Exploring the hidden riches: Recent remarkable faunistic records and range extensions in the bee fauna of Italy (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Anthophila).

Background: The area sourrounding the Mediterranean basin is recognised as a major biodiversity hotspot for bees, and Italy is amongst the European countries with the highest bee species richness. Detailed knowledge of bee distribution is crucial for understanding bee biology and designing tailored conservation strategies, but is still insufficient in southern European countries, especially in Italy. New information: We report recent finds of 48 bee species that yield significant novelties for the Italian bee fauna. Eight species, namely Andrenaconfinis Stöckhert, Anthidiellumbreviusculum Pérez, Coelioxysalatus Foerster, Lasioglossumalgericolellum Strand, Megachilelapponica Thomson, Megachileopacifrons Pérez, Megachilesemicircularis auct. nec Zanden and Trachusaintegra Eversmann are reported as new for Italy. In addition, Andrenabinominata Smith, Andrenacompta Lepeletier, Colletesacutus Pérez, Lasioglossumstrictifrons Vachal, Rhodanthidiumsiculum Spinola and Rhodanthidiumsticticum Fabricius are newly recorded from mainland Italy, Osmiaheteracantha Pérez from Sardegna and Nomadaflavopicta Kirby from Sicilia. We also report significant range extensions for other bee species and recent records of species that had long gone unrecorded in Italy. The combination of morphology and DNA barcoding provided reliable identifications even for the most challenging specimens. As several of our records come from areas neglected by bee experts in the past, this study stands out as a key indicator of a bee faunistic richness still awaiting discovery and hopefully it will stimulate the interest of taxonomists and stakeholders in pursuing bee research in Italy in the near future.

Where Is the Honey Bee Queen Flying? The Original Case of a Foraging Queen.

During a bee fauna survey in the countryside of northern Sardinia, a honey bee queen (Apis mellifera L.) was detected while foraging on a borage (Borago officinalis L.) flower in Uri, Province of Sassari, Italy, most likely during an orientation flight before mating. Morphological details, detectable from photos with the naked eye and stereomicroscopic observations, confirmed that the honey bee queen was sucking nectar from a flower. The enormous development of the abdomen, lack of pollen-collecting structures in the legs and other characteristics such as the typical distally bilobed shape of the mandibles, with long hairs on their outer surface, proved the structural differences between the queen specimen and the other castes of bees. The queen's proboscis, which is shorter compared to the workers, may have been counterbalanced by the shape and nectar production of the borage flower. This new observation proves that the queen can feed herself under natural conditions, likely to obtain the energy required for flying. Although we cannot exclude disturbing factors that could explain this foraging behaviour of a queen observed for the first time, this note opens a new scenario and discusses this new finding in the context of the available literature on the queen's behaviour and questions to be answered.

Twenty New Records of Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) for Sardinia (Italy).

In Sardinia, the second largest Mediterranean island, 316 species of bees are known. Here, for the first time, the following 20 taxa are reported: Colletes cunicularius (Linnaeus, 1761), and C. eous Morice, 1904 (Colletidae); Andrena humilis Imhoff, 1832, A. granulosa Pérez, 1902, A. cineraria (Linnaeus, 1758), A. pallitarsis Pérez, 1903, A. rugulosa Stöckhert, 1935, A. savignyi Spinola, 1838, and A. tenuistriata Pérez, 1895 (Andrenidae); Sphecodes reticulatus Thomson, 1870 (Halictidae); Lithurgus tibialis Morawitz, 1875, Chelostoma emarginatum (Nylander, 1856), Dioxys cinctus (Jurine, 1807), Coelioxys caudatus Spinola, 1838, C. obtusus Pérez, 1884, and Megachile ericetorum (Lepeletier, 1841) (Megachilidae); and Nomada melathoracica Imhoff, 1834, N. pulchra Arnold, 1888, Eucera proxima Morawitz, 1875 and Tetralonia malvae (Rossi, 1790) (Apidae). N. pulchra is reported for the first time in Italy.

Red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume as predictors of anastomotic dehiscence in colorectal surgery A pilot multicenter case-match study.

AIM: One of the most serious complications in modern colorectal surgery is the occurrence of an anastomotic dehiscence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of preoperative red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) as predictors of anastomotic dehiscence in elective surgery for colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with a clinically manifested anastomotic dehiscence after oncological colorectal surgery, and 42 controls matched for age, sex, pathological stage and tumor localization were enrolled. Correlations between the preoperative RDW and MPV values and anastomotic dehiscence were investigated. RESULTS: Both the median RDW value (14.4 % vs 13.1%; p=0.007) and the median MPV value (8.0 fL vs 7.5 fL; p=0.037) were significantly higher in patients with anastomotic dehiscence than in those without. In multiple regression analysis only the RDW remained significantly associated with anastomotic dehiscence. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative values of RDW may be useful in predicting anastomotic damage in elective oncological surgery. KEY WORDS: Anastomotic Dehiscence, MPV, RDW.

A rare variant of gallstone ileus: Bouveret's syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Bouveret's syndrome (gastric outlet obstruction due to impaction of a stone) is a rare variant of gallstone ileus. A recently observed case led us to review the literature, with the aim to discuss the recent advances in the management of this rare syndrome. DISCUSSION: A 69-year-old woman was admitted with symptoms of high intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a large gallstone impacted in the duodenum. One-stage surgery, consisting in enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy, and fistula repair, was carried out. Although several surgical and nonoperative procedures have been used, the optimal treatment of Bouveret's syndrome remains controversial. Surgery still maintains a prominent position, even though nonoperative procedures have an increasing role especially in high risk patients with important comorbidities. The decision should be taken on an individual basis, after evaluating patient's general condition and age, stone size, comorbidities influencing the operative risk, and expertise of surgical and endoscopic teams. One-stage surgery may offer definitive management in selected patients.