Alien eating alien - rapid spread of Aceria fraxiniflora, a non-native gall mite of the invasive green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in Central-Eastern Europe

The North American gall mite Aceria fraxiniflora was first recorded in Europe in southeast Hungary in 2017. Since then, it has shown a remarkably rapid spread on its host, the also North American green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). By the beginning of 2023 it has been recorded in eight Central-Eastern European countries. In 2022 it was recorded on the other North American ash (Fraxinus Americana) in Zagreb (Croatia) and in Szarvas Arboretum (SE Hungary). Possible reasons and outcomes of this spread are discussed.

A new species of Aegyptobia and redescription of Tenuipalpusszarvasensis Bozai, 1970 (Acari, Tenuipalpidae)

A new tenuipalpid mite species, Aegyptobiabozaiisp. n., is described from Central-Hungary on leaves of the endemic Hungarian statice Limoniumgmeliniisubsp.hungaricum (Plumbaginaceae) based on females, nymphs and larva. The previously described endemic flat mite, Tenuipalpusszarvasensis Bozai, 1970 is redescribed. This species had been treated as a junior synonym of Tenuipalpuscheladzeae Gomelauri, 1960, but our new investigation shows that the two species are not the same.

A new Aceria species (Acari: Eriophyidae) from Spain on <i>Pycnocomon</i> <i>rutifolium</i> (Dipsacaceae) and supplementary descriptions of <i>Aceria</i> <i>eucricotes</i> and <i>A. kuko</i> from <i>Lycium</i> spp. (Solanaceae)

A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aceria pycnocomi sp. nov., associated with Pycnocomon rutifolium (Dipsacaceae), is described and illustrated from Spain. Morphological differences distinguishing this new species from similar Aceria species are discussed. The female, male and nymph of Aceria eucricotes (Nalepa, 1892) and Aceria kuko (Kishida, 1927) are redescribed and illustrated from Spain and Hungary, respectively; both were collected from Lycium spp. (Solanaceae). Morphological differences distinguishing these two species are discussed.

A new <i>Aceria</i> species (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from <i>Minuartia frutescens</i> (Caryophyllaceae) in Hungary

A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aceria wassalberti n. sp. associated with Minuartia frutescens (Caryophyllaceae), is described and illustrated from Hungary. A key to the Aceria species known on Caryophyllaceae is given. Remarks are provided on the eriophyoid mites currently known from caryophyllaceous host plants.

New species of Dinychus Kramer, 1886 from fragments of the former Gondwanaland (Acari: Uropodina: Dinychidae)

We describe two new species of Dinychus Kramer, 1886 from fragments of the former Gondwanaland supercontinent. Dinychus indica sp. nov. from India belongs to the Dinychus woelkei-group It differs from the previously known Dinychus species on the basis of the sculptural pattern of the sternal and genital shields of female. The female of Dinychus chilensis sp. nov. from Chile has a quadrangular genital shield, which is a unique character state in the genus Dinychus. New keys to the Central and South American Dinychus and to Dinychus woelkei-group are presented.

Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from Hungary: a new species on Agrimonia eupatoria (Rosaceae) and new record on Convolvulus arvensis (Convolvulaceae)

A new species of eriophyoid mite, Aculus castriferrei n. sp., associated with Agrimonia eupatoria (Rosaceae) is described and illustrated from Hungary. Morphological differences distinguishing this vagrant species from other rosaceous inhabiting congeners are discussed. Aceria malherbae Nuzzaci is a new record for the eriophyoid fauna of Hungary after it was found causing severe damage symptoms to Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae).

Strategies for controlling western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera)

Western corn rootworm (WCR) first appeared in Europe near Belgrade airport in 1992. The first adult of this species was found near Mórahalom, in the southern part of Hungary, on 30th June 1995. Small-plot trials were started in Szeged (Cereal Research Non-Profit Co.) and large-scale trials in Mezohegyes (Ménesbirtok Ltd.) in 1996 to elaborate strategies to control this insect pest. To make the work more efficient, eight experts working at different institutions formed a team. At the same time, monitoring was begun on when and where the insect appeared and in what numbers. The experiments were adapted to the life cycle of the species. WCR has one generation per year, laying eggs that overwinter. Larvae begin to hatch in late May to mid-June. Adults emerge by mid-July and survive till early October. They lay eggs in abundance from mid-July to late August.  Trials were conducted to control WCR both with and without chemicals. For adult control pesticides were sprayed from an aircraft or using a field sprayer. Larval control involved seed treatment with insecticide or the use of soil insecticide at planting or at cultivation.

Implementing a clinical ladder program

Reward and recognition are powerful motivators in any employment setting. Long understood in the business world, it is only recently that the nursing field has come to recognize the need to go beyond the intrinsic reward system based upon patient care delivery to a more tangible system including monetary incentive and peer evaluation.