Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain.

BACKGROUND: Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black flies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fly populations. METHODS: Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specific richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. RESULTS: In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identified based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fly species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and differed among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fly pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecific levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fly cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 different species of six genera and five families were morphologically identified. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they fit descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the first time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism.

Revision of the Western Palaearctic species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae).

The first comprehensive revision of the Western Palaearctic species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1862 is provided. 174 species of this genus are redescribed and illustrated. Ten species are described as new, viz, D. acompressum sp. nov., D. cahitum sp. nov., D. collybiae sp. nov., D. digitatum sp. nov., D. glabrideum sp. nov., D. helote sp. nov., D. lepiotae sp. nov., D. norwegicum sp. nov., D. oxybellum sp. nov. and D. torpi sp. nov. The following new combinations are suggested: Dinotrema adventum (Fischer), comb. nov., D. aurelianum (Fischer), comb. nov., D. cetiusmonte (Fischer), comb. nov., D. converginerve (Fischer), comb. nov., D. intermissum (Fischer), comb. nov., D. leptocorne (Fischer), comb. nov., D. longicarinatum (Fischer), comb. nov., and D. thurnense (Fischer), comb. nov. The following names are synonymised: Dinotrema naeviformis (Fischer) with D. costulatum (Thomson), Dinotrema aequale Tobias with D. tarbagataicum Tobias, D. alua (Stelfox et Graham) with D. tauricum (Telenga), D. isometricum (Fischer) with D. cruciatum (Fischer), D. isosoma (Fischer) with D. cruciforme (Fischer), and D. ovalisignum (Fischer) with D. catharinae (Fischer) (syn. nov.). A key to all Western Palaearctic species of Dinotrema is provided for the first time. 

Aspilota-group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) diversity in Mediterranean Natural Parks of Spain.

This work analyses the biodiversity of the Aspilota-group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) in three Mediterranean Natural parks: Natural Park of La Font Roja, Natural Park of Las Lagunas de la Mata-Torrevieja and Natural Park of La Tinença de Benifassà. Samples were carried out from April 2004 to December 2007. In total, 822 specimens, belonging to 52 species, were collected. Alpha, beta and gamma diversities were analysed, and the Tinença Park was proven to have higher diversity than the Font Roja and Torrevieja. Also, the structure of the Aspilota-group community was analysed.

Seven new Spanish species of the genus Synaldis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) with mesoscutal pit.

Descriptions of seven new species of the alysiine genus Synaldis having mesoscutal pit from Spain are given: Synaldis berbegalae sp. nov., S. falcoi sp. nov., S. gilaberti sp. nov., S. jujisae sp. nov., S. lozanoae sp. nov., S. martinezae sp. nov., and S. navarroae sp. nov.

New Spanish Dinotrema species with propodeal areola or mainly sculptured propodeum (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae).

The illustrated descriptions of eight new species of the genus Dinotrema with either the propodeum mainly sculptured or having a large propodeal areola from Spain are provided, viz. Dinotrema amparoae sp. n., Dinotrema benifassaense sp. n., Dinotrema lagunasense sp. n., Dinotrema pilarae sp. n., Dinotrema robertoi sp. n., Dinotrema teresae sp. n., Dinotrema tinencaense sp. n., and Dinotrema torreviejaense sp. n..

New western Palaearctic Dinotrema species with mesoscutal pit and only medially sculptured propodeum (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae).

Descriptions of four new species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster with a mesoscutal pit and only medially sculptured propodeum are given. Dinotrema alysiae sp. n. (Denmark, England, Netherlands, Spain), Dinotrema paramicum sp. n. (Denmark, Finland), Dinotrema tirolense sp. n. (Italy) and Dinotrema valvulatum sp. n. (Denmark, Italy).

Anophelism in a former malaria area of northeastern Spain.

BACKGROUND: A field study on diversity and distribution of anophelines currently present in a past endemic malaria area of Spain was carried out in order to identify possible risk areas of local disease transmission. METHODS: Multiple larval sites were sampled from June to October of 2011 in the Region of Somontano de Barbastro (Northeastern Spain). The sampling effort was fixed at 10 minutes which included the active search for larvae in each biotope visited. RESULTS: A total of 237 larval specimens belonging to four Anopheles species (Anopheles atroparvus, An. claviger, An. maculipennis and An. petragnani) were collected and identified. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria receptivity in the study area is high, especially in the area of Cinca river valley, due to the abundance of breeding sites of An. atroparvus very close to human settlements. Although current socio-economic conditions in Spain reduce possibilities of re-emergence of malaria transmission, it is evident that certain entomological and epidemiological vigilance must be maintained and even increased in the context of current processes of climate change and globalization.

Six new Dinotrema species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Spain, with prescutellar pit and medially sculptured propodeum.

Descriptions of six new species of the genus Dinotrema from Spain with smooth or only medially sculptured propodeum are provided. The new species described are: D. achterbergi sp. nov., D. broadi sp. nov., D. enanum sp. nov., D. fischerianum sp. nov., D. munki sp. nov. and D. pappi sp. nov.

Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the Forest State of Artikutza (Navarra: Spain): Diversity and Community Structure.

Microgastrinae is one of the largest subfamilies of the Braconidae with about 2,000 described species worldwide. These wasps are of enormous ecological interest due to their role in controlling the caterpillar populations. This study analyses diversity and community structure within the Microgastrinae in the Artikutza Forest, located in the Peñas de Aia Natural Park, western Pyrenees, Spain. The specimens were collected in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 524 specimens, belonging to nine separate genera and 27 species were captured. Alpha, beta and gamma diversity were analyzed. Additionally, the relationship between Microgastrinae phenology and climatic conditions were studied.

Factores de riesgo eco-entomológicos en la emergencia de arbovirosis en las zonas húmedas de la comunidad Valenciana. Valencia, España / Eco-epidemiological risk factors in the emergence of arboviruses in the Valencian autonomous region´s wetlands. Valencia, España

El presente trabajo analiza las posibilidades de emergencia de arbovirosis en los humedales de la Comunidad Valenciana. El objetivo, es inferir qué zonas húmedas podrían suponer un escenario potencial para el desarrollo de un brote epidémico, en función de sus características físicas y biológicas. Se llevó a cabo un programa de muestreo estacional para la captura de larvas de mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae), por ser los organismos vectores de la enfermedad. Para su captura, se empleó la técnica de “dipping”, a la vez que se caracterizó el cuerpo hídrico muestreado mediante el uso de sistema portátil de medida multiparamétrico Consort C535. Se recolectaron un total de 3.418 ejemplares, fijándose en 6 las especies de mosquito potencialmente vectoras de arbovirus, siendo éstas: Aedes albopictus (n=10), Culex modestus (n=62), Culex pipiens (n=2246), Culex theileri (n=2), Culiseta annulata (n=94) y Ochlerotatus caspius (n=330), lo que supone un posible riesgo de transmisión de virus West Nile, Sindbis, Usutu y Tahyna. El diseño y análisis de los mosaicos de contingencia, reveló que los humedales con mayor potencialidad para sufrir brotes epidémicos en la Comunidad Valenciana son las albuferas, los marjales y los saladares.

The present work analyses the possibility of the emergence of West Nile virus in the Valencian Autonomous Region’s wetlands (Eastern Spain), with the aim of inferring what kind of wetland possesses the necessary characteristics to cause a West Nile epidemiological outbreak. A seasonal sampling program of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) was carried out. Larvae were captured by "dipping" technique, and a Consort C535 laptop system was used to measure physical and chemical wáter bodies characteristics. Data was statistically analyzed with JMP 7 statistical program. A total of 3418 individuals were collected; obtaining a total of 6 mosquito species: Aedes albopictus (n= 10), Culex modestus (n= 62), Culex pipiens (n= 2246), Culex theileri (n= 2), Culiseta annulata (n= 94) and Ochlerotatus caspius (n= 330). These results represent the possibility of transmission of West Nile and other flaviviruses like Sindbis, Usutu or Tahyna. The design of contingency mosaics revealed that wetlands with the greatest capacity to produce a disease outbreaks in the Valencian Autonomous Region, are lagoons, pocosins and saltmarshes.

[Health implications of the establishment and spread of Aedes albopictus in Spain]. / Implicaciones sanitarias del establecimiento y expansión en España del mosquito Aedes Albopictus.

The spread of Aedes albopictus by Eastern Spain has been constant since its first finding in 2004. Currently the species has been collected in the coastal provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Castellón, Alicante and Murcia. The high synanthropism of the species, together with its anthropophilic behaviour and vectorial capacity to transmit several arboviruses, have led to the return of active transmission cycles of common diseases in the past such as Dengue virus and even the appearance of new tropical viruses as Chikungunya in southern Europe. This manuscript discusses the public health implications of the expected expansion of Ae. albopictus for much of the Iberian Peninsula, in the context of current climatic and sociodemographic situation. Moreover, several issues related with the control of the species in urban and suburban environments are exposed. Finally the preliminary data about other invasive aedines recently collected in the European continent are presented.

Implicaciones sanitarias del establecimientos y expansión en España del mosquito Aedes Albopitus / Health implications of the establishment and spread of Aedes Albopictus in Spain

La expansión de Aedes albopictus por el Levante español no ha cesado desde su primigenia detección en nuestro país en el año 2004, habiéndose constatado ya su presencia en las provincias de Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Castellón, Alicante y Murcia. La elevada sinantropía de la especie, unida al alto grado de antropofília y extensa capacidad vectorial para transmitir diversas arbovirosis, han propiciado el retorno al sur de Europa de ciclos de transmisión activa de enfermedades frecuentes en el pasado como el Dengue o la aparición de virosis tropicales inéditas hasta entonces como Chikungunya. El presente manuscrito analiza de forma pormenorizada las implicaciones para la salud pública de la previsible expansión de Ae. albopictus por gran parte del territorio peninsular, en el contexto climático y sociodemográfico actual. Adicionalmente, también se discuten diversas cuestiones relativas al control poblacional de la especie en ambientes urbanos y periurbanos, así como los datos preliminares existentes acerca de otros aedinos invasores de reciente hallazgo en el continente europeo(AU)

The spread of Aedes albopictus by Eastern Spain has been constant since its first finding in 2004. Currently the species has been collected in the coastal provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Castellón, Alicante and Murcia. The high synanthropism of the species, together with its anthropophilic behaviour and vectorial capacity to transmit several arboviruses, have led to the return of active transmission cycles of common diseases in the past such as Dengue virus and even the appearance of new tropical viruses as Chikungunya in southern Europe. This manuscript discusses the public health implications of the expected expansion of Ae. albopictus for much of the Iberian Peninsula, in the context of current climatic and sociodemographic situation. Moreover, several issues related with the control of the species in urban and suburban environments are exposed. Finally the preliminary data about other invasive aedines recently collected in the European continent are presented(AU)

Biodiversity within the subfamily Alyssinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Natural Park Peñas de Aya (Spain)

Biodiversity within the subfamily Alyssinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Natural Park Peñas de Aya (Spain). The study of parasitoid Hymenoptera is of significance for the assessment of diversity in a given area because of their role in the regulation of insects populations. The present work analyses diversity within Alysiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Forested Estate of Artikutza, located in the Natural Park Peñas de Aya, western Pyrenees, Spain. Collection of specimens was spread over two years and was carried out in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 2,270 specimens, belonging to 22 separate genera, were captured. Subsequently, alpha, beta and gamma diversities were analysed, and the beech forest was proven to host greater diversity than the mixed forest. A sampling strategy was adopted for the analysis of Alysiinae phenology and its relationship with environmental climatic conditions; as a result, a direct relationship between phenology and temperature was attested.

Biodiversidade na Alyssinae subfamília (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) no Parque Natural Peñas de Aya (Espanha). O estudo dos himenópteros parasitóides é significativo para uma avaliação da diversidade em determinada área por causa do seu papel no controle das populações de insetos. O presente trabalho analisa a diversidade no taxon Alysiinae (Himenóptero, Braconidae) na área de floresta de Artikutza, localizada no Parque Natural de Peñas de Aya, Pirinéus ocidentais, Espanha. A coleta de espécimes dividiu-se em dois anos e foi realizada em dois habitats diferentes: floresta mista e floresta de faias. No total, foram capturados 2.270 exemplares pertencentes a 22 gêneros distintos. Subsequentemente, as variedades alfa, beta e gama foram analisadas, comprovando-se que a floresta de faias apresenta uma diversidade maior que a floresta mista. Adotou-se a estratégia de amostra para análise da fenologia da Alysiinae e da sua relação com as condições climáticas ambientais, de onde se concluiu que existe uma relação direta entre a fenologia e a temperatura.

Classification of Spanish mosquitoes in functional groups.

We present a classification of Spanish mosquitoes according to their different life cycles. The bio-ecological parameters analyzed in our study were oviposition sites, overwintering stages, preferred hosts, and number of generations per year for each species. The results revealed 13 different functional groups. To assess the validity and robustness of the classification system, we analyzed the data from an intensive sampling carried out over a period of 4 years (2005-08) in eastern Spain. In this area, 9 of the 13 functional groups were found. The Jaccard cluster and the principal components analysis (between-group analysis method) revealed 3 different mosquito groups: the tree hole species, the aedine species (except dendrolimnic ones), and the rest of the non-dendrolimnic culicid species. The importance of the different overwintering patterns in distinguishing these 3 classes is also discussed.

New contributions to Pseudonapomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) from Spain: addition of three new species.

The genus Pseudonapomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) includes the main leafminer pests for monocots. Three new species are described that were captured using Malaise traps in "Tinença de Benifassà", "Font Roja" and "Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja" (Spain) Natural Parks: Pseudonapomyza curvata n. sp., P. longitata n. sp., and P. sicicornis n. sp. Systematics. Ecological data are discussed.

¿Pueden la malaria y el dengue reaparecer en España? / Could malaria and dengue reappear in Spain?

El aumento de la inmigración durante los últimos años en España ha facilitado la importación de numerosas enfermedades tropicales. Entre ellas, las de transmisión vectorial son algunas de las más complicadas de estudiar por la complejidad que conlleva la participación de diversos hospedadores en los ciclos de transmisión, así como por la necesidad de conocer todos los parámetros fisiológicos, bioecológicos y biogeográficos relacionados con el organismo vector para poder inferir las posibilidades reales de la emergencia o la reemergencia de las enfermedades pertinentes. En estas circunstancias, el presente trabajo aporta información acerca de enfermedades importadas de incuestionable interés epidemiológico para la población residente en España, por albergar nuestro país diversas especies de mosquitos culícidos (Diptera, Culicidae) potencialmente transmisoras de éstas. Enfermedades parasitarias como la malaria, que fue altamente endémica en España hasta hace apenas 50 años, y otras de tipo arbovírico como el dengue y la fiebre amarilla, son analizadas en estos términos. También se exponen diferentes aspectos inherentes al sistema sanitario y a las distintas formas de hacer frente a estas cuestiones (AU)

The recent increase in immigration to Spain has facilitated the importation of many tropical diseases. Among these diseases, those of vectorial origin are among the most difficult to study. Some of the reasons for this difficulty are the complexity due to the variety of hosts involved in the transmission cycles and the need to know all the physiological, bioecological and biogeographic parameters related to the vector in order to infer the actual possibilities of the emergence or reemergence of these diseases. This article provides information on imported diseases of unquestionable epidemiological interest for the population in Spain due to the presence of several species of culicid mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) capable of transmitting these diseases in our country.AbstractParasitic diseases such as malaria, which was highly endemic in Spain until 50 years ago, and other arboviral infections such as dengue and yellow fever, are analyzed in these terms. Various aspects related to the health system, as well as the different ways of tackling these issues, are also discussed (AU)

[Current status and eco-epidemiology of mosquito-borne arboviruses (Diptera: Culicidae) in Spain]. / Situación actual en España y eco-epidemiología de las arbovirosis transmitidas por mosquitos culícidos (Diptera: Culicidae).

In this manuscript we analize the possible emergence and/or re-emergence in Spain of some of the mosquito-borne arboviruses (Diptera: Culicidae) with highest incidence in recent years. The faunistic, bioecological and distributional data of the culicids in our country allow to differentiate between species with ability to maintain the enzootic cycles of arboviruses from others that can act as bridge vectors to the human population. The results show the existence of several common and anthropophilic species as Aedes vexans, Culex modestus, Culex pipiens or Ochlerotatus caspius, with a high capacity to transmit flaviviruses such as West Nile virus or Usutu virus. Moreover the recent introduction, establishment and spread of the Asian Mosquito Tiger, Aedes albopictus, propitiate a new situation for the emergence of possible epidemic outbreaks of arboviruses usually imported to our country by immigrants and tourists such as Dengue or Chikungunya. Finally we discuss the epidemiological interest of other native species as Aedes vittatus or Ochlerotatus geniculatus, due to its capacity to transmit some of these typically tropical arboviruses.