Volumen 71 (2022): Heft 3 (November 2022)

Twenty-three sites within the Slavíč river basin (Silesia, Czech Republic) were surveyed to obtain up-to-date information on water beetles in the area. In total, 46 species comprising eight families were recorded. Significant findings included Ochthebius melanescens Dalla Torre, 1877, Hydrocyphon deflexicollis (Müller, 1821) (both endangered), Hydraena morio Kiesenwetter, 1849, Eubria palustris (Germar, 1818) (both vulnerable), Hydraena minutissima Stephens, 1829 (near threatened) and Elodes pseudominutus Klausnitzer, 1971 (data deficient). The Slavíč water beetle assemblage consisted mainly of typical rheophilic species, many characteristic for cold, mountainous waters, the most common beetles recorded being representatives of the families Elmidae and Hydraenidae. The species spectrum was significantly enriched by species found in non-riverine habitats along the Slavíč River floodplain (e.g. springs, wetlands and ponds), with representatives of the families Dytiscidae, Haliplidae and Hydrophilidae dominating.

Biting midges (Phlebotominae) are medically important vectors of human and veterinary disease-causing agents. This study presents the results of the field research of arthropods of A. van Harten in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the period of approximately 2005 – 2007 at a high number of localities (15 are mentioned here, with 9 species collected incl. five confirmed; 4 spp. are new for the fauna of the UAE: Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi (Scopoli, 1786), Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) baghdadis (Adler & Theodor, 1929), S. (Sergentomyia) schwetzi Adler, Theodor & Parrot, 1929, S. (Grassomyia) squamipleuris Newstead, 1912).

The author states the occurrence of harvest mouse (Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771)) and hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) in the East Slovakia based on summer nests from field margins, hedgerows, and woodland edges. A total of 791 (551 M. minutus and 240 M. avellanarius) nests from 71 localities were observed over the years 2013–2021. The total elevation range of these sites was between 110 – 560 m a.s.l., with different ratio recorded for both species. For M. minutus 15 plant species and for M. avellanarius 16 plant species were confirmed, with different dominance of their use. A statistically significant difference was confirmed by Mann-Whitney U test comparing both species for two common plants i.e., Prunus spinosa L. (U = 866.0, p = 0.012) and Rubus plicatus Weihe & Nees (U = 1103.0, p ˂ 0.0001). Moreover, Spearman’s correlations confirmed significant relationships between the positions of nests and plant height. At the same time, 12 individuals of M. minutus and 8 individuals of M. avellanarius were confirmed dead or escaping directly from their nests. Analysis of the composition of the leaves in the M. avellanarius nests showed the following proportions. Leaves of the three species R. plicatus (66.2%), Carpinus betulus L. (14.5%), and P. spinosa (8.3%) were most common in mixed nests. For foliar nests, a ratio of two dominant species, R. plicatus (50.0%) and C. betulus (41.6%), was recorded. Finally, for the layered nests, a ratio of two dominant species, R. plicatus (50.0%) and C. betulus (33.3%) was recorded. The obtained data help spreading knowledge of both species in the territory of Slovakia.

A total of 50 breeding bird species were recorded in 2017 in an urban environment (589 ha) in the city of Wrocław, SW Poland. This environment was dominated by green habitats, such as allotment gardens (41.2%), parklnds (13.4%) and forests (2.7%). For 41 species, population densities were estimated. A high population densities were recorded for Phoenicurus phoenicurus (9.2 pairs / 100 ha), Sylvia atricapilla (7.3), Turdus merula (6.6), Phoenicurus ochruros (6.3), Luscinia megarhynchis (5.3.), Sylvia curruca (4.1) and Serinus serinus (3.7). In the alltment gardens, much higher population density of Pica pica (14.5) than Corvus cornix (6.5); and higher population density of Columba palumbus (2.8) than Streptopelia decaocto (1.2) were recorded.

In study are presented data of the insectivores (Eulipotyphla from three families, i.e., Erinaceidae, Soricidae and Talpidae) specimens deposited in the collection of the Šariš Museum in Bardejov (SMB), Slovakia. In total, data of 469 individuals from twenty-eight sites of eastern Slovakia were evaluated. This collection includes individuals collected in various places and times mainly from northeastern Slovakia. Individuals were acquired in 1956–1982, but mainly in 1956 (n = 150, 31.9%) and 1979 (n = 107, 22.8%). Moreover, one specimen of the Miller’s water shrew (Neomys anomalus) had signs of „melanism“, i.e., the dorsal side (back) was velvety black and a ventral (abdominal) side was the gray-black with a touch of silver.

Phytomyza orobanchia Kaltenbach, 1964, a leaf miner fly of Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel, is reported as a species new to Slovakia based upon dates from 50 localities from lowlands after as much as alpine location.

Associations of insects that live in nests and burrows of small mammals are relatively poorly explored. This work therefore tries to expand the knowledge about Diptera communities (Psychodidae and Sphaeroceridae) of two small mammals, namely Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771) and Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758). In nests of Eurasian harvest mouse two psychodid species and one sphaerocerid species, while in hazel dormouse nest one psychodid species and three sphaerocerid species have been found, all representing new nest records.