Snake predation on bats in Europe: new cases and a regional assessment

Among reptiles only snakes are known to frequently feed on bats and even inside this group chiropterophagy is rare, with most records being noted in the tropics. In the temperate region and especially in Europe, only a handful of cases have been described. Here, we report further cases of bat predation in underground habitats of Bulgaria, highlighting the importance of the Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) predation on bats in the Western Palearctic. Until now, 11 species of bats have been recorded as preys of snakes in Europe. Our observations are the first records of snake hunting on Mediterranean horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus euryale) and on greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis) in Europe, and only the third to fourth observation of underground predation. The observation in a short time of two incidences of hunting in a fairly small area, coupled with the regular presence of snakes in cave environments, may suggest a more common bat hunting habit for Aesculapian snakes. Bat predation of snakes in the Balkan region (or in the Mediterranean) certainly is more common than previously assumed. The number of records may increase substantially with targeted search during crepuscular and night hours in the entrance area of underground bat shelter

Collapse of the invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus, populations in four European countries

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Bats and ticks: host selection and seasonality of bat-specialist ticks in eastern Europe

Background: Parasites may actively seek for hosts and may use a number of adaptive strategies to promote their reproductive success and host colonization. These strategies will necessarily influence their host specificity and seasonality. Ticks are important ectoparasites of vertebrates, which (in addition to directly affecting their hosts) may transmit a number of pathogens. In Europe, three hard tick species (Ixodidae: Ixodes ariadnae, I. simplex and I. vespertilionis) and at least two soft tick species (Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and A. vespertilionis) are specialized for bats. Methods: Here we report data on the host range of these ticks and the seasonality of tick infestation on wild caught bats in south-east Europe. We collected 1803 ticks from 30 species of bats living in underground shelters (caves and mines) from Romania and Bulgaria. On the basis of tick–host associations, we tested several hypotheses on host–parasite evolutionary adaptations regulating host specificity, seasonality and sympatric speciation. Results: We observed significant differences in host specificity and seasonality of abundance between the morphologically different bat specialist ticks (I. simplex and I. vespertilionis) likely caused by their host choice and their respective host-seeking behavior. The two highly generalist, but morphologically similar tick species (I. ariadnae and I. vespertilionis) showed temporal differences in occurrence and activity, thus exploiting significantly different host communities while occurring in geographical sympatry. Conclusions: We conclude that bat-specialist ticks show a wide range of adaptations to their hosts, with differences in specificity, seasonality of occurrence, the prevalence and intensity of infestation and all these contribute to a successful division of temporal niches of ticks sharing morphologically similar hosts occurring in geographical sympatry

Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

The ant fauna of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean basin, has been significantly overlooked over the time. Drafting a reliable Sicilian ant checklist requires extensive field surveys, a careful review of the literature and of museum specimens, as well as the taxonomic investigation of some problematic issues. As a part of these ongoing efforts, we present our results on the presence or absence of 25 species. By analyzing specimens collected during the last 35 years across the island and reviewing old records in the light of present-day taxonomy, we provide evidence of the presence of 9 species (Camponotus ruber, Lasius myops, L. platythorax, Plagiolepis schmitzii, Ponera testacea, Solenopsis orbula, Temnothorax clypeatus, T. nylanderi, and T. ravouxi), while suggesting the absence of 19 others (Camponotus ligniperda, C. sicheli, C. spissinodis, Formica lugubris, Lasius alienus, L. flavus, L. niger, L. paralienus, Messor minor, M. wasmanni, Monomorium monomorium, Myrmica scabrinodis, M. spinosior, Nylanderia sp. 2 sensu Schifani & Alicata 2018, Solenopsis fugax, Temnothorax luteus, T. tuberum, Tetramorium caespitum, and T. indocile). Similar studies are necessary across Italy, as a significant portion of the existing ant records is outdated due to the evolved taxonomic framework

Demográfiai különbségek és eltérő élőhelyhasználat két együttesen előforduló Maculinea nausithous és Maculinea teleius populációban

A természetvédelmi szempontból kiemelt jelentőségű hangyaboglárka fajok közülkutatásunkban a vérfű (Maculinea teleius) és a sötétaljú hangyaboglárka (Maculinea nausithous) együttesen előforduló populációját vizsgáltuk három éven keresztül (2012–2014) egy fertő-hansági vérfüves kaszálóréten (Hidegség). A két faj nagyon hasonló ökológiai igényekkel rendelkezik, ám korábbi vizsgálatok eredményei szerint az élőhelyen belüli eloszlásuk eltérő. Feltételezésünk szerint ez annak lehet a következménye, hogy a hangyagazdáik spektruma eltér és az egyes hangyafajok különböző mikroklimatikus körülményeket kedvelnek. Elsődleges célkitűzésünk az volt, hogy megállapítsuk, hogy a két lepkefaj egyedeinek térbeli eloszlása összefügg-e potenciális hangyagazdáik eloszlásával. Továbbá összehasonlítottuk a két faj demográfiáját egy három éves jelölés-visszafogásos mintavétel alapján. A M. nausithous előfordulása és elsődleges hangyagazdájának (Myrmica rubra) gyakorisága között pozitív összefüggést találtunk. A M. teleius egyedszámára a potenciális hangyagazdák jelenléte csak nagy tápnövény denzitás mellett volt pozitív hatással. A M. teleius populáció mérete mindhárom évben kb. négyszerese volt a M. nausithous populációnak és mindkét populáció mérete jelentős fluktuációt mutatott az évek között

The genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Romania : distribution of species and key for their identification

Genus Myrmica is one of the largest ant genera in Romania with 18 species distributed across the entire country. In the frame of this study we present the distribution data of all Romanian Myrmica species: M. bergi, M. constricta, M. gallienii, M. hellenica, M. lobicornis, M. lonae, M. karavajevi, M. rubra, M. ruginodis, M. rugulosa, M. sabuleti, M. salina, M. scabrinodis, M. schencki, M. slovaca, M. specioides, M. sulcinodis and M. vandeli. Four species are reported for the first time in the Romanian fauna: M. bergi, M. constricta, M. gallienii and M. karavajevi, while the occurrence of several species is probable. These species are listed separately. In addition, a key to the worker caste of Myrmica (with the use of male characters for some species) is provided, including species with likely occurrence in Romania

The Myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: Survey of Ant Species with an Annotated Synonymic Inventory

Ants (Hymenoptera: Forimicidae) are exceedingly common in nature. They constitute a conspicuous part of the terrestrial animal biomass and are also considered common ecosystem engineers. Due to their key role in natural habitats, they are at the basis of any nature conservation policy. Thus, the first step in developing adequate conservation and management policies is to build a precise faunistic inventory. More than 16,000 valid ant species are registered worldwide, of which 126 are known to occur in Hungary. Thanks to the last decade’s efforts in the Hungarian myrmecological research, and because of the constantly changing taxonomy of several problematic ant genera, a new checklist of the Hungarian ants is presented here. The state of the Hungarian myrmecofauna is also discussed in the context of other European countries’ ant fauna. Six species (Formica lemani, Lasius nitidigaster, Tetramorium immigrans, T. staerckei, T. indocile and Temnothorax turcicus) have been reported for the first time in the Hungarian literature, nine taxon names were changed after systematic replacements, nomenclatorial act, or as a result of splitting formerly considered continuous populations into more taxa. Two species formerly believed to occur in Hungary are now excluded from the updated list. All names are nomenclaturally assessed, and complete synonymies applied in the Hungarian literature for a certain taxon are provided. Wherever it is not self-evident, comments are added, especially to explain replacements of taxon names. Finally, we present a brief descriptive comparison of the Hungarian myrmecofauna with the ant fauna of the surrounding countries. The current dataset is a result of ongoing work on inventorying the Hungarian ant fauna, therefore it is expected to change over time and will be updated once the ongoing taxonomic projects are completed