Papers by George Japoshvili
Entomological News, Sep 1, 2006
ABSTRACT Eleven genera and fourteen species of Encyrtidae are recorded from Portugal for the firs... more ABSTRACT Eleven genera and fourteen species of Encyrtidae are recorded from Portugal for the first time. Four species: Cheiloneurus boldyrevi Trjapitzin et Agekian, Syrphophagus taeniatus (Förster), S. aeruginosus (Dalman) and Cerchysius subplanus (Dalman) are recorded for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. Two new species, Pseudaphycus portugalensis sp. n. and Tetracnemoidea coimbrensis sp. n., are described. Distribution, synonyms and hosts for each new record are given.
Journal of Natural History, Jul 26, 2006
The aphelinid genus Aphelinus is recorded for the first time from Portugal, with new records for ... more The aphelinid genus Aphelinus is recorded for the first time from Portugal, with new records for eight species. Aphelinus daucicola Kurdjumov is recorded for the first time for the Iberian Peninsula and A. lusitanicus Japoshvili and Abrantes sp. n. is described as new. Aphelinus toxopteraphidis Kurdjumov is synonymized with A. varipes (Fö rster). Distribution, synonyms, and host information, where available, are given for each species treated. A key to Aphelinus species from the Iberian Peninsula is provided.
Journal of Natural History, 2006
Caucasiana, Oct 25, 2022
Four genera and 12 species of drosophilid flies have been recorded during our survey in five regi... more Four genera and 12 species of drosophilid flies have been recorded during our survey in five regions of Georgia in 2021. Two genera,
Zootaxa
A checklist of rove beetles recorded from the Republic of Dagestan (221 species) is given, with 4... more A checklist of rove beetles recorded from the Republic of Dagestan (221 species) is given, with 47 new records from this region. The genus Oedichirus Erichson, 1839 (Oedichirus rubronotatus Pic, 1903) and species Stenus turk Puthz, 1972 are new additions to the fauna of Russia. Two new synonyms are established: Xantholinus dagestanicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. and X. circassicus Bordoni, 2011 syn. nov. (both =Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851).
Zootaxa, 2020
The rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most diverse families of beetles comp... more The rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are one of the most diverse families of beetles comprising more than 63650 species worldwide (Irmler et al. 2018). It is the best studied coleopteran family in Georgia (Herman, 2001; Schülke & Smetana, 2015), with more than 750 species recorded (Tarkhnishvili & Chaladze, 2019). The first records of Staphylinidae from Lagodekhi were reported by Zhizhilashvili (1941), who recorded 12 species of rove beetles from the reserve: Anotylus hybridus Eppelsheim, 1878 as Oxytelus; Anotylus gibbulus Eppelsheim, 1878 as Oxytelus; Xantholinus variabilis Hochhuth, 1851; Cordalia obscura Gravenhorst; Philonthus parvicornis Gravenhorst, 1802 as P. agilis Gravenhorst; Stenus circularis Gravenhorst, 1802 as S. clavulus Hochhuth; S. cribratus Kiesenwetter, 1850; Tachyporus hypnorum (Fabricius, 1775); Ocypus nitens (Schrank, 1781) as Staphylinus similis Fabricius; Quedius minor Hochhuth, 1849 as Q. distincticolor Roubal; Aleochara intricata Mannerheim; Olophr...
Écoscience, 2017
The elevational gradient in biodiversity, i.e. the decrease in species richness with increasing a... more The elevational gradient in biodiversity, i.e. the decrease in species richness with increasing altitude, is well established in ecology. Here, we examined the respective gradient of parasitic hymenopterans (Encyrtidae) and plants in the Lagodekhi National Park (Country of Georgia) across an elevational gradient from 665 m to 2559 m a.s.l. by means of a year-round sampling of insects and a seasonal sampling of plants. Contrary to expectation, we found species richness of both taxa to peak at highest elevations. This unusual pattern was related to particular shifts in vegetation types, from relatively species-poor forests over rich grasslands towards poorer highland scrub vegetation. Our results call for a closer look at elevational gradients and highlights the need for including vegetation types in the assessment of altitudinal diversity gradients. RÉSUMÉ Le gradient altitudinal de biodiversité, c.-à-d. la diminution de la richesse spécifique suivant l'augmentation de l'altitude, est bien connu en écologie. Nous avons examiné les gradients d'hyménoptères parasites (Encyrtidae) et de plantes dans le Parc National de Lagodekhi (Georgie), entre 665 et 2559 m a.s.l., par un échantillonnage annuel d'insectes et saisonnier de plantes. Contrairement aux attentes, nous avons trouvé que la richesse spécifique des deux taxa était plus élevée aux plus hautes altitudes. Ce patron inhabituel était lié à des changements particuliers des types de végétation, passant de forêts relativement pauvres en espèces, à des prairies riches, jusqu'à des arbustaies pauvres. Nos résultats indiquent l'importance de mieux évaluer les gradients altitudinaux et soulignent la nécessité d'inclure les types de végétation dans l'analyse des gradients altitudinaux de biodiversité.
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 2017
The essential ecosystem service of pollination is provided largely by insects, which are consider... more The essential ecosystem service of pollination is provided largely by insects, which are considered threatened by diverse biotic and abiotic global change pressures. RNA viruses are one such pressure, and have risen in prominence as a major threat for honey bees (Apis mellifera) and global apiculture, as well as a risk factor for other bee species through pathogen spill-over between managed honey bees and sympatric wild pollinator communities. Yet despite their potential role in global bee decline, the prevalence of honey bee-associated RNA viruses in wild bees is poorly known from both geographic and taxonomic perspectives. We screened members of pollinator communities (honey bees, bumble bees and other wild bees belonging to four families) collected from apple orchards in Georgia, Germany and Kyrgyzstan for six common honey bee-associated RNA virus complexes encompassing nine virus targets. The Deformed wing virus complex (DWV genotypes A and B) had the highest prevalence across all localities and host species and was the only virus complex found in wild bee species belonging to all four studied families. Based on amplification of negative-strand viral RNA, we found evidence for viral replication in wild bee species of DWV-A/DWV-B (hosts: Andrena haemorrhoa and several Bombus spp.) and Black queen cell virus (hosts: Anthophora plumipes, several Bombus spp., Osmia bicornis and Xylocopa spp.). Viral amplicon sequences revealed that DWV-A and DWV-B are regionally distinct but identical in two or more bee species at any one site, suggesting virus is shared amongst sympatric bee taxa. This study demonstrates that honey bee associated RNA viruses are geographically and taxonomically widespread, likely infective in wild bee species, and shared across bee taxa.
Zoology in the Middle East, 2017
Community composition of local pollinator assemblages, population dynamics and distribution patte... more Community composition of local pollinator assemblages, population dynamics and distribution patterns of many species are still poorly known, especially in little studied regions like Transcaucasia. We generated a total of 189 DNA barcodes from bees collected in 14 apple orchards in central and eastern Georgia to extend our knowledge of their distribution. Sequences (ca. 700 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene) were compared to the NCBI nucleotide database. Using a threshold of 98% similarity, analyses suggested that the sampled bees belong to 36 species of Apidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae. We report five bee species for the first time for Georgia: Andrena alfkenella Perkins, 1914, Halictus cochlearitarsis Dours, 1871, Nomada goodeniana (Kirby, 1802), Nomada ruficornis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eucera nigrescens Pérez, 1879, four of which are also new for the Transcaucasia region. With these additions, the number of bee species known to occur in Georgia increases to 371.
Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology, 2015
The potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), with over 200 known hos... more The potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), with over 200 known host plants pecies, is one of the most problematic aphids in protected environments worldwide. This study reports for the first time the presence of Aphelinus asychis Walker (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a major parasitoid of M. euphorbiae, in greenhouses in Himachal Pradesh, India. Percent parasitism by A. asychis ranged 2.1-39.3%, reaching its maximum in late November. These findings suggest that A. asychis may be released in augmentative biological control program against M. euphorbiae, which would help reduce pesticide use in Indian vegetable production greenhouses.
BioControl, 2015
In fragmented farmland landscapes structural complexity and low agricultural intensification shou... more In fragmented farmland landscapes structural complexity and low agricultural intensification should decrease the abundance of crop aphids due to increased abundances and species diversity of aphid enemies, including hymenopteran parasitoids. Here we study the effects of landscape structure and agricultural intensification on parasitism rates, abundances, and species richness of aphids and their parasitoids in five different regions in Europe. While total aphid numbers did not differ significantly among regions, we observed marked differences between Scandinavian and central European sites with respect to the species composition of aphids and their parasitoids and parasitism rates. In the cross country comparison landscape complexity and agricultural intensification did not significantly affect total aphid densities, although we observed species-specific reactions to land use. We also observed a tendency towards increased parasitoid species richness at low agricultural intensification but not at high landscape structure.
Phytoparasitica, 2013
ABSTRACT Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is an economically important agricultural pest with over 500 kno... more ABSTRACT Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is an economically important agricultural pest with over 500 known host plants in the world. The present study recorded the major parasitoids found parasitizing M. persicae on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum [L.]) crops in greenhouses in Himachal Pradesh, India. Three species of hymenopteran parasitoids were reared from M. persicae from this source: Aphelinus asychis Walker (Aphelinidae), Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Braconidae), and Aphidius ervi (Haliday) (Braconidae), with parasitism rates per sample date ranging from 2.3–38.6%, 4.8–58.2%, and 2.9–28.4%, respectively, during 2011–2012. This is the first report of parasitoids associated with M. persicae in greenhouse environments in India. The present findings suggest that the management of M. persicae could be possible with the addition of augmentative releases of these parasitoids, which should help reduce pesticide use in Indian vegetable production greenhouses.
Journal of the Entomological Research Society, Apr 3, 2011
In this study, species of Staphylinidae collected by pitfall trap method in Golcuk Natural Park, ... more In this study, species of Staphylinidae collected by pitfall trap method in Golcuk Natural Park, Isparta province of Turkey during the years of 2008-2009 have been evaluated. A total of 27 species belonging to 17 genera have been recorded. Among them Sepedophilus rufulus (Hochhuth, 1849) and Ocypus brenskei Reitter, 1884 are the first record for the Turkish fauna. Ocypus mus (Brulle, 1832), Ocypus orientis Smetana & Davies, 2000 and Ocypus brenskei Reitter, 1884 were the most common and abundant species.
Figure 4. Macrocamptoptera metotarsa, female: (a) habitus, in ethanol (Columbus, Franklin Co., Oh... more Figure 4. Macrocamptoptera metotarsa, female: (a) habitus, in ethanol (Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, USA); (b) antenna (Camp Maxey Texas Army National Guard training facility area, Lamar Co., Texas, USA); (c) fore and hind wings (same as (b)).
Fifteen species belonging to ten genera of the encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Encyrti... more Fifteen species belonging to ten genera of the encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) were collected in southern Iran and are presented here with the host records. Four species are newly recorded for the Iranian fauna: Blastothrix aprica Sugonjaev, 1964; Psyllaephagus belanensis (Hoffer, 1963); Psyllaephagus pulchellus (Mercet, 1921) and Anagyrus archangelskayae Trjapitzin, 1972. Some new host associations were found for 10 encyrtid species. Two misidentifications were corrected. Available biological data as well as geographical distribution for each species are also included.
Norwegian journal of entomology, 2017
This contribution focuses on the family Encyrtidae from Oslo Municipality, one of the richer area... more This contribution focuses on the family Encyrtidae from Oslo Municipality, one of the richer areas in Norway as biodiversity concerns. The following four species are reported for the first time from Norway: Metaphycus punctipes (Dalman, 1820), Protyndarichoides aligarhensis (Fatma & Shafee, 1985), Psyllaephagus belanensis (Hoffer, 1963) and Trechnites trjapitzini Sugonjaev, 1968, and one additional species, Blastothrix osloensis sp. n., is described and illustrated. This brings the total number of Norwegian encyrtids up to 141, and 30 of these are recorded from Oslo Municipality. Comments on biology and distribution of the species are given. The aim of this study is to highlight the distribution of Encyrtidae in Norway, and to provide a complete list of the Norwegian species.
THE PARASITOID COMPLEX AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE PLUM SCALE, SPHAEROLECANIUM PRUNASTRI FONSC... more THE PARASITOID COMPLEX AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE PLUM SCALE, SPHAEROLECANIUM PRUNASTRI FONSCOLOMBE, IN GEORGIA. The plum scale, Sphaerolecanium prunastri Fonscolomb, is found infesting stone fruits all over the Europe and in most of the countries of Asia and North America. Its population dynamics and parasitoid complex in Georgia are described and the latter compared with that in other countries in southern Europe. The present rates of parasitism are compared with those of an earlier survey and it is noted that there have been some changes, both in the composition and in effectiveness of the primary and secondary parasitoids. The main primary parasitoids are still Microterys hortulanus Erdos and Discodes coccophagus (Ratzburg) but, among the secondary parasitoids, Cerapterocerus mirabilis Westwood is now the most important species. It was found that the economic importance of S. prunastri had become reduced due to a reduction in the number of secondary parasitoids and an increa...
Organic avocado (Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) farming is a growing industry in eastern Sici... more Organic avocado (Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) farming is a growing industry in eastern Sicily, and in this environment Protopulvinaria pyriformis (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is a key pest. Biological control strategies against this invasive scale are thus crucial for the sustainability of this cropping system. A field trial was performed to record the natural enemy complex in early autumn, and for comparing the efficacy of a paraffinic oil application (Biolid E® at 2L/ha), of the release of adults (1/m2) of the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and of their combined application, i. e. oil spray and after one week predator release. In the pretreatment sampling a high proportion of ovipositing female, 38. 64% of the entire population, was recorded. The natural parasitoid community of P. pyriformis consisted of two primary parasitoids and one facultative hyperparasitoid species. Metaphycus helvolus (Compere) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) ac...
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Papers by George Japoshvili