from left to right: Dr David Mifsud, editor of the ESM Bulletin, Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo Pro-Rector at the University of Malta, the Hon. Dr José Herrera, Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change
Volume 8 of the ‘Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta’ was launched on 27 September at San Anton Palace, under the patronage of Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta.
This bulletin, published annually by the Entomological Society of Malta (ESM), is edited by Dr David Mifsud, senior lecturer at the Institute of Earth Systems. The mission statement of ESM is to share experiences, knowledge and facilitate the study of insects and related organisms occurring in the natural environment of the Maltese Islands.
Prof. Joseph M. Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Malta, was the keynote speaker during the event and his speech is available online [PDF].
Prof. Joseph M. Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Malta, was the keynote speaker during the event and his speech is available online [PDF].
The bulletin is an open access, peer-reviewed scientific journal with contents indexed in Biosis Previews, Biological Abstracts, Biosis Citation Index and Zoological Record. This year the bulletin is the result of scientific work done by 19 authors of which 9 are Maltese nationals whereas 10 come from six other European countries (Italy, UK, Czech Republic, France, Switzerland and Germany). All these scientific contributions were peer-reviewed by an international editorial board and furthered assessed by additional external experts.
The publication is available online.
For a hardcopy of the Bulletin contact Dr David Mifsud.
The publication is available online.
For a hardcopy of the Bulletin contact Dr David Mifsud.
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Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta - Volume 8
ISSN 2070-4526 edited by Dr David Mifsud
In this year’s bulletin a total of 19 scientific publications were accepted for publication. Of these, 4 are long research papers, 10 are short communication papers and 5 articles are published under the section of the ‘Young Entomologist’. It is the result of scientific work done by 19 authors of which 9 are Maltese nationals whereas 10 come from six other European countries (Italy, UK, Czech Republic, France, Switzerland and Germany). All these scientific contributions were peer-reviewed by an international editorial board and furthered assessed by additional external experts.
Information was provided on 235 different species of insects that occur in the Maltese Islands and of these 91 species are being recorded for the very first time from the Maltese Islands.
One research paper focused on a group of beetles commonly known as ant-like litter beetles. These are rather rare and small beetles found in leaf litter. The work provides data accumulated in these last 40 years and collections were made from 22 localities in Malta and 6 in Gozo. For all species line drawings and excellent photographs are provided and a simplified key to distinguish the 14 species that were found as occurring in the Maltese Islands is also provided.
Another paper provides much original data on a plant gall induced by a rare insect. This gall was recorded only once from Malta in 1926 and since then it was never found again. Another paper provides a review of a rather difficult group of insects known as chalcids. This insect group was never previously studied mainly due to the fact that these insects are generally less than 3 mm in length. However, their presence in natural ecosystems is of great benefit since they are parasitic on other insects. In fact, many of these insects have been used Worldwide for biological control programmes. In total, almost 150 different species were found and represent the work accumulated by the authors in these last 25 years.
Several short scientific papers follow, recording species not previously known to occur in Malta or updated check-lists of insect groups which were in need of re-evaluation. The section dedicated for the young entomologist gives information on the Mediterranean Brimstone, one of the most beautiful butterflies found in Malta; a species of thrips which is very injurious to agricultural crops; a species of grasshopper which is a master in camouflage; the violet carpenter bee, one of the largest solitary bees found in Malta and a species of dung beetle which is becoming more and more rare in Malta.
A total of 132 scientific papers were accepted for publication in the eight volumes published to date by this NGO. All this work was the joint effort of 95 scientists, 35 of these were of Maltese nationality whereas the other 60 were foreigners. Information was provided on more than 1,500 different species of arthropods (insects, mites, spiders and crustaceans) that occur on the Maltese Islands. Of these, 507 were new records for the Maltese Islands, and 3 species were also found to be new to science and formally described in this journal.