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Article Reference MYRMECOPHILOUS LABOULBENIALES (ASCOMYCOTA) IN BELGIUM
This paper presents the first record of Rickia wasmannii (Laboulbeniales) from Myrmica sabuleti in Belgium. Aspects of prevalence and thallus density of R. wasmannii are discussed, and a description and illustrations are given. Screening of the oldest colony of Lasius neglectus in Belgium (Ghent University Botanic Garden) did not reveal infections with Laboulbenia formicarum.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Secrets of de Selys Longchamps archives: one watercolour and two records of nineteenth century observations of the grasshopper species Psophus stridulus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758) in Belgium (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Next to voucher specimens in entomological collections, also historical archives and historical illustrations can contain valuable taxonomical as well as ecological and faunistic data. We report here faunistic data for two currently extinct Belgian grasshopper species from the year 1862, deduced from a letter accompanied by a watercolour. The letter and watercolour are stored in the archives of Edmond de Selys Longchamps at the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS). Both the watercolour and the letter are discussed, focusing on the observations of Psophus stridulus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Orthoptera) at Lanaken in 1862. Two voucher specimens of these observations and their original labels, that are stored in the RBINS collections, were studied. We can conclude that Egide Fologne was the first to observe P. stridulus in Belgium. He reported this in a letter to Edmond de Selys Longchamps and supplied the watercolour depicting the specimen he collected and donated to Selys for his collection.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference First records of a supercolonial species of the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex in Belgium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
In the summer of 2014, a highly supercolonial Tapinoma was discovered in Ostend, Belgium. This was the first time a Tapinoma species with an invasive behaviour was discovered outdoors in Belgium. The ant belongs to the most widely distributed of four recognized species of the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex and is the only known species being invasive in areas north of the Mediterranean zone. In a first attempt to eliminate the species, a Demand 10CS insecticide solution treatment was initiated in 2015. First results illustrate that this treatment might be efficient, however a long-term monitoring of the site and its neighbourhood are suggested.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Ant communities in recently restored dune grassland ecosystems in Belgium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
In the period 2000-2001 nature restoration projects drastically reshaped the Nature Reserve in Lombardsijde near the Ijzer Estuary in Flanders, Belgium. Dikes were constructed and new dune grasslands were installed. Seven years after the restoration the ant fauna of these newly created sites was compared with reference sites from foredunes, dune grasslands and grey dunes. Ants were collected with pitfall traps in 10 sample sites during 4 years. Our results showed that after 7 even 10 years of nature restoration, the ant fauna in the newly created sites still differs substantially from those of the reference sites. However, typical dune grassland ant species like Myrmica specioides, Myrmica sabuleti and Lasius psammophilus were already present at the newly created sites. Our data also suggests that it takes a longer period for characteristic dune grassland ants species to colonize and settle in these new environments than for other invertebrate groups like spiders and carabid beetles that were also collected and studied during the same project and reported before.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference Results of ant collections on Santa Cruz Island within the framework of the 2012 Global Taxonomy Initiative Ant Course at Galápagos (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
During a ten-days ant course carried out in November 2012 within the framework of a Belgian Focal Point to the Global Taxonomy Initiative GTI type 2 grant, eight students and four instructors collected 22 ant species at ten sites distributed along an altitudinal gradient on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador). Disturbed and urbanized zones as well as natural areas were visited. We discuss the results and link the collected species to altitude and vegetation types occurring on Santa Cruz Island.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Survey on the distribution of the Sweet potato weevil, Cylas species-complex in Ghana (Coleoptera: Brentidae)
The Sweet potato weevils of the genus Cylas are the most destructive pests of sweet potato and are widely distributed in Africa. The aim of this study was to identify and document the species of Cylas occurring in sweet potato production zones in Ghana. A survey was conducted in 23 localities in 2015 from July to December in seven regions in Ghana in order to determine the identity of the pest. We collected nine thousand and two specimens from Central, Eastern, Greater-Accra, Northern, Volta, Upper-East, and the Upper-West regions. Two species were identified: Cylas brunneus Fabricius, 1797 and Cylas puncticollis Boheman, 1833. Cylas puncticollis occurred in all regions and represented 6,107 specimens (68%), while 2,895 of the specimens (32%) could be assigned to C. brunneus. The latter is restricted to the southern sector including Volta, Central, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions. When considering both species in the southern sector, the Volta Region accounted for 3,117 specimens (48%) followed by 1,447 (22%), 987 (15%), and 980 (15%), from the Central, Eastern, and Greater-Accra Regions, respectively. The dominant species in southern and northern sector was C. puncticollis.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Camponotus fallax (Nylander, 1856), an expected species finally discovered in Belgium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
In this paper we announce the first observation of the ant Camponotus fallax (Nylander, 1856) in Belgium and add it to the Belgian checklist. Specimens were collected in Sint-Martens-Voeren with an eclector trap mounted on a dead fruit tree.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Is Lasius bicornis (Förster, 1850) a very rare ant species? (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Since its description based on a single alate gyne by the German entomologist Arnold Förster, Lasius bicornis (Förster, 1850), previously known as Formicina bicornis, has been sporadically observed in the Eurasian region and consequently been characterized as very rare. Here, we present the Belgian situation and we consider some explanations for the status of this species.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference Silpha tyrolensis Laicharting, 1781 (Coleoptera: Silphidae), an unexpected addition to the Belgian fauna
In the course of the Belgian Silphidae Project, four specimens of Silpha tyrolensis Laicharting, 1781 were encountered when studying the unidentified Silphidae in the entomological collection of the Haute École Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet in Ath. These are the first records of this species for Belgium and are from the period 1990–2010. Subsequent recent trapping in the region where the specimens were found revealed no additional specimens. In this paper the records are presented and the distribution of the species in Belgium and Europe is mapped and discussed.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference First observations in Belgium of the introduced ‘minute hooded beetle’ Arthrolips fasciata (Erichson, 1842) (Coleoptera: Corylophidae)
In September 2020 a specimen of the Corylophidae Arthrolips fasciata (Erichson, 1842) was discovered in mushrooms on decaying beech in a garden in Sint-Denijs-Westrem. In October 2020 a second specimen of this species was discovered in Beisbroek Sint-Andries Bruges also on decaying beech. These are the first records of the species in Belgium. Hence, we expect more Belgian records of this species in the near future. A species list of the Corylophidae known to occur in Belgium is given.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020