distance transient vagrants. The goals of this paper are to clarify the identity of these specimens, assess the species limits of E. coerulescens, and to evaluate suitability of habitats in the USA for this adventive species. Herein, we revise the species in the coerulescens group using morphological features of both sexes and confirm that the specimens of Eufriesea from the USA are E. coerulescens. We recognize the following six species in the coerulescens group: E. coerulescens, E. micheneri Ayala & Engel, E. simillima (Moure & Michener), which is reinstated from synonym with E. coerulescens, and three new species from Mexico (E. barthelli Gonzalez & Griswold, sp. n., E. engeli Gonzalez & Griswold, sp. n., and E. oliveri Gonzalez & Griswold, sp. n.). To facilitate the identification of these taxa, we present a fully illustrated account of the species, comparative diagnoses, descriptions, and an updated key to all Mexican species of Eufriesea. Our analyses using species distribution modelling show an absence of suitable habitat for E. coerulescens in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, thus favoring the long-distance dispersal hypothesis. The analyses also suggest high suitability of habitats across the Caribbean and some areas in Florida, as well as in other regions in Mexico and Central America. We discuss the implications of these results and compare them with the predicted distribution available for the other two known adventive orchid bee species in the USA.

The article presents the results of study of floristic structure and productivity of the dry meadows preserved in the ravine and gully system in the Zmiiv District of the Kharkiv Region. The research was carried out at the model sites with floral composition and features of use typical for the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. It was established that the total phytocenosis productivity depends on the phytomass fluctuations of two main groups of plants, forbs and grasses. The flora of the studied meadows includes at least 87 vascular plant species. The ten main families altogether number 70 species (80.5 % of the species composition). The families Asteraceae Bercht. & J. Presl (23 species, 26.4 %), Fabaceae Lindl. (11 species, 12.6 %) and Poaceae Barnhart (8 species, 9.2 %) are presented best. This ratio of families is characteristic of herbaceous phytocenoses of the Holarctic floristic realm. The Poaceae family plays the leading role in the formation of meadow phytocenoses, since its members often dominate the main meadow formations. Analysis of the flora ecomorph spectrum revealed prevalence of a xerophilous group that includes meadow, meadow-steppe and steppe species. The obtained data indicate a rather significant xerophytization of the study area, which is typical for the growing conditions of the dry meadows located on the watersheds with atmospheric type of humidification only. Perennial herbaceous meadow-steppe and some ruderal species prevailed in the life form spectrum (77.0 %), which is characteristic of the meadow flora of the Kharkiv Region. Annual segetal weeds, introduced from neighboring fields, contribute significantly to the meadow flora (17.2 %), in particular, such adventive species as Ambrosia artemisifolia L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., and Cyclachaen axanthifolia (Nutt.) Fresen. The research of phytocenose productivity showed that the Poaceae proportion in the meadows with high productivity is usually about 35‒40 %. In the meadows with low productivity, it can exceed 50 % that is explained by the leading role of the family Poaceae in the formation of meadow phytocenoses under high xerophytization of the vegetation cover.

Synopsis of adventive species of Coleoptera (Insecta) recorded from Canada. Part 5: Chrysomeloidea (Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, and Megalopodidae)

Two species of Cryptophlebia: C. nota Kawabe and C. ombrodelta (Lower), are reported from Korea for the first time. This is in fact the first record of Cryptophlebia from Korea, as the previous Korean records of the genus were based on one species, Cryptophlebia hematoma Diakonoff, currently assigned to Thaumatotibia Zacher. Photos of the superficial and genital features are provided for the two Korean species of Cryptophlebia and their distribution and host plants are summarized. Cryptophlebia ombrodelta is recognized as an adventive species in Korea and a potential pest on leguminoseous crops.

Based on institutional collections, database records, literature and new field collections, 247 breeding host associations were found in New Zealand for the four species of the subfamily Panchaetothripinae. The endemic Sigmothrips aotearoana bred only on indigenous plants (21 species). The three adventive species, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, Hercinothrips bicinctus and Parthenothrips dracaenae, bred on indigenous plants in native ecosystems and on other plants in and outside native ecosystems; 165, 52 and 9 species, respectively. Of the 172 plant genera, only 17 hosted more than one species. Several plant families and orders hosted only one thrips species; notably, S. aotearoana on Orchidaceae and Loganiaceae; Hercinothrips bicinctus on Compositae (Asteraceae) and Solanales; Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis on Cornales, Ericales, Fagales, Malvales, Poales, Pinales, Rosales and Vitales. The robustness and usefulness of the patterns of host plant associations for predicting plant species at risk could b...

Cryptoblabes gnidiella is an opportunistic species native to the Mediterranean region. This species has been reported from several dozen host plants, including many cultivated plants, especially fruit (e.g. grapes, lemons or pomegranates). It is considered a serious pest together with accompanying insects such as mealybugs. It is also suspected of being a vector of certain pathogens. The Honeydew Moth constitutes a threat not only to crops in the Mediterranean basin but is also becoming a problem in other parts of the world with a suitable climate, where this species has been accidentally imported. The records given here are from the time of year when pomegranates are commonly available on supermarket shelves. These data show that the import of this species is quite common and that the lack of such information hitherto may be due to its having been overlooked. This paper presents the first records of Cryptoblabes gnidiella in Poland.

Larinus turbinatus Gyllenhal, a Palearctic weevil that feeds on thistle species of the genera Cirsium and Carduus (Asteraceae: tribe Cardueae), is newly reported for North America. It was first collected by sweep net sampling of flowers of pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum (Nutt.) Spreng. at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in late July 2011 and specimens were hand-collected from field thistle Cirsium discolor (Muhl. exWilld.) Spreng. at Gettysburg National Park, Adams County, Pennsylvania in late August 2012. This is the first published record of this Old World species in the Western Hemisphere. At present, five species of the genus Larinus are known as introduced into North America. These are L. turbinatus Gyllenhal, L. carlinae (Olivier) (known formerly as L. planus), L. curtus Hochhuth, L. obtusus Gyllenhal, and L. minutus Gyllenhal. Brief summaries of their hosts, distributions, biology and a key for their separation are provided.

Based on the results of field research, inventory of CWU herbarium collections and study of scientific sources it was carried out the sozological assessment of rare plant species as a part of the higher aquatic flora of the Kharkiv region according to generally accepted criteria of rarity. It has been found that four species (Salvinia natans (L.) All., Trapa natans L., Utricularia intermedia Hayne, U. minor L.) are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, the first two of which are in the Annex I of Bern Convention. The European Red List of Vascular Plants includes three species (Potamogeton acutifolius Link, P. rutilus Wolfg., Trapa natans), which have the conservation status “Near Threatened”. 27 plant species are in the Red List of Aquatic Macrophytes of Ukraine and 22 species are included in the Regional Red List of the Kharkiv region. It has been revealed that populations of six rare species (Batrachium aquatile (L.) Dumort., Potamogeton obtusifolius Mert. et Koch, P. rutilus Wolfg., Scirpus triqueter L., Vallisneria spiralis L., Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimmer) are on the border of the range. By the uniqueness for the region, one species (Salvinia natans) is considered as rare for Europe, 26 species are rare at the state level and 10 species are rare at the regional level. For 22 species there are known from one to five locations in the region. By the size of the habitat area, the most of cenopopulations of species occupy small areas (for 27 species it is less than 5 hectares). At present the location of 6 species has not been confirmed (Ceratophyllum tanaiticum Sapjeg., Potamogeton gramineus L., P. obtusifolius Mert.et W.D.J.Koch, P. praelongus Wulfen, P. sarmaticus Mäemets, Trapa natans). It has been established that populations of only 8 species are represented quite fully at the natural reserve areas of the region. On the basis of autphytosozological analysis we propose to include 22 species of vascular plants in the Regional Red List of the Kharkiv region and to exclude from it two species: Utricularia intermedia, which is in the Red Book of Ukraine and has the conservation status at the state level, and Vallisneria spiralis L., which is considered as adventive species.

The postrelease impact of weed biological control agents on their target weeds is rarely assessed. This study focuses on the impacts of the univoltine broom psyllid Arytainilla spartiophila Forster on the growth of its target weed, the invasive shrub Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (Fabaceae), in California. Arytainilla spartiophila is an adventive species that has been present in North America for several decades. In a greenhouse experiment, plant growth as measured by both height and total stem length (height + length of all branches) was reduced on plants that received psyllids, and psyllid densities were negatively correlated to proportional change in plant height. There were no effects on number of leaves, however. Furthermore, the psyllid had no statistically detectable impacts on plant growth parameters in a field experiment, underscoring how results obtained under controlled conditions may not fully predict the performance of biological control agents in the field. The high psyllid mortality that occurred at higher psyllid densities in both the greenhouse and the field suggests that the impacts of A. spartiophila may be moderated by intraspecific competition.

Fourteen species of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are recorded as new to Saudi Arabia. These are: Aphis coreopsidis (Thomas, 1878); Aphis illinoisensis Shimer, 1866; Baizongia pistaceae (Linnaeus, 1767); Capitophorus elaeagni (del Guercio, 1894); Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini, 1860); Eucarazzia elegans (Ferrari, 1872); Geoica lucifuga (Zehntner, 1897); Hayhurstia atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761); Macrosiphoniella absinthii (Linnaeus, 1758); Macrosiphoniella sanborni (Gillette, 1908); Smynthurodes betae Westwood, 1849; Uroleucon cichorii (Koch, 1855), and Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillette, 1908). Among these, three species, i.e. A. coreopsidis, A. illinoisensis, and W. nervata are alien species.

Fifty-two yeast isolates from flowers and associated nitidulid beetles of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) region were found to represent a new species in the large-spored Metschnikowia clade. The species is heterothallic, haploid, and allogamous, and produces asci with two aciculate ascospores that can reach 80 μm in length, as is typical in the clade. Analysis of sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster indicates that the new species is closely related to Metschnikowia lochheadii, which ranges across Central America to northern Brazil, occurs as an adventive species in Hawaii, but is rarely found in central Brazil. The species is not readily distinguishable from relatives based on morphology or growth responses, but is well delineated from M. lochheadii on reproductive isolation. Based on an intron splice site PCR screen, we selected 26 isolates for further study. The sequence of the region that includes the complete internal transcribed spacer/5.8S rRNA gene segment as well as the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene contained three polymorphic segments and 14 haplotypes were identified. Of these, a single divergent isolate from the southernmost of four sampled localities exhibited diminished mating success when crossed with others. We describe two varieties, Metschnikowia matae var. matae sp. nov. var. nov. (type UFMG-CM-Y395(T), CBS 13986(T), NRRL Y-63736(T); allotype UFMG-CM-Y391(A), CBS 13987(A), NRRL Y-63735(A)) and Metschnikowia matae var. maris sp. nov. var. nov. (type UFMG-CM-Y397(T), CBS 13985(T), NRRL Y-63737(T)). We also report on the discovery of the h (+) mating type of Candida ipomoeae and transfer of the species to Metschnikowia ipomoeae comb. nov. (allotype UWOPS 12-660.1(A), CBS 13988(A), NRRL Y-63738(A)).

SummaryChecklist of bees from Martinique (French West Indies) and their relations with visited flowers (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae, Apidae). An annotated checklist of the bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of Martinique, Lesser Antilles is presented. The bee fauna is constituted by 14 species: one endemic; five known only from the Insular Caribbean; four that occur both on mainland and the West Indies and three adventive species to the West Indies. Seven species are new island records: Megachile (Eutricharaea) concinna Smith 1879, Megachile (Pseudocentron) vitraci Perez 1884, Centris (Hemisiella) barbadensis Cockerell 1939, Centris (Centris) decolorata Lepeletier 1841, Centris (Centris) versicolor (Fabricius 1775), Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) analis Spinola 1853 and Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) similis (Cresson 1865). The list is arranged with data from literature and field researches carried out by the junior author between 2006 and 2014. A list of the visited flowers along with ecological notes ...

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus is reported to be widespread in the South Island of New Zealand and the western region of Tasmania. The habitat is in areas of human activity which supports its status as an adventive species, probably as a result of anthropogenic action. Although both female and male plants have been detected in some populations, there is no evidence of sporophytes and spread is through asexual fragmentation.

A new host and distribution record is provided for the whitefly parasitoid Baeoentedon balios Wang, Huang, & Polaszek (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Specimens were reared from ficus whitefly, Singhiella simplex (Singh) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in St. Petersburg, FL, USA, representing the second confirmed host for B. balios, as well as the first record of Baeoentedon Girault from the Western Hemisphere.

Climbing asparagus (Asparagus verticillatus L.) a new adventive species to the Hungarian flora was recently discovered in the city of Pecs (South Hungary) in 2011–2012. Taxonomy, morphological description and current localities of the species are presented in this paper. A. verticillatus is a mediterranean-submediterranean species native in Balkan Peninsula, Eastern Europe, Western- and Middle Asia. The species is a popular ornamental plant in Hungary, but no data was available about its escape or naturalisation in the country so far. Herbarium specimens from Hungary were collected so far mostly from botanical and private gardens; only one specimen was collected in a dry grassland along a roadside in the city, respectively. The newly discovered small populations are located mostly in secondary dry grasslands, at the edges of vineyards and private gardens on the southern slopes of the Mecsek Mts and only one specimen was found far from the residential area in natural vegetation. Because climbing asparagus is a frequently planted ornamental plant in several locations of Pecs, further escape, naturalisation and persistence of the species is possible in the future.

The geographical distributions of three adventive species of North American goldenrods (S. canadensis L. s.l., S. gigantea Ait. and S. graminifolin (L.) Salisb.) throughout Poland are presented. The history of escape, initial establishent and subsequent spread are documented on the basis of almost 1400 herbarium collections and site records of the authors. Of the three species S. gigantea is the most aggressive S. cunadensis has continued to spread vigorously. but S. graminifolia has barely moved beyond its initial area of establishment. The first two species occur essentially throughout Poland. having expanded from centers in southwestern Poland in the decade between 1840 to 1850. Both of these plants are spreading rapidly and producing vigorous populations which thrive in disturbed and semi-disturbed environments and S. gigantea seems to have now attained the capability of invading stabilized habitats and communities. They are in the process of becoming a serious threat to many natural environments and ecosystems in Poland.

An adventive, previously undescribed species, Neophyllaphis varicolor Miller and Halbert, n. sp., is described and illustrated. A modified key to Neophyllaphis found on Podocarpus spp. (Podocarpaceae) and a key to Neophyllaphis in the USA are provided.

Epilobium ciliatum Rafin. (Onagraceae), a new adventive species potentially invasive in the Iberian Peninsula Palabras clave. Epilobium ciliatum, especies adventicias, Flora vascular, Onagraceae, Península Ibérica. Key words. Epilobium ciliatum, Iberian Peninsula, adventive species, Onagraceae, vascular flora

Aphis intybi Koch is recorded for the first time in North and South America. Measurements for the identification of this species in comparison with Aphis craccivora Koch are given. Aphis cytisorum Hartig is recorded for the third time in Argentina. Data on morphological variation, geographical distribution, and host plants of these species in Argentina are provided. Their morphological identification is supported by comparison of DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (DNA barcode) and subunit 2. Aphis intybi Koch se cita por primera vez tanto en América del Sur como del Norte. Se aportan características métricas para la identificación de la especie en comparación con Aphis craccivora Koch. Aphis cytisorum Hartig se cita por tercera vez en la Argentina. Se aportan datos sobre la variación morfológica, así como sobre la distribución geográfica y las plantas hospedadoras en Argentina de esas especies. Las identificaciones morfológicas han sido corroboradas mediante comparaciones de las secuencias de la citocromo oxidasa I (DNA barcode) y de la citocromo oxidasa II del DNA mitocondrial. EEA Mendoza Fil: Mier Durante, Milagros Pilar. Universidad de León. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Gestión Ambiental (área de Zoología); España Fil: Foottit, Robert. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Canadian National Collection of Insects. Invertebrate Biodiversity; Canadá Fil: Dohlen, Carol D. Von. Utah State University. Department of Biology; Estados Unidos Fil: Ortego, Jaime. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Mendoza; Argentina

On the basis of the deductive approach of floristic classification of plants, five derivative communities formed by adventive species, Solidago gigantea, Asclepias syriaca, Aster × salignus, Sorbaria sorbifolia, and Spiraea alba, are determined. The ecological and floristic characteristics of the communities are given.

The effect of adventive dominants (Erigeron annuus, Solidago canadensis, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asclepias syriaca, etc.) on the composition and species richness of fallow plant communities (Belaya River basin, Western Caucasus) are analyzed. The results show that (1) adventive dominants have light effects on the composition of fallow communities; (2) communities with more abundant adventive dominants are characterized by lower community species richness on the plots of 0.5 and 15 m2 as a whole, and a lesser number of native species and higher number of adventive ones; and (3) communities with more abundant adventive dominants are characterized by a lower average frequency of native and adventive species on the plots of 0.5 m2. However, the relations between all these characteristics are poor.

The adventive fraction of the Middle Ural flora is represented by 328 species of vascular plants from 198 genera and 51 families. Most of the adventive plants are nonaggressive and form the group of epecophytes (41%); all these plants have been accidentally introduced into the Middle Ural flora (xenophytes). Ephemerophytes occupy second place in the number of species (27%). More than half of this group (60%) is represented by ergasiophytes. The maximum diversity of ephemerophytes is observed in the urban flora (26%) and along railways (23%). Colonophytes form a group of similar size (26%), and most of these species are introduced plants. Agriophytes (18 species, or 6%) represent the most aggressive group. Among them, 78% belong to xenophytes and 22% are ergasiophytes. Thirteen agriophyte species represent alien plants: Heracleum sosnowskyi, Artemisia absinthium, Conyza canadensis, Impatiens grandulifera, Bunias orientalis, Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Echinocystis lobata, Hippophae rhamnoides, Elodea canadensis, Epilobium adenocaulon, Epilobium pseudorubescens, and Amelanchier spicata. Thus, alien plants are a minor component of the adventive flora of the Middle Urals (4%).

The results of the study on naturalization of adventive plants in Magadan region are given. The list of adventive flora of the region consists of 292 species and includes 22 pseudoaboriginals. Ergasiophygophytes include 42% of ephemerophytes, 34% of colonophytes, 16% of epoecophytes and 8% of agriophytes. Xenophytes consist of 15% of ephemerophytes, 40% of colonophytes, 26% of epoecophytes and 19% of agriophytes. Unintentionally introduced species have greater potential to naturalization. Pseudoaboriginal xenophytes have greater part of epoecophytes than other xenophytes. Sixteen percent of adventive species spread to natural ecotopes.

In the territory of the Vyatka-Kama Cis-Urals, 22 species of alien macrophytes are recorded. They compose 6.5% of the number of known macrophyte species known for the region. Most of them do not play an active role in formation of vegetative communities and constitute a part of aquatic communities as accompanying elements (Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium glaucum, C. rubrum, Xanthium strumarium, Epilobium pseudorubescens, Juncus gerardii, Senecio vulgaris, Typha laxmannii, Mimulus guttatus, Butomus junceus, Scirpus tabernaemontani, and Zannichellia repens). They grow in secondary and open natural ecotones and do not pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems in the region because of their low activity in aquatic communities. Among alien species of macrophytes, invasive species are encountered. Some of them (Najas major, Vallisneria spiralis, Phragmites altissimus, Juncus tenuis, and Echinochloa crusgalli) have become a constant part of secondary biotope communities but pose a threat to indigenous macrophyte species only in specific biotopes where ecological conditions differ significantly from normal ones. Other species (Elodea canadensis, Epilobium adenocaulon, Impatiens glandulifera, Mentha longifolia, and Lemna gibba) have successfully naturalized in natural ecosystems or have been penetrating into them. The overwhelming majority of alien macrophyte species within the region are plants which do not refer to aquatic plants: hygrophytes (ten species or 45.5%) and hygromesophytes (three species or 13.6%). Only five species (22.7%) belong to hydrophytes and four species are helophytes (18.2%). Six species of alien macrophytes are characterized by transcontinental (North America) drift, 12 species (54.5%) are characterized by transzonal drift, and four species (18.2%) have been introduced from adjacent natural zones.

The blacklist of Bryansk oblast flora including 100 adventive species is compiled. Plants from this blacklist are divided into four groups based on the classification recommended for keeping Black Books.