Andrea Di Giulio

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at Roma Tre University

The present contribution discusses the possible defensive camouflage strategy adopted by Leiopleura venustula (Gory, 1841), a South American leafmining buprestid beetle (Buprestidae, Agrilinae, Tracheini). This species presents a coloration pattern resembling older dry bird droppings and displays the capability to secrete a large amount of highly c...

Given the major phytosanitary relevance of several invasive species, the identification of suitable regions worldwide remains a key action to implement prevention measures, optimise management actions, together with effective monitoring programs. To this aim, we implemented a two-step species distribution model framework, calibrated on the species...

Several studies have highlighted the global decline of pollinator insects, with Lepidoptera being particularly affected in large parts of Europe in recent decades. Given the important biogeographic and conservation implications from faunal studies on the large Mediterranean islands, we focused on assessing butterfly diversity within the Culuccia Pe...

Wild bees are essential pollinators of both native and cultivated plants, but their populations are declining worldwide. Conservation efforts are hindered by insufficient data, especially in the Mediterranean basin, which hosts some of the most diverse pollinator communities in the world. Particularly in Sardinia, the second largest island in the M...

Sound detection in fishes relies on the inner ear and peripheral structures, such as calcareous otoliths, which play a crucial role in perceiving movement, orientation, and balance. Otoliths, in particular, respond to various environmental factors including temperature, salinity, and food availability, making them valuable indicators of ecological...

Aromia bungii is an invasive Cerambycidae of major concern at the global scale because of the damage caused to Rosaceae. Given the major phytosanitary relevance of A. bungii, predicting its spread in invaded areas and identifying possible new suitable regions worldwide remains a key action to develop appropriate management practices and optimise mo...

Background Urbanisation is a global phenomenon responsible for negative processes in natural ecosystems, such as degradation, loss of habitat and fragmentation. Large urban green areas could, however, represent shelter for animal species, promoting biodiversity conservation. Urban green spaces can also provide useful habitats for threatened species...

Tetragonisca angustula (Fig.1), a smalleusocial bee (4-5 mm), is the most commonlybred Neotropical Meliponini species in Peru[1]. The species is significant formeliponiculture and tropical forestpollination [2].Fig.1 – Female of Tetragonisca angustulaINTRODUCTIONAIMS❖ Evaluation of the intraspecificvariability of T. angustula inPeru;❖ Detection of...

Curculionidae Scolytinae are one the most successful groups of invading insects worldwide and amongst the most important wood-boring Coleoptera introduced to Europe.These beetles are generally moved among continents within live plants, timber, containers, pallets and wood-packaging materials, and their introduc- tion may result in substantial econo...

We explain the proposal and initial progress of a project that, for the first time in Peru, promotes a transdisciplinary study of the key diversity of stingless bees.

The present contribution is devoted to the review of some species of Mordellidae belonging to the Italian fauna described by Mariano Zuccarello Patti and Mario Enrico Franciscolo. New taxonomic combinations are proposed: Mediimorda argyropleura (Franciscolo, 1942), comb. nov., Mordella quomoi Franciscolo, 1942, comb. rev., and Mordellokoiles grandi...

Background Stag beetles are saproxylic species that are associated with deadwood in the larval stage and play an important role in forest ecosystem dynamics. In Italy, Platycerus caprea and Platycerus caraboides are two small, elusive stag beetle species, whose known distribution is often limited or referring to old records. New information The pr...

The genus Myrmecina was described basing on males of M. graminicola. Though representing the caste type, males were sufficiently described in only two out of 105 species known in the genus. However, the morphology of the male external genitalia remained undescribed. Re-examining by SEM the male of M. graminicola, we describe and illustrate in detai...

Background Urbanisation is a rapidly growing global phenomenon leading to habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation. However, urban areas can offer opportunities for conservation, particularly through the presence of green spaces which can even provide important habitats for imperilled species. Spiders, which play crucial roles in ecosyste...

Culuccia is a small peninsula of about 3 km ² placed in north-western Sardinia (Italy) at the margin of the Maddalena Archipelago. The marine area surrounding this Peninsula is a Special Area of Conservation, included in the European Natura 2000 Ecological Network of protected areas, but until now, no information on biodiversity of this area is ava...

Background Buprestidae is a group of beetles of important conservation and phytosanitary value that is poorly studied in the Tuscan Archipelago and the limited faunistic knowledge available refers to a few scant historical records. New information The present contribution increments the species documented in the Archipelago from 27 to 51, providin...

The extant species of the genera Alvania Risso, 1826, Haurakia Iredale, 1915, Parashiela Laseron, 1956, Simulamerelina Ponder, 1985 and Subestea Cotton, 1944 (Rissoidae Gray, 1847) collected in the shallow waters of French Polynesia are herein revised, for a total of 19 species. Additionally, a new genus for a new deep-water species is here introdu...

Simple Summary: The phylogenetic status of the family Nitidulidae and its sister group relationship remain controversial. Also, the phylogenetic status of the subfamily Meligethinae and its phylogenetic relationships with other subfamilies of Nitidulidae are not fully understood. Mitochondrial genome sequences can be used to study species identific...

Soil is a very fragile ecosystem, often subject to many threats. Wildfires can affect edaphic communities depending on the intensity and seasonality of the fire. Different groups of soil fauna tend to respond differently to this type of disturbance, but the lack of data prevents to fully analyze the impact of fire. Soil microarthropods show a parti...

Europe has a long history of non-native species introductions given its central role in global trade in recent centuries. Currently, approximately two hundred cerambycid species have been found in Europe, as the result of introductions between and within biogeographical regions; still, despite better monitoring and stronger restrictions, the arriva...

Some Pyrochroidae species are known as "canthariphilous" for their attraction to cantharidin (CTD), a toxic terpene with anti-predatory effects, produced in nature by only two beetle families (Meloidae and Oedemeridae). It has been demonstrated that males of Neopyrochroa flabellata ingesting CTD are positively selected by females. Indeed, the compo...

In the last decades, climate change and globalisation have been exacerbating the introduction of non-native beetles worldwide. Due toits peculiar territory, climate and geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin, Italy is one of the European countries with the highest number of intercepted, adventive and established non- native...

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) are a large and diverse group including 59 extant groups, representing the main pollinators of Amazon forests. Among those, Trigona is one of the largest endemic genera of Neotropical Meliponini. In this work, we updated the molecular phylogeny of Trigona proposed by Rasmussen and Camargo (2008), including d...

Soil fauna has a crucial importance for the functioning of ecosystems and their conservation. Soil biota has a role in soil formation and distribution of organic matter, and groups like microarthropods can be used as indicators to assess soil quality and are often employed in monitoring programs. In the present study, the QBS-ar index, an index bas...

Simple Summary In this study, based on specimens collected in the city of São Paulo (Brazil), we redescribe and illustrate the rare Neotropical ant Anillidris bruchi male and queen by using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), supplying new morphological distinctive characters, and improving the previous descriptions. This work will be u...

Ecosystems around the world are experiencing a major environmental impact from microplastic particles (MPs 0.1 µm–1 mm). Water, sediments, and aquatic biota show the widespread presence of this pollutant. However, MPs are rarely used in laboratory studies as they are scarcely available for purchase or expensive, especially if one wishes to trace th...

Meloetyphlus Waterhouse is a monotypic genus of Meloidae ascribed to the tribe Tetraonycini, subfamily Meloinae. As for most blister beetles, its first-instar larvae (or triungulins) are parasites of bees, but M. fuscatus Waterhouse is the only species known to parasitize members of the tribe Euglossini (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae). Despite being...

Buprestidae are a beetle family with approximately 15,000 described species, present in all continents except Antarctica. The group, also commonly known as Jewel Beetles, is characterized by the variety of patterns and richness of colors, both physical and chemical, of their integuments. It is not clear yet the eco-ethological meaning of these colo...

Canthariphilous species are those arthropods attracted to cantharidin (CTD), a defensive compound produced by two beetle families (Meloidae and Oedemeridae). Although several species are known to be attracted to CTD, canthariphily was recently discovered in new species, suggesting that the list of canthariphilous species is still far from being com...

In the last few years, several studies have been highlighting the global decline of insects, in particular pollinators. This is a raising concern for the long-term sustainability of wild vegetation and major agricultural crops. The Mediterranean Basin is considered one of the main biodiversity hotspot. Indeed, Sardinia hosts numerous endemic spe...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common pathogen infecting cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs, causing acute and chronic infections. Intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance allow P. aeruginosa to colonize and persist despite antibiotic treatment, making new therapeutic approaches necessary. Combining high-throughput screening and drug repurposing is...

The concentration of nanoplastics (NPs) is expected to increase in aquatic environments thus potentially threatening freshwater organisms through interactions with plastic particles that variously float, circulate in the water column or sink into the benthos. Studies into the mechanisms of any NP effects are still scarce, particularly with respect...

Anthophora is a genus of Hymenoptera Apoidea that counts about 400 species all over the world. In the region of interest for this study, Latium, have been recorded 25 of the 42 species registered in Italy. Most species emerge between March and April, but they are active also during summer, and in some cases until October. These bees are very common...

Contamination by microplastics (0.1 μm-5 mm plastic fragments) is currently one of the major threats to the conservation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Growing awareness on this issue has led to an increase in studies on the effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms, although there are still few investigations on possible t...

The genus Linepithema was erected by Mayr (1866) for his male-based species L. fuscum . In this study a new species is described also based on male morphology, L. paulistana sp. nov. , collected in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, which is attributed to the fuscum group (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae). Linepithema paulistana sp. nov. is the only species...

Microplastic pollution constitutes a serious environmental problem that requires more effective scientific research to describe its potential impacts on marine fauna. The interaction between microplastics and marine biota can have significant negative effects through the trophic chain, up to human health. To date, several steps forward have been ma...

Meligethes (Odonthogethes) chinensis is a highly specialized species of Nitidulidae in China that takes pollen as its main food source, and its main host plant is Rubus idaeus L. (Rosaceae). In this study, the structural morphology of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of adult M. (O.) chinensis was observed under light, fluorescence, and...

The EU Forestry Strategy 2030 include an ambitious reforestation/afforestation plan aimed at planting 3 billion trees that should lead the European Union towards carbon neutrality by 2050. We argue that important ecological aspects were not sufficiently considered in the Strategy. The consequences of large‐scale afforestation plans on biodiversity‐...

The Cicadomorpha Philaenus spumarius, Neophilaenus campestris, and Cicadella viridis are known transmitters of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Here, we studied the ultrastructural organization of their cephalic glands. Our investigations with scanning, transmission, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopes and light microscope revealed for...

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) are among the most important pollinators of tropical forests. Peru is considered a hotspot of biodiversity of Meliponini, but many areas of this country (e.g., Peruvian Amazon) remain unexplored. We aimed to produce a first inventory of stingless bee species dwelling in humid and seasonally dry forests of no...

Hastisetae are detachable setae typical of the larvae of Megatomine (Dermestidae). These setae are commonly recognized as contaminants of stored products and work and living environments. Exposure to hastisetae through direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation causes inflammation symptoms in human. For these setae, beyond the biomechanical defensiv...

Dipteran parasitoids of Embioptera (webspinners) are few and extremely rare but known from all biogeographical regions except Australasia/Oceania. All belong to the fly family Tachinidae, a hyperdiverse and widespread clade of parasitoids attacking a variety of arthropod orders. The webspinner-parasitizing Diptera are reviewed based mostly on recor...

The deep-water extant Rissoidae Gray, 1847 of the genera Benthonella Dall, 1889 and Benthonellania Lozouet, 1990 collected in French Polynesia are herein revised. Three species of Benthonella and eight of Benthonellania are described as new (all but one from French Polynesia): Benthonella boucheti n. sp., Benthonella basistriata n. sp., Benthonella...

The structural characteristics of diatom cell walls (frustules) has led to their widespread use in diverse biotechnological applications, some of which can be further improved by surface chemical modification (functionalization). The use of coating agents can significantly increase surface binding capacity for target compounds. Frustules of the dia...

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) are a large and diverse group including 59 extant groups, representing the main pollinators of Amazon forests. Among those, Trigona is one of the largest endemic genera of Neotropical Meliponini. In this work, we updated the molecular phylogeny of Trigona proposed by Rasmussen and Camargo (2008), including d...

Cantharidin (CTD) is a defensive compound autogenously and exclusively produced by two phylogenetically related beetle families: Meloidae and Oedemeridae. Although this molecule usually acts as a strong deterrent against potential predators and parasites, some arthropod species, collectively named ‘canthariphilous species’, are attracted to CTD. So...

This variable speed three-minute video captures interactions between Paussus piochardi and its host ants Pheidole sinaitica. Interactions include Paussus stridulations [0.22-0.37], Paussus feeding in a pupa [0.38-1.05], Paussus contacting with the queen [1:05-1:33], Paussus walking in top of a soldier [1:33-1:53], and Paussus feeding on a worker [2...

Ant Nest Beetles are renowned myrmecophiles, mostly known for their bizarre and diverse antennal shape. While little is known about their development, behavior and host range, we do know they spend most of their lives inside ant nests, feeding upon the hemolymph of ant brood and teneral workers. Recent findings suggest these beetles use a surprisin...

The Cicadomorpha Philaenus spumarius, Neophilaenus campestris and Cicadella viridis are known transmitters of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Here, we studied the ultrastructural organization of their cephalic glands. Our investigations with scanning, transmission, FIB-SEM electron microscope and light microscope revealed for the first time in Au...

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to understand from a microscopic point of view whether bicarbonate air-abrasive powders associated with ultrasonic instruments can decontaminate nine different surfaces used for the abutment/implant junction. Fibroblast growth was carried out on decontaminated surface in order to understand if there are sign...

Members of the family Meloidae are known to produce cantharidin, a highly toxic monoterpene found in their hemolymph and exuded as droplets capable of deterring many predators. As a nuptial gift, males transfer large amounts of cantharidin to females via a spermatophore, which is formed by specific accessory glands containing high concentrations of...

Microbial symbionts enable many phytophagous insects to specialize on plant-based diets through a range of metabolic services. Pollen comprises one-plant tissue consumed by such herbivores. While rich in lipids and proteins, its nutrient content is often imbalanced and difficult-to-access due to a digestibly recalcitrant cell wall. Pollen quality c...

Many techniques are used today to study insect morphology, including light and electron microscopy. Most of them require to specifically prepare the sample, precluding its use for further investigation. In contrast, micro-CT allows a sample to be studied in a non-destructive and rapid process, even without specific treatments that might hinder the...

Oribatid mites were investigated in six sites in the Alpi Marittime Natural Park (Prov. Cuneo, Piedmont, northern Italy) which is part of the NATURA 2000 network. The selected locations cover 4 forested (fir, ash, 2 beech forests) and 2 grassland sites (mountain meadow, xeric grassland). Altogether 173 described oribatid species belonging to 51 fam...

Background Meloidae (blister beetles) are known to synthetize cantharidin (CA), a toxic and defensive terpene mainly stored in male accessory glands (MAG) and emitted outward through reflex-bleeding. Recent progresses in understanding CA biosynthesis and production organ(s) in Meloidae have been made, but the way in which self-protection is achieve...

A new Mediterranean species of the genus Crisilla Monterosato, 1917 (Rissooidea, Rissoidae) is described: Crisilla hiera n. sp. All known specimens are empty shells retrieved from a sample of bioclastic sand collected in a submarine cave at Marettimo Island (type locality). It is compared with the most similar congeners from the Mediterranean Sea,...

Meligethes (Odonthogethes) chinensis is a common Chinese phytophagous species in the family Nitidulidae. Its main larval host plant is Rubus idaeus L. (Rosaceae), and adults feed on pollen and other floral parts. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe and study the fine morphology of sensilla on the antennae and outhpa...

Microbial symbionts enable many phytophagous insects to specialize on plant-based diets through a range of metabolic services. Pollen comprises one plant tissue consumed by such herbivores. While rich in lipids and protein, its nutrient content is often imbalanced and difficult-to-access due to a digestibly recalcitrant cell wall. Pollen quality ca...

We explored the structure of plant assemblages that settles around the anthills of a guild of Hymenoptera Formicidae (Messor wasmanni Krausse 1910, Tapinoma nigerrimum Nylander 1856 and Aphaenogaster spinosa Emery 1878), observable in urban grasslands dominated by Dasypyrum villosum (Rome, Central Italy). Since it is known that ants act as a distur...

We explored the structure of plant assemblages that settles around the anthills of a guild of Hymenoptera Formicidae (Messor wasmanni Krausse 1910, Tapinoma nigerrimum Nylander 1856 and Aphaenogaster spinosa Emery 1878), observable in urban grasslands dominated by Dasypyrum villosum (Rome, Central Italy). Since it is known that ants act as a distu...

Hastisetae are a specific group of setae, characterizing the larvae of Megatominae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), located on both thoracic and abdominal larval tergites. These setae constitute the primary defense of the larva against invertebrate predators being a biomechanical trap capable to efficiently block and kill predators (Nutting & Spangler, 1...

Fossils sometimes show unusual morphological features absent in living organisms, making it difficult to reconstruct both their affinity and their function. We describe here a new lacewing larva, Ankyloleon caudatus gen. et sp.n. (Neuroptera) from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar, characterized by an abdomen unique among insects, with ‘tail-like’ te...

Dilaridae are an ancient relict lineage of lacewings, whose life history is poorly known. We investigated the external morphology of the first and second instar larvae of Dilar duelli Aspöck U. and Aspöck H., 1995, based on reared and collected specimens by means of scanning electron microscopy. Larvae of Dilar are characterized by straight mandibu...

The morphology of larval instars I, II and III of the water beetle Ochthebius (Cobalius) balfourbrownei Jäch, 1989 from Cape Verde Islands is described and illustrated for the first time, by scanning electron microscopy, with a special emphasis on their chaetotaxy and porotaxy. Specimens used in this study were collected with adults of the same spe...

Hastisetae are modified setae typical of Dermestidae Megatominae and are a primary defensive tool of both larvae and pupae against invertebrates and possibly vertebrates. Given their unique morphological features, hastisetae have recently been suggested as an additional character useful for larvae identification and possible source of information t...

Larvae of the two European species of the genus Pyrochroa (P. coccinea and P. serraticornis) are redescribed, for the first time based on Italian samples, and new relevant and distinctive characters have emerged from P. serraticornis. Particularly, the presence of a single urogomphal pit between urogomphi (representing a new condition for the entir...

A book in memory of Augusto Vigna-Taglianti, with several contributions to Carabid beetles, Dermapterans, Amphipods

On the basis of the materials collected on site, the larvae of six species of Mexican Calosoma, namely Calosoma (Callitropa) porosifrons Bates, 1891, and five species of the subgenus Carabomimus Kolbe, 1895 are figured and described for the first time. Though these larvae are quite similar for most characters, some important differences can be foun...

The peculiar morphology of the discotelic larvae of three species of Pachyteles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Paussinae, ozaenini) collected in an Andean cloud forest in Ecuador (otonga nature Reserve, Cotopaxi) is here analyzed. All instars of Pachyteles vignai Deuve, 1999, 2nd and 3rd instars of P. digiulioi Deuve, 1999, and the 3rd instar of another u...

As disease worsens in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonizes the lungs, causing pulmonary failure and mortality. Progressively, PA forms typical biofilms, and antibiotic treatments determine multidrug-resistant (MDR) PA strains. To advance new therapies against MDR PA, research has reappraised bacteriophages (phag...

Life cycle of the aquatic moth Cataclysta lemnata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was studied in laboratory conditions to obtain a basic biological knowledge useful for predicting the possible success of the herbivorous larvae of this insect as potential control agents in limiting the spread of the invasive American duckweed Lemna minuta (Alismatales: Ara...

Several works have investigated the impact of urbanisation on carabid activity density using urban-rural gradients. Such works compared activity density recorded from green spaces located in different parts of a city and assigned to categories of increasing urban intensity, which poses two problems: (1) since the gradient is divided into categories...

Many studies have highlighted how numerous bacteria provide their hosts essential nutrients or protection against pathogens, parasites and predators. Nevertheless, the role of symbiotic microorganisms in the interactions between social insects and their parasites is still poorly known. Microdon (Diptera, Syrphidae) is a peculiar fly genus whose lar...

Pelamera atra (Rondani, 1861) is an enigmatic species of bristle fly that has been challenging dipterologists with regard to its taxonomic position within the family Tachinidae since it was first described. The species is rarely collected and is only known from a handful of female specimens. The first ever male specimen of Pelamera atra was collect...

Blister beetles owe their name to their ability to release cantharidin, a blistering terpene, the highest concentration of which is retained in male accessory glands. The anatomy and ultrastructure of the three pairs of male reproductive accessory glands and the glandular region of the two vasa deferentia of Meloe proscarabaeus were investigated us...

Invasive alien species (IAS) are considered one of the largest drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide and the negative impacts of IAS can also affect human health and economy. More than 12,000 alien species occur in Europe. Terrestrial invertebrate species are the largest proportion of alien animal species and represents one of the most impacting g...

Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of the genus Microdon Meigen have larvae that live in ant nests where they are predatory on ant larvae. Reflecting the exceptional challenges of this very specialized lifestyle, Microdon eggs, larvae and puparia are highly distinctive in their morphology. Detailed descriptions of these immature stages is, however, la...

Herein we revise several Recent Mediterranean species of the rissoid genus Alvania Risso, 1826: Alvania scabra (Philippi, 1844), Alvania sculptilis (Monterosato, 1877), Alvania sororcula Granata-Grillo, 1877, Alvania lucinae Oberling, 1970, Alvania josefoi Oliver & Templado, 2009 and Alvania scuderii Villari, 2017. They represent a rather homogeneo...

The social parasitic beetle Paussus favieri (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Paussini) performs different types of stridulations, which selectively mimic those emitted by different ant castes of its host Pheidole pallidula (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). However, the significance of this acoustical mimicry for the success of the parasitic strategy an...

Environmental thermal conditions play a major role at all levels of biological organization; however, there is little information on noxious high temperature sensation crucial in behavioral thermoregulation and survival of small ectothermic animals such as insects. So far, a capability to unambiguously encode heat has been demonstrated only for the...

1. The hoverfly Microdon myrmicae is a rare and extremely localised social parasite of Myrmica ants, only occurring around wet grassland. Dispersal, location of the host, and oviposition are crucial steps in the life of ant parasites but are poorly known due to the challenge of studying such rare species. 2. Using genome‐wide loci obtained by RADse...

Various organisms, especially arthropods, are able to live as parasites in ant nests and to prey upon ant broods without eliciting any aggressive behaviour in the hosts. Understanding how these intruders are able to break the ants’ communication codes in their favour represents a challenging and intriguing evolutionary question. We studied the chem...

Alien plant invasion is a serious threat for biodiversity conservation. Most theories on the mechanisms regulating the expansion of an alien species, agree that herbivory is one of the main factors affecting the success or failure of these species. One worrying example in Europe is the American duckweed Lemna minuta that, since its arrival in the 1...