Confirmation de la présence d'Amara brunnea (Gyllenhal, 1810) en Suisse (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

One specimen of Amara brunnea was captured in Val Zeznina in the canton of Grisons in 2019. This new observation confirms the presence of this rare species in Switzerland. Résumé: Un spécimen d'Amara brunnea a été capturé en 2019 dans le Val Zeznina dans le canton des Grisons. Cette nouvelle observation permet d'attester enfin de manière certaine l'existence de cette espèce très rare en Suisse. Zusammenfassung: Bestätigung des Vorkommens von Amara brunnea Gyllenhal, 1810 in der Schweiz (Coleoptera, Carabidae). − Ein Exemplar von Amara brunnea konnte 2019 im Val Zeznina (GR) gefunden werden. Dieser Wiederfund bestätigt das Vorkommen dieser seltenen Art in der Schweiz

Millipedes step up: species extend their upper elevational limit in the Alps in response to climate warming

Climate warming is predicted to result in changes to phenology, behaviour and abundance as well as poleward shifts or upslope displacements of the distribution of species. However, climate-warming induced changes in distribution patterns have rarely been studied in ground-dwelling arthropods. We investigated changes in the upper elevational limit and relative abundance of 11 millipede species by repeating historical surveys from 1917 to 1919 in five valleys in the Swiss National Park (Eastern Alps) in 2018-2019. We found that the upper elevational limit for 10 out of 11 millipede species has risen, on average, by 161 m in 100 years, accompanying a 1.5 degrees C rise in mean annual temperature in the investigation area. The 10 millipede species differed in upslope expansion of their distribution with the shift ranging from 50 m to 363 m. The relative abundances of species (percentage of individuals sampled for each of the 11 millipede species) were very similar in 1917-1919 and 2018-2019. Only three species showed a change in frequency >6% over 100 years: two species had reduced abundances by 13.7% and 12.5% in the recent survey, while one species increased in abundance by 12.2%. We provide evidence showing that soil-dwelling millipede species with low dispersal ability have raised their upper distribution limit to higher elevation between the surveys done in 1917-1919 and 2018-2019. This upslope shift in distribution is most probably due to the significant increase in temperature recorded in the investigation area in past decades

Lamprochernes savignyi (Simon, 1881)(Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) recorded in Central Europe for the first time

The pseudoscorpion Lamprochernes savignyi (Simon, 1881) is reported in Central Europe for the first time. The new record from Switzerland is based on a single female specimen found in a compost heap in the Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Geneva. Until now, the species is distributed mainly in Africa, Americas, and Asia, less in Australia and Oceania, Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula. The new record fills in the gap in species distribution between Northern Europe and the Anatolian Peninsula. A description of the collected female is provided

A new green-coloured Lusitanipus Mauriès, 1978 from the Iberian Peninsula (Diplopoda: Callipodida: Dorypetalidae)

Recent samplings in cavities of the Iberian Peninsula led to the discovery of a new millipede species of the order Callipodida in one cave in the region of El Bierzo (Leon, Spain): Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. In additional samplings (near that cave), more specimens of this new species were discovered in surface habitats. The species has various distinctive characteristics, such as its green colour, but the morphology of the gonopod has several similarities with that of Lusitanipus alternans (Verhoeff, 1893), indicating a close relationship between them. The diagnosis of the genus Lusitanipus Mauries, 1978 has to be changed to accommodate the new species. The presence of crests in two different sizes is no longer a diagnostic character of the genus Lusitanipus, but of the species L. alternans. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. is the fourth species of the order Callipodida for the Iberian Peninsula, and the second species for the genus. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. seems to be an epigean but troglophile species

New cases of introducion of Stenochrus portoricensis (Arachnida: Schizomida) in Switzerland

A schizomid, Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922 (Hubardiidae) was collected in tropical greenhouses in Botanical Gardens in Geneva, Zurich, and the Papiliorama in Kerzers, Fribourg. The findings represent the first discovery of schizomids in Switzerland, Europe

A new green-coloured Lusitanipus Mauriès, 1978 from the Iberian Peninsula (Diplopoda: Callipodida: Dorypetalidae)

Recent samplings in cavities of the Iberian Peninsula led to the discovery of a new millipede species of the order Callipodida in one cave in the region of El Bierzo (Leon, Spain): Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. In additional samplings (near that cave), more specimens of this new species were discovered in surface habitats. The species has various distinctive characteristics, such as its green colour, but the morphology of the gonopod has several similarities with that of Lusitanipus alternans (Verhoeff, 1893), indicating a close relationship between them. The diagnosis of the genus Lusitanipus Mauries, 1978 has to be changed to accommodate the new species. The presence of crests in two different sizes is no longer a diagnostic character of the genus Lusitanipus, but of the species L. alternans. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. is the fourth species of the order Callipodida for the Iberian Peninsula, and the second species for the genus. Lusitanipus xanin sp. nov. seems to be an epigean but troglophile species

Spiders (Araneae) from Swiss hothouses, with records of four species new for Switzerland

Investigations of invertebrates in nine hothouses (tropical gardens) in Switzerland provided some spiders as by-catch. In total, we collected 136 spiders, of which 65 specimens represent 14 species from six families (the rest of the collection consisted of unidentifiable juveniles). Nine species are alien for Europe, one originates from the Mediterranean and four species are native to Central Europe. Four species represent first records for the Swiss fauna: Nesticidae: Nesticella mogera (Yaginuma, 1972), Oonopidae: Diblemma donisthorpei O. , Ischnothyreus peltifer (Simon, 1892) and Prida sechellensis (). These four species are discussed briefly and documented with photos

Exceptional invertebrate diversity in a scree slope in Eastern Spain

© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. In this study, the invertebrate fauna of a colluvial Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS) is Eastern Spain was characterized, and the importance of the MSS as refuge for endemic and rare species was assessed. Ten pitfall traps were buried up to 1 m deep inside multiperforated PVC tubes across a stone debris. Several environmental variables were measured in each sampling point. The completeness of the inventory was assessed, and different diversity patterns—variation in abundance, species richness and species composition—were analyzed. 4150 individuals and 164 species were captured, most of them arthropods. The number of individuals and species varied considerably among traps. Half of the species were represented by one or two individuals, and neither the species accumulation curves nor the curves for the non-parametric estimators showed any sign of stabilizing. Individuals of abundant species aggregated in one or a few traps. No consistent diversity patterns were found, except that distance among traps partially explained the similarity in species composition when considering only the most abundant species. This is a very rich but uneven assemblage that shows a high degree of species turnover between traps. One-sixth of the species can be classified as either troglobionts or troglophiles, but there is a significant presence of edaphic species. Obtaining complete fauna inventories in the MSS has proven to be a challenging task. The study of the MSS reveals important faunistic information, providing new taxa to science as well as interesting records of poorly known species.This research Project (CGL2010-19924) was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. A. J.-V. was supported by the CSIC JAE-Doc Program which is partially financed by the European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe