New records of exotic arthropods for Azores

Study Extent

The studies were carried out in the Azores archipelago, which is located in the North Atlantic. The archipelago has nine islands distributed among three island groups. Data is available for Flores (Ocidental Group), Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira (Central Group) and São Miguel and Santa Maria (Oriental Group)

Sampling

The new species records result both from ongoing inventory/monitoring efforts to improve the knowledge on the Azorean terrestrial arthropod biodiversity, but also from occasional sampling. The use of standardized sampling techniques to monitor epigean and canopy arthropods [BALA protocol, following Biodiversity of Arthropods of Laurisilva of Azores (BALA) project], airborne arthropods [Sea Land Aerial Malaise protocol, following Sea, Land, Aerial Malaise (SLAM) project], and insect pollinators [SPRING protocol, following Strengthening Pollinator Recovery through INdicators and monitorinG (SPRING) project] led to the collection of new species findings at island or archipelago leve

Quality Control

The specimens were identified to species level in the laboratory using a Leica S9i stereomicroscope and diverse taxonomic literature. All collected specimens were stored in vials with ethanol (70%) and deposited in the Dalberto Pombo entomological collection (DTP) at the University of the Azores (Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal).

Method steps

1. Nomenclature follows the accepted last taxonomic literature for each taxon

The following groups were studied: Arachnida - Acarina (Tetranychidae); Araneae (Agenelidae, Linyphiidae, Salticidae, Theridiidae, Zoropsidae). Insecta - Orthoptera (Acrididae, Trigonidiidae); Hemiptera (Nabidae); Coleoptera (Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae); Diptera (Calliphoridae, Hippoboscidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae); Lepidoptera (Pyralidae); Hymenoptera (Chrysididae, Crabronidae, Cynipidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae, Vespidae)

1. Arthropoda
   common name: Arthropods rank: kingdom
2. Arachnida
   common name: Arachnids rank: class
3. Insecta
   common name: Insects rank: class

Azores Archipelago