Evangelos Koutsoukos

Four new genera of the family Pteromalidae ( Ablaxia Delucchi, 1957, Erythromalus Graham, 1956, Hemitrichus Thomson, 1878, and Janssoniella Kerrich, 1957) are reported for the fauna of Cyprus, and five new species are described: Ablaxia makrisi Koutsoukos & Mitroiu, sp. nov ., Ablaxia toxeftrae Koutsoukos & Mitroiu, sp. nov ., Erythromalus makrisi Koutsoukos & Mitroiu, sp. nov ., Hemitrichus akrotiriensis Koutsoukos & Mitroiu, sp. nov ., and Janssoniella aphrodite Koutsoukos & Mitroiu, sp. nov . While the ecology of all the new species is unknown, we provide and illustrate the diagnostic characters that separate the new species from the existing ones to assist in their future identification. The discovery of these new species highlights the knowledge shortfalls for many chalcid wasp groups in Southeastern Europe and the Middle East.

The genus Messor Forel, 1890 currently comprises 171 valid species and subspecies, with highest diversity in the Mediterranean and Central Asia. Greece hosts at least 16 species, although the taxonomic status of some needs to be further investigated. Amongst these, six species are island endemics, either restricted to a single Aegean island or distributed across several islands in the archipelago. Despite recent studies on the harvester ants of Greece, the case of Messor antennatus fodorii Röszler, 1942, remained unresolved amongst Greek representatives. This enigmatic harvester ant was first collected almost a century ago, in 1935, from Chios Island, situated in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea. The lack of both a type and additional material has led to its exclusion from checklists and identification keys, leaving its status as uncertain. From April 24th to May 5th 2025, we conducted field surveys in Chios, Oinousses and Psara islands to investigate the presence and taxonomic status of M. antennatus fodorii. Upon investigation, the harvester ant is raised to the species level Messor fodorii Röszler, 1942 stat. nov., designating a neotype, providing a re-description, a morphometric comparison of species in the M. hellenius complex, ecological notes and an updated identification key to Greek representatives of the Messor hellenius species complex.

Even though islets have a small size, they often harbour unique ecosystems as they may support rare or endemic species (Matthews and Triantis 2021; Whittaker et al. 2023; Rios et al. 2024). Their i...

The Akrotiri UK Sovereign Base Area (UK SBA) is located at the southernmost point of the island of Cyprus and is considered a biodiversity hotspot for migrating birds. It includes the largest complex of wetlands and designated RAMSAR sites of the island. In the framework of Darwin Plus project DPLUS200 we surveyed the ant biodiversity of Akrotiri SBA. Results of this study include the collection and identification of more than 6,000 specimens belonging to a total of 52 taxa, amounting to 59% of the 88 species of ants currently known from the island. Amongst these, Tetramorium anatolicum, is recorded for the first time from the island of Cyprus, while the morphospecies Lepisiota cf. melas, Solenopsis cf. santschii and Tetramorium cf. staerckei are also reported for the first time despite some uncertainty over their identification. Despite its small size (123 km2), the Akrotiri SBA is shown as a diverse area, hosting a large number of both “rare” and endemic ant taxa. Nevertheless, the collection of eight non-native species, including the first report of established populations of Wasmannia auropunctata, is concerning given the conservation status of the region. The biodiversity and distribution of species is further discussed alongside notes on the management of selected invasive species, i.e. Wasmannia auropunctata, and conservation of endemic species e.g. Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni.

The number of alien species continues to climb uninterrupted with a proportion of them becoming invasive, impacting native biodiversity and socioeconomic parameters. Many alien species are plants, transported outside their native range, sometimes alongside their associated insects hitching a ride to new destinations. Ficus microcarpa L. (Moraceae) is a common ornamental plant in the Mediterranean, which has been found to host a large ecological network of associated chalcid wasps (also called fig wasps). Amongst them, the plant’s pollinator Eupristina verticillata Waterston (Agaonidae), enhances the plant’s successful pollination and subsequent germination, thus allowing it to establish viable populations and even become invasive in some parts of the world. Other associated wasps, also called non-pollinating fig wasps, have likewise followed and these are parasitoids, inquilines or gallers. These species can be either beneficial or injurious to F. microcarpa, with some even proposed as potential biological control agents mitigating the plant’s spread. Seven fig wasp species have been reported from Greece, hitherto. Here, we present the first national survey of fig wasp fauna for Greece. We found 13 species, with six representing new records for the country (Eufroggattisca okinavensis Ishii, Micranisa degastris Chen, Philotrypesis okinavensis Ishii, Philotrypesis taiwanensis Chen, Odontofroggatia quinifuniculus Feng & Huang, Sycophila curta Chen) and two (O. quinifuniculus, S. curta) being reported outside their native range for the first time. Philotrypesis emeryi is removed from previous checklists upon molecular characterization of specimens as being Philotrypesis okinavensis. We discuss the distribution, introduction period and ecology of these fig wasps. Further, we present records of seedlings for F. microcarpa and discuss the potential implications of the fig wasp fauna for the establishment and control of this alien plant species.

The Banyan Leaf Skeletonizer moth, Choreutis sexfasciella (Sauber, 1902) (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae), is reported from Cyprus for the first time from Ficus microcarpa L.fil. and F. benjamina L. trees in urban areas of Larnaca, Limassol, and Paphos. C. sexfasciella was originally described from the Philippines and has rapidly extended its range in the last five years into several Mediterranean countries as well as into North America. DNA barcode sequencing of several specimens from Cyprus has demonstrated that they are closely related to North American specimens. The parasitoid wasp Elasmus cf. cyprianus Ferrière, 1947 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reared from leaves infested with larvae of C. sexfasciella. The observed socioeconomic impacts of the non-native moth and the potential use of its parasitoid as a biological control agent are discussed.

Biodiversity data platforms including databases, websites and data repositories underpin conservation efforts by collecting spatiotemporal data of discovered native and alien species and maps of their distributions. Chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) are one of the most diverse insect groups estimated to include half a million species. Being mostly parasitoids of other arthropods, they have been successfully used as biological control agents against serious agricultural pests worldwide. In Cyprus, only 124 species of chalcid wasps have been recorded, with 53 species being alien to the island. Their true biodiversity is predicted to be much larger because the island is both under-sampled and under-researched. A number of biodiversity data platforms focusing on the biodiversity of Cyprus are currently online; however, an online platform dedicated on the chalcid wasps of Cyprus is lacking. In the framework of the Darwin Plus Fellowship (DPLUS202) “Species richness and biological invasions of Chalcid wasps in Akrotiri Peninsula”, the “Chalcid wasps of Cyprus” website (https://sites.google.com/view/chalcidwaspscyprus) is presented. This online, dynamic database aims to: (1) raise public awareness regarding a rather neglected and yet ecologically important insect group, (2) provide data on the morphology, ecology and biodiversity of Chalcidoidea on Cyprus, as well as (3) promote conservation needs by setting a baseline for the future assessment of both native and alien chalcid wasp species. This online platform will be regularly revised in order to provide an up-to-date, user-friendly digital environment to the scientific community, policy-makers and citizens.

Several Oriental and Australian species of Ficus have been introduced outside their native range and planted as ornamentals in urban habitats throughout the Mediterranean. This translocation of plant species has led to the introduction of host-specific insects such as their pollinating fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae). Here, the Australian fig wasp Pleistodontes imperialis Saunders, 1882 is reported for the first time from Greece. Partial COI genes were sequenced for specimens sampled in Greece and Cyprus, and they appear to share identical haplotypes. Interestingly, this species-specific wasp not only develops in figs of its usual host, Ficus rubiginosa, but also in figs of Ficus watkinsiana, another Australian species introduced in Greece, which is pollinated by a second agaonid species (Pleistodontes nigriventris Girault, 1915) in its native range. Although no negative economic or environmental impacts have been observed yet, monitoring of alien Ficus spp. in the region is encouraged to prevent their possible establishment in natural habitats.

Known by many names, the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa L.) is a monoecious plant species originating from south-eastern Asia which has been introduced as an ornamental in numerous areas outside its native range, including the Mediterranean. Like every species of Ficus, it is associated with a series of chalcid wasp species, known as fig wasps. These species are distributed in the families Agaonidae, Epichrysomallidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae and Pteromalidae. In this publication, we describe a new species of Ormyrus Westwood, 1832 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Ormyridae), O. microcarpae Askew & Koutsoukos sp. nov., reared from figs of F. microcarpa collected from Greece and Cyprus. The new species is compared with O. lini and O. watshami. This species is likely to be a parasitoid of Meselatus bicolor Chen, 1999 (Hymenoptera, Epichrysomallidae). In addition, the previously unknown female of O. lini is also described and illustrated. This publication constitutes the first report of species of Ormyrus associated with figs in Europe.