Israel Journal of Entomology

Dietary effect of sugarcane juice and glucose on the adult black soldier fly lifespan (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

2026-04-27T11:06:18+00:00

The study aimed at enhancing adult Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) lifespan and oviposition by using a range of liquid diet solutions. Adult black soldier flies (BSF) have a short lifespan ranging 7–9 days when given only water during rearing. In order to increase their lifespan, alternative energy-rich liquid diet solutions need to be introduced to the flies. In this study, water (control), milk, sugarcane juice and glucose were used. A total of 100 newly emerged 4-day-old flies were introduced into rearing cages and maintained under a 12:12 light/dark cycle. Each dietary treatment was replicated three times, with 110 ml of each liquid diet provided to flies through soaked cotton wool. The flies were reared under optimum temperature (28.62 ± 4.38 °C) and relative humidity (66.27 ± 10.48 %) conditions. Significant differences in the BSF lifespan and oviposition rates were observed, p<0.001. Sugarcane juice diet was associated with the highest survival rate (94.00 ± 0.02 %) and oviposition (43 552 ± 2504 eggs), and the lowest values (73.00 ± 0.04 % and 6584 ± 2896) were observed under the water diet. Glucose and sugarcane juice doubled the fly lifespan to 14 days. Significant differences in the hazard ratio with reference to the water diet were noted, p<0.001. Glucose and sugarcane juice showed the lowest risks, with hazard ratios of 0.013 and 0.034, while the milk diet was associated with the highest hazard rate of 0.322. Sugarcane juice and glucose slow down the fly mortality, thus offering the best survival and high oviposition advantage. Our results show that utilisation of energy-dense diets such as glucose and sugarcane juice increase the lifespan of adult BSF populations.

To cite: Zaabwe, T., Chirwa, E., Mzengereza, K., Kang'ombe, J., Ndhlovu, A., Mtekateka, C. & Chishibanji, E.A. 2026. Dietary effect of sugarcane juice and glucose on the adult black soldier flies lifespan (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 45–58. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19708774
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4611FFDB-0583-483B-8A39-4A2C07180C09

Redescription of Anthrenus (Florilinus) flavidus and Anthrenus (Florilinus) sveci (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae)

2026-03-23T16:10:21+00:00

Descriptions of many Dermestidae species are brief or lack images facilitating their identification or differentiation for the purpose of taxonomy. In the current study, two Anthrenus (Florilinus) species—A. (F.) sveci Háva, 2004 and A. (F.) flavidus Solsky, 1876—are considered, both from the Eastern Mediterranean region and both coated in pale scales. The external and internal features of both species are illustrated.

To cite: Holloway, G.J. & Herrmann, A. 2026. Redescription of Anthrenus (Florilinus) flavidus and Anthrenus (Florilinus) sveci (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae). Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 27–35. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19152507
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7506A4BA-17FE-4CB9-A75F-828C17DCD612

A new species of mining bee (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena) from northern Thailand

2026-04-29T15:01:51+00:00

A new species of mining bee, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) igali sp. n., is described from the mountainous province of Mae Hong Son in northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar. The species represents a rare and unusual penetration of the subgenus Andrena (Cnemidandrena) into subtropical–tropical climate areas, with a characteristic shift in the flight period. Andrena igali sp. n. is a part of an eastern clade of A. (Cnemidandrena) known as the mephistophelica species group, which exhibits distinctive adaptations for pollen transport, with almost nothing known about its foraging biology. It is the third species of Andrena reported from Southeast Asia, which constitutes the southeasternmost edge of the distribution of the genus.

บทคัดย่อ
มีการค้นพบผึ้งขุดดินชนิดใหม่ Andrena (Cnemidandrena) igali sp. n. จากจังหวัดแม่ฮ่องสอนในภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย ใกล้ชายแดนเมียนมาร์ ผึ้งชนิดนี้แสดงให้เห็นถึงการแพร่กระจายที่หายากและแตกต่างจากปกติของสกุลย่อย Andrena (Cnemidandrena) ในพื้นที่ภูมิอากาศกึ่งเขตร้อน-เขตร้อน โดยมีลักษณะเฉพาะคือช่วงเวลาการบินที่เปลี่ยนแปลงไป Andrena igali sp. n. เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของกลุ่มสายพันธุ์ทางตะวันออกของ A. (Cnemidandrena) ที่รู้จักกันในชื่อกลุ่มสายพันธุ์ mephistophelica ซึ่งแสดงให้เห็นถึงการปรับตัวที่โดดเด่นสำหรับการขนส่งละอองเรณู โดยแทบไม่มีข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับชีววิทยาการหาอาหารของมัน ผึ้งชนิดใหม่นี้เป็นชนิดที่สามของสกุล Andrena ที่พบในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ ซึ่งเป็นขอบเขตตะวันออกเฉียงใต้สุดของการกระจายตัวของผึ้งสกุลนี้
คำสำคัญ: อะโพเดีย ความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพ อาณาจักรอินโดมาลายัน กลุ่ม ชนิดใหม่ ผึ้งเดี่ยว เอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้

To cite: Pisanty, G. 2026. A new species of mining bee (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae: Andrena) from northern Thailand. Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 59–65. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19889933
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3786C41A-4FA6-48C6-B947-A5D5067AFFCA

Description of Cantharis navka sp. n. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), a third species of the genus from Rovno amber

2026-01-17T07:45:02+00:00

A new extinct species of a soldier beetle, Cantharis navka sp. n. (Cantharidae: Cantharinae), from the late Eocene Rovno amber, is described. This is a third member of the genus registered in Rovno amber, compared to eleven species of Cantharis Linnaeus, 1758, known from Baltic amber. The possible use of the length ratio of antennomeres 2 and 3 for separation of the fossil species of Cantharis is briefly discussed.

To cite: Kazantsev, S.V., Legalov, A.A. & Perkovsky, E.E. 2026. Description of Cantharis navka sp. n. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), a third species of the genus from Rovno amber. Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 37–44. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19570319
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:57CDD5BD-273A-4DDC-8E80-4DEAABE139EA

A new species of Gnamptodon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Telengaiinae) from Israel

2026-03-11T16:19:28+00:00

A new species of parasitoid wasp, Gnamptodon avigail Pisanty sp. n. (Braconidae: Telengaiinae), is described from northern Israel, its distribution presumably extending south to Saudi Arabia based on genetic barcodes and photographs. The species is associated with Christ’s thorn jujube, Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (Rhamnaceae), a drought-tolerant tree, and most likely attacks nepticulid leaf-mining moths feeding on the tree’s foliage. This is the first species of subfamily Telengaiinae to be reported from the region of the Levant.

To cite: Pisanty, G., Saabna, N. & Keasar, T. 2026. A new species of Gnamptodon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Telengaiinae) from Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 17–25.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18927667
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FC78D007-1DB4-40F7-9967-ED132D0C4923

Hybrid mahogany as a new larval host plant of Anthene emolus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), with ant attendance and notes on immature development

2026-01-13T12:53:14+00:00

Hybrid mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King × S. mahogany (L.) Jacq.) (Meliaceae) is reported as a new larval host of Anthene emolus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Larvae of A. emolus were observed feeding on young leaves on a hybrid mahogany tree in a peri-urban site in West Bengal, with workers of the Asian weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) attending the larvae along active foraging trails.

To cite: Biswas, S. 2026. Hybrid mahogany as a new larval host plant of Anthene emolus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), with ant attendance and notes on immature development. Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 13–16. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18729483
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EF3B1A3B-EC87-49AE-841F-365859B953ED

The governance of urban pest management in Israel

2026-01-26T12:47:17+00:00

Invasive and sanitary pests such as fire ants, Formosan subterranean termites and virus-carrying mosquitoes pose increasing economic and health hazards in urban environments in Israel. Licensed urban pest management specialists are the country’s first line of defense, and this article aims to delineate historical and current trends in their numbers and training. In 2016, following a tragedy due to pesticide misuse, licensing of new specialists was improved by adoption of a new law in 2020, which introduced new regulations. Drawing on government reports, data accepted directly from the governmental sources and Ministry of Environmental Protection newsletters (2016–2025), I have tracked the size of the certified workforce and placed the primary emphasis on the pass rates of licensing examinations rather than on training programs, since the law passed and the regulation came into effect. Despite rapid population growth, urban expansion and rising pest pressure, the number of licensed urban pest management specialists has stalled or declined, and their pass rates are inconsistent with increasing demands. This mismatch between the ecological rationale, public health needs and professional capacity is complicated by fragmented, often contradictory, information regarding the available workforce. This report underscores the urgency of strengthening of the training, licensing and oversight systems to sustain Israel’s ability to respond effectively to pest outbreaks and pest-borne hazards.

To cite: Trablsi, Y. 2026. The governance of urban pest management in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 55: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18365577
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8629D1E5-6CD3-4478-8576-96330E7F2C33