For the young Entomologist
For the Young Entomologist L
Special thanks to: Guido Bonett for all photos accompanying the article on Brachytrupes megacephalus. National Museum of Archaelogy for providing the photo of Ramla bay in Gozo in the article on Viteus vitifoliae and Oliver Pace for photo of galls of Grape Phylloxera. Dan Magsbo, John Hallmen and Nicholas J. Vereecken for the insect photos in the article on Apalus bimaculatus and the National Museum of Natural History for the portrait of Alfredo Caruana Gatto. 123
Hyles sammuti This moth belongs to a group of insects commonly known as Hawk-moths. They are among the fastest flying insects reaching speeds of up to 50 km/hr. Most species are represented by relatively large moths and the caterpillar has a characteristic curved horn at its hind end. Caterpillars are fast growing and when they are fully grown they need to bury themselves under soil for pupation where they may stay for up to one year prior to adult emergence. Until 1998, Hyles sammuti was known as Hyles euphorbiae, a common species throughout Europe, but from recent studies it was shown that the Maltese population was different from that of mainland Europe. The species was in fact described as a new species to science and was dedicated to the Maltese naturalist, Paul Sammut who is a keen specialist of butterflies and moths. Hyles sammuti is associated with open spaces where Spurge (Euphorbia) grows. Larval stages are known to feed on Euphorbia pinea, E. dendroides and E. spinosa. The caterpillar can be of two different forms, with white or yellow spots. The species is double brooded and adults fly during April and May and again during September and October. Adults are attracted to light and are sometimes a good source of food to geckoes and bats. This endemic species is widely distributed in the Maltese Islands and is afforded protection through the flora, fauna and natural habitat protection regulations of 2006. Aldo Catania
124
For the young Entomologist
caterpillar forms of H. sammuti
H. sammuti
Eggs of H. sammuti on Euphorbia 125
Brachytrupes megacephalus This relatively large cricket is a stenotopic species (adapts only to a narrow range of environmental conditions) belonging to the psammophilous biocoenoses, mostly inhabiting coastal sandy habitats and desert locations within some parts of the Mediterranean, the Maghreb and Northwest Africa. Notwithstanding its considerable size, its nocturnal (crepuscular) habits and burrowing behaviour render it quite inconspicuous; had it not been for the highly noticeable stridulation by the male during the season of courtship (generally from the end of March to early June), this species would have been largely overlooked. Locally, Brachytrupes megacephalus was initially discovered at Ramla (Gozo) in 1955, and, twenty-two years later it was taken at Għadira in Malta. Subsequent research during the last three decades, brought to light important information about the species’ local distribution and, thus, revealed the existence of various other populations in coastal areas. Morphologically, the species is well adapted to burrow, using its large head to push loose sand as it excavates tunnels using the specialised tibia (armed with spurs) on the front and rear legs. Burrows measured in the Maltese Islands are relatively quite shallow when compared to counterparts in the Sahara desert, where some tunnels excavated by this species exceeded two metres. Although Brachytrupes megacephalus has a preference for sandy habitats, a population was recently discovered within the friable well-exposed quaternary conglomerates of the rdum formation along the L-Aħrax promontory. This demonstrates the species’ adaptive capacity towards establishing itself within a range of habitats, some of which quite uncharacteristic of the traditional sandy biotope. Nevertheless, its long-term survival depends on urgent pro-active conservation measures at different scales, notably, at species, habitat and landscape levels. This species is afforded protection through the flora, fauna and natural habitat protection regulations of 2006 and through the Habitats Directive of the European Union.
Louis F Cassar
126