Albanian j. agric. sci. 2014 (Special edition) Agricultural University of Tirana

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access) Systematic and ecological analysis on plant bugs (, ) in the habitats of Lushnja region

ELTJON HALIMI*, ANILA PAPARISTO1, DRITAN TOPI2

*University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Boulevard Zogu I, Tirana, .

1University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Boulevard Zogu I, Tirana, Albania.

2 University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Boulevard Zogu I, Tirana, Albania.

*Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract The family of Miridae Hahn, 1831 (plant bugs), presents a considerable number of species on Hemiptera, approx. 9800 species. Due to their features they are applied as integrated biological weapons. This paper aims to increase the entomophauna knowledge of the country. It presents the species belonging to this family in the different habitats of Lushnja region, Albania. The biological material is collected during of period 2012-2013. The collection of biological samples was achieved through the use of entomological nets of 80 cm diameter, and Pitt’s traps. The fine biological materials were placed in plastic flacons 150-200 ml. They were preserved to the scientific laboratory in bottles of ethanol solution 95%, acetic acid, and distilled water. The biological samples were analyzed and determined by Stereomicroscope ZEISS. This study analyzes 98 individuals, and it has been found 17 genus and 25 species. The genera Lygus is the most represented with 3 species and a frequency of 12%. Habitats of Divjaka station are represented by more species compared to other stations, with 15 species and a frequency of 50%. Based on the “Jaccard index”, Divjaka and Çerma stations present a higher similarity coefficient, with 50.02%. The Zoogeographic regions of Palearctic, is representing by a higher number of species, with 11 species and frequency 44%. Compared to the elevated number of species for that family, it has been found that thier number is limited in the area of the study. Keywords: Hemiptera, Miridae, ecosystems, dominance, habitats

1. Introduction 2. Material and Methods The family of Miridae Hahn, 1831 (plant bugs), The biological material is collected during the presents a considerable number of species on expeditions of 2012-2013 in the different habitats of Hemiptera, approx. 9800 species [14], but this number Lushnja, in Divjaka, Germenji, Çerma and Kolonja can reach up to 20000 [9]. It is evaluated that these stations. can damage the agricultural crops [15, 17]. Samplings of the biological material were The hemielytra are constituted clavius and realized randomly in the May-September period, corium, and the triangle structure, cuneus [20]. They 00 00 respectively during the 09 -15 day hours. are encountered in all continents, and some species Entomological mowing nets of 80cm diameter, are classified as cosmopolitan [5]. Due to their aspirators and Pitt’s traps were employed. Mowing features they are applied as integrated biological with Entomological nets is achieved according to the weapons [7, 11, 13, 19]. 2 diagonals for surfaces of 100 m (10m x 10m), They possess a number of same characteristics passing five times across each square’ diagonal constantly presented in the entire family, with a according to the applied method of Colas [3]. minimum value of length 2-4 mm to a maximum of After collection, the individuals are placed in 10-11 mm. Some distinguishable characteristics are plastic bottles, labeled with the date and station. The their oval shape, extended, ellipsoidal, and colorful fine biological materials are placed in plastic flacons from dark, bright and vermilion. 150-200 cc. they were sent to the scientific laboratory In that family dominate phytophagous, but also and preserved in bottles of ethanol solution 95%, are present some predators [18, 19, 2]. This paper acetic acid, distilled water in v:v:v (80:5:20 ml) and presents our study on the species belonging to this some ether drops [3, 4]. family for the different ecosystem of Lushnja region, Determination of the collected material was in Albania. analyzed by observing with stereomicroscope ZEISS

295 Halimi et al (Carl Zeiss), and use of determination keys to this to the encountered species in the habitats of Lushnja family, and previous collections [1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 16]. region, accompanied by the number of individuals and the sites for every station where they encountered 3. Result and Discussions Divjaka, Germenji, Çerma and Kolonja, and their Zoogeographic region (Table 1). In this study are determined species of the Miridae family, by listing them in the table according Table 1. List of species for the Miridae Family

No. Scientific name Zoogeographic region

No. exemp Divjakë Gërmenj Çermë Kolonjë 1 Genus Adelphocoris 1 Adelphocoris lineolatus Goeze, 1778 6 1 1 Palearctic 2 Adelphocoris vandalicus Rossi, 1790 3 1 1 1 Mediterranean 2 Genus Anapomella 3 Anapomella arnoldii V.G Putshkov, 1961 3 1 Palearctic 3 Genus Brachycoleus 4 Brachycoleus decolor Reuter, 1887 4 1 Euroanotolik 4 Genus 5 Deraeocoris lutescens Schilling, 1837 2 1 1 Mediterranean 6 Deraeocoris schach Fabricius, 1781. 5 1 1 Euro-Asiatic 5 Genus Lopus 7 Lopus decolor Fallén, 1807 5 1 1 Holartic 6 Genus Lygus 8 Lygus pratensis Linnaeus, 1758 6 1 1 1 Palearctic 9 Lygus punctatus Zetterstedt, 1839 3 1 Euro-Siberian 10 Lygus rugulipennis Poppius, 1911 9 1 1 Palearctic 7 Genus Macrolophus 11 Macrolophus costalis Fieber, 1858 2 1 1 Mediterranean 8 Genus Macrotylus 12 Macrotylus atricapillus Scott, 1872 5 1 1 Euro-ballkanic 9 Genus Megaloceraea 13 Megaloceraea recticornis Georffroy, 1787 4 1 1 Central European-Asiatic 10 Genus Notostira 14 Notostira erratica Linnaeus, 1758 2 1 Palearctic 11 Genus Orthocephalus 15 Orthocephalus brevis Panzer, 1798 4 1 1 Palearctic 12 Genus Orthops 16 Orthops kalmi Linnaeus, 1758 4 1 1 Palearctic 13 Genus Phytocoris 17 Phytocoris insignis Reuter, 1876 2 1 1 Euro-Mediterranean 18 Phytocoris pini Kirschbaum, 1856 2 1 European 14 Genus Piezocranum 19 Piezocranum medvedevi V.G. Putshkov, 1961 3 1 Palearctic 15 Genus Plagiomathus 20 Plagiognathus fulsipens Kirschbaum, 1856 2 1 1 Holarctic 21 Plagiognathus cunctator Horvàth, 1887 3 1 1 1 Balkanic 16 Genus Polymerus 22 Polymerus cognatus Fieber, 1858 7 1 Palearctic 23 Polymerus vulneratus Panzer, 1806 1 1 Palearctic 17 Genus Stenodema 24 Stenodema calcaratum Fallén, 1807 7 1 1 Palearctic 25 Stenodema holstatum Fabricius, 1787 4 1 1 1 Holarctic

296 Systematic and Ecological Analysis on Plant Bugs (Miridae, Hemiptera) in the Habitats of Lushnja Region Table 2: Number of species according to Calculation of the coefficient of similarity Jaccard gave an indication on the species similarity their genera among the stations [10]. In the table are presented the No Scientific name Number of Species numbers of common species C, according to the species frequency (%) stations, and the coefficient of similarity C for each 1 Adelphocoris 2 8 J 2 Anapomella 1 4 station (Table 4). 3 Brachycoleus 1 4 The stations represent according to their 4 Deraeocoris 2 8 geographical spreading, a high level of diversity in 5 Lopus 1 4 ecological conditions and habitats. 6 Lygus 3 12 7 Macrolophus 1 4 8 Macrotylus 1 4 9 Megaloceraea 1 4 10 Notostira 1 4 11 Orthocephalus 1 4 12 Orthops 1 4 15 12 13 Phytocoris 2 8 10 9 14 Piezocranum 1 4 15 Plagiognathus 2 8 16 Polymerus 1 4 17 Stenodema 2 8 Divjaka Germenje Cerme Kolonje The scientific determination of the collected materials in this study presents 98 individuals of the Miridae family to the habitats of Lushnja, represented Figure 1. Distribution of species according by 17 genera and 25 species (Table 2). to the sampling stations Analysis of the data give evidences that based on Based on that situation, another effort is the diversity, the genera Lygus is represented by addressed to the constructing of the correlation among higher number of species, 3 species or by 12 % of the the species to put in light the influence of the overall species; the Genera Adelphocoris, conditions in the spreading of the species, by keeping Deraeocoris, Phytocoris, Plagiognathus and in mind that even the species own their ecological Stenodema are represented by 2 species or 8%; the valence. Genera Anapomella, Brachycoleus, Lopus, Macrolophus, Macrotylus, Megaloceraea, Notostira, Table 3. Number of species and similarity Orthocephalus, Orthops, Piezocranum and Polymerus coefficient according to the sampling stations by 1 specie, or 4%. Germenji Çerma Kolonja Analysis of the diversity of habitats where this Divjaka C = 2 C = 9 C = 4 study is conducted, base on the number of the species CJ = 8.70% CJ =50.00% CJ =20.00% for each station, the station of Divjaka is presented by Germenji C = 3 C = 2 15 species, or 60.00%, followed by Çerma with 12 CJ = 15.79% CJ =11.76% species, or 48.00%, Germenji station by 10 species, Çerma C = 4 C = 3.53% with 40.00%, and finally stations of Kolonja by 9 J species, or 36.00% (Figure 1). Analysis of the data give indication that the of the ecological factors in overall, but specially the highest coefficient of species similarity belongs to the anthropogenic factor impact. Divjaka and Çerma stations by 50.00%, followed by Analysis of the species distribution for the similarity among the Divjaka and Kolonja by 20%, zoogeographic regions (Tab. 4), the region presented between Shkozeti, Hamallaj, Sukthi and Lalzit Bay by by the highest level of species, which constitutes the 14.28%, among Germenji and Çerma by 15.79%, and nucleus of the Miridae is the Palearctic by 11 species, Germenji and Kolonja by 11.76%. The lowest or 44%; and consecutively the Holarctic similarity stands among Divjaka and Germenji by Mediterranean region by 3 species or by 3%, while the 3.53%, finally between Çerma and Kolonja by 6.25%. European, Euro-Siberian, Euro-Asiatic, Euro- Analysis of the similarity based on the species Mediterranean, Central European-Asiatic, distribution; give indication on the affinity of species Euroanotolic and Balkanic by 1 specie, or 4%. distribution between the studied stations, and impact

297 Halimi et al Table 4. The number of species according to 5. Dolling WR: The Hemiptera. Oxford University Press. 1999. Zoogeographic regions 6. Drake CJ, Ruhoff FA: Lace-bugs of the world: Zoo-geographic region Number of Species a catalogue. 1965. species frequency Holarctic 3 12 7. Gennaro V: Lotta biologica e integrate. Liguori Palearctic 11 44 Editore. Napoli. 1977. European 1 4 Euro – Siberian 1 4 8. Halimi E, Paparisto A, Misja K: Some Euro- Asiatic 1 4 systematics and ecological data for true bugs Euro – Mediterranean 1 4 (Hemiptera) in some habitats in Albania. Mediterranean 3 12 Natura Montenegrina 2010, 9(3): 469-479. Central European-Asiatico 1 4 9. Henry TJ, Wheeler Jr AG: Family Miridae Euroanotolic 1 4 Euro-Balkanic 1 4 Hahn, 1833 (Capsidae Burmeister, 1835). The Balkanic 1 4 plant bugs. Catalog of the , or True TOTAL 25 100.00 Bugs, of Canada and the Continental United States. EJ Brill, Leiden and New York. 1988. 4. Conclusions 10. Jaccard P: Étude comparative de la distribution florale dans une portion des Alpes et des Jura. This study presents that analysis of 102 Bulletin del la Société Vaudoise des Sciences exemplars for the Miridae Family, in the habitats of Naturelles 1901, 37: 547-579. Lushnja, distributed in 17 genera and 25 species. It 11. Miller NCE: The Biology of the Heteroptera. was concluded that a higher diversity belongs to the 2nd Ed. Hill, London. 1971. Lygus genera by 3 species, or 12 % of the overall species encountered. The Divjaka station dominates 12. Misja K: Rezultate të studimit të gjysëm- krahëfortëve Hemipterëve të vendit tone. Bul. related to the diversity of species by 15 species, or Shk. të Natyrës 1973, 1(2): 33 -42. 60%, while the Kolonja station was presented by the smallest number of species, only 9, or 36%. The 13. Pollini A: Manuale di entomologia applicata. maximum value of the species similarity belongs to Edagricole. Bolognia. 2002. the Divjaka and Çerma by 50%, while the minimum 14. Schuh RT: Plant bugs of the World value of the similarity belongs to the Çerma and (Heteroptera: Miridae): Systematic catalog, Kolonja by 6.25%. More represented is the Palearctic distributions, host list, and bibliography. New Zoogeographic region by 11 species, or 44%, the York Entomological Society. 1995. European, Euro-Siberian, Euro-Asiatic, Euro- 15. Servadei A, Zangheri S, Masutti L: Entomologia Mediterranean, Central European-Asiatic, generale ed applicata. CEDAM. Padova. 1972. Euroanotolic and Balkanic by 1 specie, or 4.00%. 16. Servadei A: Fauna d’Italia. Rhynchota: Heteroptera, Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha. 5. References Edizione Calderini. Bologna. 1967: 202-234. 1. Aukema B, Rieger C: Catalogue of the 17. Silvestri F: Compendio di Entomologia Heteroptera of the Palearctic Biology and Aplicata. Parte Specialie. Portici Tipografia Diversity: Oxford University Press. 2nd Ed. Bellavista. 1939. Vol I: 204-313. London. 1999. 18. Tremblay E: Entomologia applicata. Volume II 2. Caravalho JCM, Gagnė WC: Miridae of the Parte I. 1a ed. Napoli, Liguori Editore. 1981. Galapagos Islands (Heteroptera). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (fourth 19. Tremblay E: Entomologia Aplicata; Volume series). USA. 1968, 36(7): 147– 219. Generalità e mezzi di controllo; Collembolli- Riconti; Liguori Editore. 1990. 3. Colas G: Guide de L’Entomologist. N. Boubee & C-ie Paris. 1969. 20. Wagner E, Weber HH: Die Miridae Hahn, 1831, des Mittelmeeraumes und Der 4. Chapman RF: The Insects. Structure and Makaronesischen Inseln (Hemiptera, th Function 4 Ed. University Press. Cambridge. Heteroptera). Nachträge zu den Teilen 1-3. 1988. Entomol. Abh. Mus. Tierk. Dresden. 1978, 42 (Sup.): 1-96.

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