First Results on Heteroptera (Hemiptera) of Dry Grassland in Malpaga-Basella Nature Reserve (Italy)
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I would add a minima some basic statistics showing if differences between the stations? Some more information on the sampling protocole : any timing in collecting to ensure a homogeneity of sampling? No collector effect?
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review.
The survey was qualitative, as in the Nature reserve we cannot massively collect insects, so, we think, a statistic analysis is not appropriate.
Regarding the sampling protocole, we surveyed “on herbaceous and shrubby essences” (added in the text). Collector effect was minimal as sampling was carried out by one of the authors.
Reviewer 2 Report
[without brackets]
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review.
We accepted all your revisions except for Beosus quadripunctatus (Müller 1778), as his is not O.M. Müller, but another author with the same surname (Cat.Pal.).
Reviewer 3 Report
General comments to the MS
In the “Materials and Methods” section following data should be provided:
1. What paper (monograph, catalogue, or other publication) was a basis for species names provided in the MS;
2. What paper was a basis for chorological analysis of species which results are given in Figure 9;
In the “Results and Discussion” section:
1. All Latin names of species in Table 1 should be verified and unified. The author’s name should be given in full, and the need to provide them in brackets should be verified (according to the Catalogue of the Palaearctic Heteroptera).
3. Corizus hyoscyami should be transferred from Coreidae to Rhopalidae
4. Two species (Polymerus cognatus, Coranus griseus) should be added to the list of species found in Station 1;
5. Corizus hyoscyami should be added to the list of species found in Station 3.
All other corrections and suggestions were put directly into the text.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review.
References were added in the material and methods section.
Latin names were verified, unified, authors name given in full and checked according to the Catalogue of the Palaearctic Heteroptera.
Corizus hyoscyami is transferred from Coreidae to Rhopalidae.
The species cited in point 4 and 5 were added at the mentioned stations.
Accepted all the correction in the text.
Reviewer 4 Report
In general a nice paper however few things needs to be improved:
1- Ideally every time you mention a plant for the first time in the text, please include the family, it makes more easy to the reader follow the paper.
2- In the materials and methods it must be specified who you follow on systematics and how the species were identified (for replicability). i.e. by specialist, following a series of papers, etc.
3- There is no justification to use Lygaeidae sensu lato - currently it is most than accepted the spreading on different families, especially some very representative like Geocoridae which are predators, Rhyparchromidae, etc. This may change considerably the precentages you show and discuss and also as I mention before, some of these families have substancially different feeding habits. In the same line, it is good to mention somewhere that you have Asopines, which are also predators.
4- Lastly, you make a nice job on the last graphic however using the term cosmopolitan might be not very clear. A species can be cosmopolitan but can be originated in your area. So probably check for introduced species rather than cosmopolitan and that might help a lot in the conclusions and work understanding.
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review.
1-Family name of plants were added.
2-In “Material and methods” we add informations on classification.
3-Families added in table 1
4- The chorological distribution of Fig. 9 is according to the online edition of the Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region.
