https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/27099 Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:02:10 GMT 2026-04-25T03:02:10Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64207 Title: Preliminary studies on the tick fauna of the Maltese Islands Authors: Haber, Enya Maria; Cutajar, Simone; Medlock, Jolyon; Hansford, Kayleigh; Vaux, Alexander; Mifsud, David Abstract: Ticks can parasitise every vertebrate class and are distributed worldwide. They are both economically and medically important, as some species may transmit pathogens to wild and domestic animals, and in some cases to humans. This study aimed to collect data on the tick species that occur locally and to gather information on aspects of their occurrence and host associations. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64207 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64206 Title: Plant-galls induced by insects in the Maltese Islands Authors: Mifsud, David Abstract: Galls (in Latin cecidia) are defined as any deviation from the normal pattern of plant growth produced by a specific reaction to the presence and activity of a foreign organism. Galls often support species-rich and closed communities of inquilines and parasitic Hymenoptera. It is often possible to identify the gall inducer if the host plant is known and if adequate identification keys are used. Plant-galls are caused by different organisms such as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, nematodes, mites and insects. Insect orders, such as Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera are among those known to cause galls in plants. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64206 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/23873 Title: Microbial diversity of traditional Sicilian cheeses Authors: Gaglio, Raimondo; Mancuso, Isabella; Macaluso, Giusi; Palmeri, Marisa; Todaro, Massimo; Settanni, Luca; Reale, Stefano; Cardamone, Cinzia; Scatassa, Maria Luisa Abstract: In the last years, the microbial characterisation of traditional Sicilian cheeses, such as Caciocavallo Palermitano, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Pecorino Siciliano and PDO Vastedda della valle del Belìce have been the object of different studies conducted by our research group. To this purpose, the aim of the present study was to describe the microbial population of traditional Sicilian cheeses. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/23873 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/23872 Title: Odonata of the South-eastern swamp lakes ‘Pantano Cuba’ and ‘Pantano Longarini’ (Sicily) Authors: Galasso, Paolo; Marletta, Alessandro; Corso, Andrea Abstract: From March 2015 to September 2017, a study focused on Odonata, funded by the German foundation ‘Stiftung Pro Artenvielfalt ®’ (Foundation Pro Biodiversity), was conducted at the swamp lakes ‘Pantano Cuba’ and ‘Pantano Longarini’, in the Southeastern coast of Sicily, near Pachino (Siracusa). Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/23872 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z