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This study provides new insights into the oviposition strategy of Eriogaster catax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), an endangered species of moth found in semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes. Protected under various European directives and listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, E. catax inhabits warmer regions of the Western Palearctic. Despite noted geographic variations in its ecological preferences, few studies have statistically significant data on its ecology. Our six-year study, conducted within the largest known population of E. catax. in Romania, reveals critical data on its oviposition preferences, including the species’ tendency to utilize Prunus spinosa L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq. shrubs at an average height of 80.48 ± 34.3 cm, with most nests placed within the 41–80 cm range and containing an average of 186 ± 22 eggs. The study also addresses the species’ vulnerability to human activities such as bush trimming, agricultural burning, and uncontrolled grazing, particularly due to its low oviposition height. These findings underscore the negative impact of overgrazing and burning practices, particularly when conducted on a large scale, on the conservation of E. catax. The detailed ecological requirements identified in this study are essential for developing effective conservation strategies and habitat management practices. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of local community involvement and public education in raising awareness about biodiversity and the conservation of endangered species.

A variety of plant protection products and other agrochemicals are used in agro-ecosystems. Products approved for integrated pest management (IPM) or organic farming should have minimal negative side effects on beneficial insects. The Asian harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has become a widespread and important generalist predator of certain agricultural pests, mainly aphids, throughout Europe. We studied the effects of two agrochemicals, Boundary SW® (auxiliary plant protection product) and Prev B2® (foliar boron fertilizer), usually regarded as "environmentally friendly" and known to have insecticidal side effects against some fruit and vegetable pests (e.g., aphids, spider mites, weevils), on the last larval instar and adults of Harmonia axyridis. The conventional organophosphate insecticide Reldan 22® was used as a chemical standard for evaluating the lethal effect, because this product is usually effective against a broad spectrum of insects, and indeed was immediately lethal for both the adults and larvae of this species. However, whereas Prev B2® had no effect, adult ladybirds sprayed with Boundary SW® survived only for up to 25 h and also none of the larvae completed their development. Thus, although our experiments were not made under natural conditions, the use of Boundary SW® cannot be recommended for IPM and organic farming in terms of safeguarding insect predators such as Harmonia axyridis until further more detailed testing.

Taking the regular overwintering of spider species in land snail shells as a model, we studied environmental conditions affecting the choice of overwintering sites in three jumping spider species: Pellenes tripunctatus, Pellenes nigrociliatus, and Attulus penicillatus. The research was conducted at 11 steppe localities on calcareous bedrock with abundant empty shells (mainly Caucasotachea vindobonensis and Xerolenta obvia). We documented 889 shells and collected 186 of them, of which 113 were inhabited by 146 spider individuals (13 species). Our three focal species made up 81.5% of these. We found different environmental preferences between the sexes in P. tripunctatus and P. nigrociliatus. These females preferred shells with more vegetation nearby. In the case of P. tripunctatus, these were shells with a higher proportion of herbs, whereas P. nigrociliatus selected for a higher proportion of moss. In the immediate vicinity of the shells, environmental conditions did not differ significantly. We found insufficient A. penicillatus to determine any preferences. We also recorded six overwintering P. tripunctatus individuals in a single shell (in environmental conditions preferred by females), consisting of five females and one male, which indicated an unusual social behavior for these spider species.

Paracossulus thrips (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) is one of the locally distributed and endangered species. In Europe, it is also one of the few protected moth species, through Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Annex II of the Bern Convention. To date, little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Our study was conducted in Transylvania, Romania. Romania hosts some of the strongest populations of the species in the European region. As part of the study, we conducted field observations, vegetation analyses, and genetic analyses. In our paper, we show the habitat types where we encounter P. thrips in Transylvania and confirm Phlomis tuberosa as a host plant. Furthermore, a piece of important information for habitat conservation is given. In this paper, we present the eggs and larvae of P. thrips, the first DNA barcoding sequences, and four new populations of P. thrips in Romania. Our study provides baseline knowledge about the biology and ecology of P. thrips, which is important for conservation and establishing management measures.

This paper presents spider faunistics from abandoned coppice oak forest stands located along the South Moravia region. Spiders were collected from May to July 2012 by pitfall trapping at eight different localities. We collected 1945 adult spiders representing 20 families, 53 genera, and 90 species. More than one-third of all the species are known to be xerothermophilous with ecological restrictions to open and partly shaded habitats such as forest-steppe and sparse forests which belong to endangered habitats along central Europe. The most abundant species were Pardosa alacris, P. lugubris and Arctosa lutetiana from the family Lycosidae. In the surveyed area, 24 species were found listed in the Red List of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic (CR – 1 species, EN – 2 species, VU – 15 species, LC – 6 species). In general, we discovered a substantially diversified spider community with a large presence of rare and endangered species characteristic for open and xeric habitats.

Overwintering of spiders in empty snail shells is a little studied topic and in Slovakia similar research has not been carried out yet. Collecting shells was carried out in the eastern part of Slovakia, in winter at the turn of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. The study was conducted both at the steppe like and post-industrial habitats. A total of 1085 shells were collected with a spider occupation rate 10.69 %. All acquired 116 spiders were classified in ten families. The most abundant spider family was the Salticidae, with a dominant species Pellenes tripunctatus (Walckenaer, 1802). Significant records include Cheiracanthium montanum (L. Koch, 1877) which is considered as vulnerable and Sitticus penicillatus (Simon, 1875) with a lower risk thread according to Red List of Slovakian spiders.

This study is focused on distribution of the spider Brigittea civica (Lucas, 1850). It is probably a non‑native species in the Czech Republic, which occurs synanthropically in central European conditions. It is well adapted to coexistence with humans, and since there is no natural enemy, it may freely redistribute. The aim of this study was to supplement the knowledge of distribution of this species in South Moravia. The present occurrence data were recorded from a total of 92 towns and villages via observing typical cobwebs. In 86 cases, the incidence was observed, in only six cases, there was not found even a single cobweb of the spider. Based on our records, we can suggest that B. civica is much more common than was previously mapped and the presence of this species in the Czech Republic was underestimated.

Araneofauna of vineyards is relatively known in Central Europe but we have a lack of knowledge about araneofauna which occur directly on the vine plants. Our investigation was focused on spiders which live on vine plants, especially on the vine plants trunks. We investigated spiders in six vineyards in southern Moravia (Šatov, Mikulov, Popice, Morkůvky, Nosislav and Blučina). Vineyards were under different soil management, traps were placed on different parts of particular locality (terraced and plain) and all localities were under integrated pest management. We employed two types of cardboard traps for spider collecting during whole vegetation season. Altogether, we collected 21 spider species which belong to seven families. The most important species was Marpissa nivoyi (Lucas, 1836), which is mentioned in the Red List as vulnerable (VU) and Sibianor tantulus (Simon, 1868) which had unknown distribution in the Czech Republic. The other very interesting result is that the most common species is myrmecomorph Synageles venator (Lucas, 1836), which is scarcely recorded in such huge numbers as we documented in our study.

The Mediterranean skipper, Pyrgus malvoides (Elwes & Edwards, 1897), is newly recorded for the Czech Republic, some 400 km away from its nearest known population. The specimen was collected in June 1993 in Hejná, Bohemia and was discovered in the collection of Oldřich Jakeš during a revision of other Pyrgus species. The presence of this species elsewhere in the region could not be established and the best current explanation for this record is that it was an accidental introduction.

Air blown sands areas and its habitats are very rare in Europe as well as many spider species, which occure there. Research was focused on spiders of sandy grassland and its ecotones near the town of Hodonín. Three lines of pitfall traps were used (one in grassland and two in its ecotones). Research took place in growing seasons of the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Total number of collected adult spider specimens was 11743, they belong to 160 species and 21 families. It was found out, that 15 following species are included in the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic: Critically Endangered – Haplodrassus bohemicus Miller & Buchar, 1977, Sitticus zimmermanni (Simon, 1877), Titanoeca psammophila Wunderlich, 1993, Uloborus walckenaerius Latreille, 1806; Endangered – Euryopis laeta (Westring, 1861), Haplodrassus minor (O. P.-Cambridge, 1879), Micaria dives (Lucas, 1846); Vulnerable – Agroeca lusatica (L. Koch, 1875), Arctosa perita (Latreille, 1799), Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch, 1866), Myrmarachne formicaria (De Geer, 1778), Pellenes nigrociliatus (Simon, 1875), Scotina celans (Blackwall, 1841), Taranucnus setosus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1863), Titanoeca schineri L. Koch, 1872. Another 19 remarkable species were also found. The finding of one new species for the fauna of the Czech Republic [Sintula spiniger (Balogh, 1935)] and two new for the territory of Moravia [Mermessus trilobatus (Emerton, 1882) and Zelotes exiguus (Müller & Schenkel, 1895)] are the most important.

Records of spiders of the vineyard terraces from the vicinity of the villages Morkůvky and Mutěnice Jesličky (South Moravia, Czech Republic) are published in the presented work. Spiders were collected by pitfall traping during 30 April – 28 October 2011 and by day and night sweeping of herb vegetation in different dates of 2011. In total 2719 individuals were collected, and identified as 139 species of 23 families. Eighteen species listed in the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic were recorded. In vineyard terraces in the vicinity of Morkůvky, 12 threatened species (CR – 2 species, EN – 3 species, VU – 7 species) were found altogether. In the vineyard terraces at Mutěnice, we found 13 threatened spider species (CR – 2 species, EN – 6 species, VU – 5 species). The most significant findings are Alopecosa solitaria (Herman, 1879), Cheiracanthium pennyi O.P.-Cambridge, 1873; Dipoena coracina (C. L. Koch, 1837); Dysdera hungarica Kulczyński, 1897; Eresus kollari Rossi, 1846; Euryopis quinqueguttata Thorell, 1875; Sibianor tantulus (Simon, 1868) and Haplodrassus minor (O.P.-Cambridge, 1879). Besides of these threatened species, we discovered rich spectra of rare spiders related to the well preserved xeric grasslands. Our faunistic results indicate that artificial habitats, such as vineyard terraces, are important refuges for wide spectra of xerothermophilous spiders.

Spiders of Polanská niva National Nature Reserve were investigated during 2013. Several capture methods were used from March to September. Altogether, 85 species from 14 families were recorded. The most interesting species are Arctosa maculata (Hahn, 1822) and Micaria nivosa L. Koch, 1866 (both are vunerable according to the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic). The other remarkable species were: Kaestneria pullata (O. P.- Cambridge, 1863), Donacochara speciosa (Thorell, 1875), Hylyphantes graminilola (Sundevall, 1830), Singa nitidula C. L. Koch, 1844 and Trochosa spinipalpis F. O. P.- Cambridge. Evaluation of spider community shows, that 8.2 % spider species prefer naturally like habitats.

Faunistic data of rare and remarkable spider species found in vineyard terraces around Mikulov and Popice are presented. Vineyard terraces are artificial – man made – habitats that were established in the eighties of the 20th century with intention of growing grapevine. Spiders were collected by pitfall traping during 30 April – 28 October 2011 and by day and night sweeping of herb vegetation in different dates of 2011. Twenty two species listed in the Red List of threatened species in the Czech Republic were recorded. In vineyard terraces at the vicinity of Popice, 12 threatened species (CR – 2 species, EN – 3 species, VU – 7 species) were found altogether. In the vineyard terraces at Mikulov, we found 18 threatened spider species (CR – 3 species, EN – 7 species, VU – 8 species). Very rare and critically endangered Tibellus macellus Simon, 1875, Dysdera hungarica Kulczyński, 1897 and Cheiracanthium pennyi O. P.-Cambridge, 1873 belongs to the most significant findings. Besides of these threatened species, we discovered rich spectra of rare xerothermophilous spiders which created dominant and eudominant component of araneofauna – Alopecosa solitaria (Herman, 1879), Gnaphosa lucifuga (Walckenaer, 1802), Thanatus arenarius Thorell, 1872, and Ozyptila pullata (Thorell, 1875). We found that artificial habitats such as vineyard terraces are important as suitable habitats for a wide spectrum of xerothermophilous spiders of the Czech Republic.

Spiders of non-cave part of Zbrašovské aragonitové jeskyně National Nature Monument were investigated during the year 2011. Several capture methods were used from April to October. Altogether, 71 species from 20 families were recorded and 46 more species were allready found in previous studies. Until 2012, there are 89 species known from this NNM in total. Several remarkable species were found: Ceratinella major, Megalepthyphantes nebulosus, Porrhomma convexum. Most of spider species from the locality belong to climax (C) and semi-natural (SN) habitat species.

Results of faunistic-ecological research of Carabidae in selected sinkholes of the northern part of the protected landscape area of Moravian Karst are presented. The collection of ground beetles was conducted using pitfall traps in 2010 and 2011. A total of 88 species were caught in both years. In the studied area, there was registered incidence of five endangered species in accordance with Decree No. 395/1992 Coll. as amended: Brachinus crepitans, Brachinus explodens, Carabus ullrichii, Cicindela campestris, and Cylindera germanica. At the monitored sites, occurrence of two species (Carabus cancellatus and Cylindera germanica) included in the Red List of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic was registered. In one species (Cylindera germanica) the Decree 395/1992 Coll. and the Red List of Threatened Species in the Czech Republic meet. All studied sinkholes were dominated by eurytopic and adaptable species, only one relict species (Aptinus bombarda) was discovered.

Faunistic records of spiders (Araneae) in the Nature Monument Jesličky (South Moravia, Czech Republic) are presented. Spiders were collected by pitfall trapping in 2009 and by sweeping of the herb vegetation in 2011. During the both periods a total of 847 specimens were collected, from which 617 adult spiders were determined. We found 88 species belonging to 20 families. Seven species listed on the Red List of Invertebrates of the Czech Republic were recorded: Titanoeca schineri L. Koch, 1872, Scotina celans (Blackwall, 1841), Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch, 1866), Ozyptila pullata (Thorell, 1875), Ozyptila simplex (O.P-Cambridge, 1862) and Marpissa nivoyi (Lucas, 1846). To the most significant finding belongs a very rare and endangered (EN) Micaria guttulata (C. L. Koch, 1839). A significant and rich finding of bioindicators of the well preserved steppe habitats Atypus piceus (Sulzer, 1776), Eresus kollari Rossi, 1846 and Alopecosa sulzeri (Pavesi, 1873) are to be mentioned.

Two xerothermic localities in Moravský kras were investigated from March to November 2008. Altogether 183 species of beetles from 13 families (except Carabidae published separately) were collected in Macošská and Vilémovická stráň slopes using several collecting methods: pitfall traps, sweeping of vegetation and Möricke traps. Both slopes are located in the northern part of the Moravský kras and are influenced by pasture management. Altogether we found 21 species listed under Red list of threatened species in the Czech Republic, it is approximately 11.5% of all collected species. The most important species (two critically endangered – CR: Eumolpus asclepiadeus (Pallas, 1776), Sphaeroderma rubidium (Graëlls, 1853) and six endangered – EN) belong to family Chrysomelidae. Another endangered collected species belong to families Curculionidae and Staphylinidae.

In this study, we present faunistic data about spiders in selected sinkholes of northern part of Moravský kras Protected Landscape Area. Time of collection was established in the following terms: 24 March 2010 – 22 September 2010. We collected altogether 5742 adult specimens which were determined to 59 species of 14 families. We found two very rare spiders (critically endangered Porrhomma errans and endangered Walckenaeria monoceros) and several interesting, rarely collected bioindicator species (Alopecosa trabalis, Mecopisthes silus, Zelotes longipes). From the bioindicative evaluation point of view, 44% of found species belong to species with connection to natural habitats, 37% belong to species preferring semi-natural habitats, and 19% belong to species of disturbed habitats. From the relictness point of view, majority of species was of the expansive category (53%), 40% of class II relicts, and only 7% of class I relicts. Sink holes did not increase total biodiversity of agricultural land too much because of their relative small size.

In 2008 we found 21 species of grasshoppers and crickets on Macošská stráň slope and 18 species on Vilémovická stráň slope. Both slopes are located in the northern part of the Moravský kras Protected landscape area and have xerothermic character. Both slopes are influenced by pasture management. For the most comprehensive picture of Orthoptera we used a standard method (sweeping of vegetation) and nonstandard methods (pitfall traps and Möricke yellow cups). Termophilous species of Orthoptera on Macošská stráň (47%) were dominating. On Vilémovická stráň mezophilous species (46%) were dominating. The most common species were Stenobothrus lineatus (Panzer, 1796) on Macošská stráň slope and Chorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821), Stenobothrus lineatus, Chorthippus bigutulus (Linné, 1758) and Chorthippus dorsatus (Zetterstedt, 1821) on Vilémovická stráň slope. Rare species of this assemblage were Stenobothrus nigromaculatus (Herrich-Schaffer, 1840) which was on Macošská stráň slope only and Tetrix bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758) which has much bigger abundances also on Macošská stráň slope.

Collecting of Carabidae was conducted using pitfall traps at four sites. The first two sites (T1 + T2) were at the slope of Macošská stráň and the other two sites (T3 + T4) at the slope of Vilémovická stráň. The study was done in 2008 and 2009. At Macošská stráň in 2008, 21 species of Carabidae with the total number of 228 individuals were found and in 2009, 18 species of the total number of 116 specimens were collected. At Vilémovická stráň in 2008, 22 species of Carabidae with the total number of 1977 specimens were found and in 2009, 21 species of the total number of 623 specimens were caught. In terms of classification of relictness, Macošská stráň in 2008 was dominated by species of adaptable group A (60%), species of eurytop group (E) were represented by 35% and of relic group (R) by 5%. In 2009, the same representation of species of groups A and E (47%) were found and the species of group R were represented by 6%. Vilémovická stráň in 2008 was dominated by species of group A (52%), species of group E were represented by 43% and of group R by 5%. In 2009 also dominated species of group A (54%), species of group E were represented by 41% and of group R by 5%. In the studied area we reported four endangered species of Carabidae protected by Law (No. 395/1992 Coll.) as amended, these were Calosoma auropunctatum (critically endangered), Brachinus crepitans, Carabus ullrichii and Cicindela campestris (endangered) and two species listed under the Red List of Threatened Species of the Czech Republic (Veselý et al., 2005). One of the species is listed as vulnerable (Calosoma auropunctatum) and one as near endangered (Carabus cancellatus). Another significant species found on the monitored sites was Aptinus bombarda.

Carabid beetle samples were obtained from pitfall traps at an abandoned quarry of a limestone massif Hády near Brno. The samples were collected each month between April and September in years 2007–2008. A total of 61 species were registered and represented by 2619 individuals. Similarity of individual areas was evaluated by using the Cluster analysis – the most significant similarity was found in reclaimed sites (99.87%) and control sites (90.52%). The difference in similarity between two observed years came out distinctively (F = 2.906; P = 0.0010). Three species (Cylindera germanica, Licinus cassideus and Aptinus bombarda) from the Red List of Invertebrate Animals of the Czech Republic and one species (Cylindera germanica) affected by the Order 395/1992 Sb. as amended by Decree 175/2006 Sb. were detected among the observed species. The reclaimed land and surrounding field areas left to natural succession were dominated by species of open habitats.

Spiders were collected in a partially reclaimed limestone quarry in the stone massif Hády at Brno. Collections were performed utilizing pitfall traps in 8 areas (4 lines at quarry terraces, 2 lines in the reclaimed areas, and 2 lines in the immediate vicinity of the quarry) in 2008. In total 67 species were identified from the total number of 1357 specimens determined. In total 1010 specimens were young spiders. Of all the species three are among the vulnerable (Sitticus penicillatus, Dysdera ninnii, and Haplodrassus dalmatensis) and one species is endangered (Haplodrassus minor). The species belong to total number of 16 families. The largest proportion of species belongs to the species that dwelling in thermophyticum (43%) and mesophyticum (43%). From the relict perspective, a higher number of relic species of type 1 (RI – 24%) and relic species (R – 38%) occurred within the observed area. Majority of spiders belong to the species preferring natural habitats (50%) or seminatural habitats (34%).

This paper focuses on the type of cover and preserving agent influence on composition of entrapped fauna of Carabidae beetles. The research took place in the northern part of the protected landscape area of Žďárské vrchy, south from Kameničky municipality in rural district of Chrudim. Epigeic fauna was monitored one month from April 30th to June 5th 2008 – in the period of the highest activity of most Carabidae species. Traps were located in Latin square with five meter distance, using three preserving agents (formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, sodium chloride solution) and three types of covers above pitfall traps (acrylic glass cover, no cover, or wooden board put above the trap). Within the research 1123 Carabidae specimens belonging to 21 species were entrapped. The most numerous was Poecilus cupreus (915 specimens) in which also the strongest relationship to formaldehyde was detected. The redundancy analysis (RDA) from CANOCO package was used for statistical evaluation. With monitored variables, a significant influence (T = 0.137, F = 3.020, P = 0.0240) of formaldehyde on pre­sen­ce of some Carabidae species was confirmed (Poecilus cupreus, Amara lunicollis, Pterostichus diligens, and Bembidion guttula). Influence of the cover above the pitfall trap on species range in the trap was not confirmed (T = 0.062, F = 2.574, P = 0.0710).

Over the period of July to September 2005 effects of insecticide Integro with the effective substance methoxifenozide and biological preparation Trichoplus using parasitoid wasps Trichogramma evanescens and T. pintoi were evaluated in maize stands. These natural enemies of aphids were recorded in monitored fields (located in South Moravia, Czech Republic): parasitoids of genera Aphidius and Praon (Hymenopetra, Aphidiidae), predatory syrphid flies (Diptera, Syrphidae), ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), Orius bugs (Heteroptera, Anthocoridae), Green Lacewing – Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) and spiders (Araneida). No significant difference (T = 0.003; F = 4.894; P = 0.004) in popu­lations of aphids and their antagonists was found in the studied variants (Integro, Trichoplus). More remarkable differences were found only soon after spraying with Integro. Syrphid flies pupae decreased by 41% in the Integro variant, and by 13% in the Trichoplus variant. Ladybird larvae did not occur in the Integro variant after spraying, there where 0.12 ladybird larvae on plant in the Trichoplus variant. Number of ladybird adults increased from 0.01 to 0.53 individuals per plant in the Trichoplus variant, but from 0.03 to 0.1 individuals in the Integro variant. Number of ladybird pupae decreased from 0.32 to 0.02 pupae per plant in the Integro variant, but it has increased from 0.04 to 0.54 in the Trichoplus variant. Correlative relationship between ladybird adult growing coefficient and aphid populations in the Trichoplus variant was found.

Traditional woodland management created a mosaic of differently aged patches providing favorable conditions for a variety of arthropods. After abandonment of historical ownership patterns and traditional management and the deliberate transformation to high forest after World War II, large forest areas became darker and more homogeneous. This had significant negative consequences for biodiversity. An important question is whether even small-scale habitat structures maintained by different levels of canopy openness in abandoned coppiced forest may constitute conditions suitable for forest as well as open habitat specialists. We investigated the effect of canopy openness in former traditionally coppiced woodlands on the species richness, functional diversity, activity density, conservation value, and degree of rareness of epigeic spiders. In each of the eight studied locations, 60-m-long transect was established consisting of five pitfall traps placed at regular 15 m intervals along the gradient. Spiders were collected from May to July 2012. We recorded 90 spider species, including high proportions of xeric specialists (40%) and red-listed threatened species (26%). The peaks of conservation indicators, as well as spider community abundance, were shifted toward more open canopies. On the other hand, functional diversity peaked at more closed canopies followed by a rapid decrease with increasing canopy openness. Species richness was highest in the middle of the canopy openness gradient, suggesting an ecotone effect. Ordinations revealed that species of conservation concern tended to be associated with sparse and partly opened canopy. The results show that the various components of biodiversity peaked at different levels of canopy openness. Therefore, the restoration and suitable forest management of such conditions will retain important diversification of habitats in formerly coppiced oak forest stands. We indicate that permanent presence of small-scale improvements could be suitable conservation tools to prevent the general decline of woodland biodiversity in the intensified landscape of Central Europe.

The epigeic fauna in the sink holes was studied using formaldehyde ground traps at 14-day intervals from April to October in 2002 and 2003. A total of 5 transects of traps have been installed within 5 selected areas of the northern part of the Moravian Karst. Areas within the district of Vilémovice, Lažánky and Ostrov near Macocha villages have been studied in particular. Sink holes have been selected on the basis of how they are probably influenced by human activities (types such as regularly mown sink holes within a thoroughly exploited field – 1, sink holes partially or totally overgrown by shrubs – 3 and 2, sink holes with fully developed trees – 4, sink holes within an intensely exploited meadow – 5.It was the aim of this study to determine the species composition of individual areas, numbers of individual species, differences among areas characterised by synoecological characteristics such as the dominance, Shannon-Wieneręs index of species diversity, equitability, Jaccardęs index of similarity and to try to express the degree of anthropogenic influence. Similarity of individual areas has also been evaluated by means of the cluster analysis (on the basis of the Jaccardęs index).Eudominant species were Abax parallelepipedus, Anchomenus dorsalis, Carabus ullrichi, Microlestes maurus, Poecilus cupreus and Pterostichus melanarius. Species such as Aptinus bombarda, Licinus depressus, Molops elatus and Syntomus obscuroguttatus were the most important ones. The highest and lowest values of the index of species diversity were found in the area No. 4, and 1 and 2, respectively. Equitability was the highest and the lowest in the area No. 4 and 1, respectively. According to the Jaccardęs index, areas No. 2 and 3, and No. 1 and 4 were the most and least similar ones, respectively. A total of 53.3%, 45.6% and 1.1% of species could, be classified as belonging to the group E, A and R, respectively. The group E represents eurytopic species inhabiting a large variety of habitats, the group A contains species of more or less natural habitats while in the group R there are species with the most narrow ecological valence. The highest index of community was in the area No. 4, while the lowest in the area No. 1.The total results and the evaluation of characteristics such as dominance, index of diversity, equitability, ecological bond to the habitat expressed by species classification of A, E or R and the index the carabid beetle community proves the fact that areas No. 4 and 5 are under the least anthropogenic influence.

The invasion of the subtropical flesh-fly Liosarcophaga aegyptica (Salem, 1935) into South Moravia was observed during late summer 2003. This African insect was known to occur in the maritime habitats of the Black Sea and after World War II sporadically also in eastern Hungary, southern Slovakia and Lower Austria. Its population density increased in the Danube Basin and the first flies were also captured in South Moravia during late summer 2003. Elementary analyses revealed that this flesh-fly prefers habitats with high species diversity and important species similarity and that it might become sedentary in this territory. The flesh-fly Helicophagella verstraeteni (Lehrer, 1975) accompanying very dry and warm habitats of Romania, Hungary and France was discovered in a similar habitat of eastern Slovakia and is new to the fauna of Central Europe. Results of single linkage analyses in communities with Liosarcophaga aegyptica are presented together with the figures of the male genitalia of the two species of flesh-flies treated.