An investigation of patch occupancy and dispersal by third to final instar nymphs of Brachytrupes megacephalus Lefèbvre, 1827 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae) across the sand dune biotope at the Ghadira Nature Reserve, Malta.

Dispersal patterns of third, fourth and fifth instar nymphs of the stenoecious gryllid, Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827), are investigated on the sand dune within the Ghadira Nature Reserve, a remnant habitat patch forming part of the core area that supports the largest population of the species in Malta. Field investigations were carried out over a period of 11 weeks during a specific 75 minute time window, when nymphs are known to engage in subaerial activity at the mouth of their respective burrow. Climatic variables are examined in relation to abundance, while dispersal patterns are presented. The study shows that the predominant movement of nymphs across the terrain is northward, mainly to the northwest and the north-northeast. The present contribution also provides a summary of recommendations for conservation of the species, including an interdisciplinary approach to habitat management at multiple spatial scales.

On the way between Africa and Europe: Molecular taxonomy of ticks collected from birds in Malta.

The Maltese Archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin, between Europe and Africa, therefore representing an important stopover site for migratory birds between these two continents. Despite this, up-to-date information is not available on tick species associated with birds in Malta. Therefore, in this study, birds mist-netted for ringing by BirdLife Malta were examined for the presence of ticks between September, 2019 and May, 2021. Ticks were identified morphologically and molecularly, using three genetic markers. During the study period, 57 individuals of 22 bird species were found tick-infested, from which altogether 113 ixodid ticks were collected. The majority of developmental stages were nymphs, but 13 larvae and one female were also found. These ticks belonged to nine species: Ixodes cumulatimpunctatus (n=1), Ixodes ricinus (n=2), Ixodes acuminatus (n=2), Ixodes frontalis (n=5), Ixodes festai (n=1), one species of the Amblyomma marmoreum complex (n=8), Hyalomma rufipes (n=78), Hyalomma marginatum (n=7) and Hyalomma lusitanicum (n=1). Eight Hyalomma sp. ticks could only be identified on the genus level. Regarding seasonality, all Palearctic Ixodes species were carried by birds exclusively in the autumn (i.e., north to south), whereas H. rufipes (with predominantly Afrotropical distribution) was exclusively collected in the spring (i.e., carried south to north). Two tick species that occurred on birds in Malta, i.e., a species of the A. marmoreum complex and I. cumulatimpunctatus are only indigenous in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region. This is the first finding of the latter tick species in Europe, and four tick species were identified for the first time in Malta. In conclusion, the diversity of tick species regularly arriving in Europe from Africa is most likely higher than reflected by data obtained in Mediterranean countries of mainland Europe. Most notably, ticks of the genus Amblyomma appear to be underrepresented in previous datasets. Ticks of the subgenus Afrixodes (represented by I. cumulatimpunctatus) might also be imported into Europe by migratory birds.