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Understanding of habitat favourability has wide relevance to the invasion biology of alien species. We studied the seasonal dynamics of the alien ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in monoculture Scots pine forest stands in south-west Slovakia, Central Europe, from April 2013 to March 2015. Adult H. axyridis were collected monthly across seven randomly selected pine stands of different ages and canopy closure, from the lower branches of pine trees, and larvae were recorded qualitatively. Adults were recorded all year round, most abundantly in November and least abundantly in February. The relationship between the abundance of H. axyridis and selected forest stand characteristics was modelled using the negative binomial Generalized Additive Model with penalized spline component in month (seasonality) effect, year, canopy closure and age effects and the random effect of forest stand (sample area effect). The abundance of H. axyridis was significantly influenced by the age of stand and seasonality (with month granularity) for both closed and open canopy stands, whereas the effects of canopy closure and sample area were not significant. The bimodal pattern of seasonal dynamics of H. axyridis on Scots pine was common for closed and open canopy stands, with two peaks reflecting the cyclic movement of the species from and to overwintering sites. Harmonia axyridis utilized certain pine stands preferably for foraging during the growing season and certain stands for refuge during winter. The ladybirds were found in highest numbers in the 15 year old closed canopy stand (overwintering site). The occurrence of both adults and larvae in most stands indicated a suitability of Scots pine forest for ladybird breeding. The model of year-round dynamics of H. axyridis has been presented for the first time within the invaded range of the ladybird in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We surveyed ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in 10 stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), all monoculture stands 5-100 years old, in western Slovakia, Central Europe, over two successive periods, October 2013 - March 2014 and October 2014 - March 2015. The winter in each period was exceptionally mild. Ladybirds were collected from the lower branches of pine trees using beating trays and were present in 61% of the 1040 samples (one sample containing ladybirds from 20 branches, 1 m long each). In total 3965 individuals of 20 species were recorded. Non-conifer dwelling species associated with broadleaved trees or herbaceous plants prevailed (45% of species), followed by conifer specialists (40%) and generalists (15%). Although 13 species were found at least in one winter month, December, January or February, only four of them, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis and Hippodamia variegata, were recorded continually during both winters. The number of species, the abundance of all ladybirds and the abundance of dominant species (E. quadripustulatus, C. septempunctata and H. axyridis) decreased from late autumn towards winter and remained lowest during this most adverse time of the year for ladybirds. Overwintering species assemblages of ladybirds changed over time and varied with age of pine stand. Our results suggest that Scots pine in Central Europe supports species rich assemblages of ladybirds from late autumn to early spring and, being widely distributed, it could be suited to winter surveying of ladybirds at large spatial scales to reveal behavioural and ecological responses of species to changing weather or different climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Records of the rarely collected species Ixapion variegatum (Wencker, 1864) from its known localities in the territory of the Borská nížina Lowland (SW Slovakia) and the adjacent part of the Little Carpathians Mts are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During two winter seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015), we collected insects from branches of Scotch pine trees in the Borská nížina lowland (western Slovakia) using beating method. Four hymenopteran species in the larval stage were recorded in December 2013: Diprion similis (Hartig, 1834), Gilpinia frutetorum (Fabricius, 1793), Gilpinia pallida (Klug, 1812) and Gilpinia variegata (Hartig, 1834). The occurrence of diprionid larvae in the non-growing season has not been so far reported from Central Europe and may be a result of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first record of the oleander aphid (Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841; Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Slovakia, and also one of the most northern record of this natural pest on the invasive common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca Linnaeus.; Apocynaceae) in Central Europe. Modern social media crowdsourcing has achieved comprehensive distribution data in the horticultural community, and a total of 35 new distribution sites were discovered in 28 Slovak settlements, one new site in Austria, and one in the Czech Republic. It was further established that the oleander aphid could survive in anthropogenic refuges during the winter months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilpinia socia (Klug, 1812) was recorded in the territory of Slovakia for the first time. Larvae were found in a forest of the Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) in the Záhorie Protected Landscape Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenolepis nitens is the only known species of the genus Prenolepis (Mayr, 1861) found in Europe. The southern part of Slovakia represents the northern border of the occurrence of this Mediterranean species. In addition to natural habitats, the European false honey ant can be also found in the anthropogenically influenced urban habitats. We recorded it at 13 sites in Bratislava during a 4-year study of the ant assemblages in the urban greenery. Our contribution extends the current knowledge about the occurrence and activity of this unusual ant in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue spruce (Picea pungens) has been planted in urban greenery as an ornamental tree in central Europe for more than 150 years. We investigated whether this nonnative spruce is a convenient habitat for ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). In 2021 and 2022, adults and larvae were sampled in four towns in Slovakia at monthly intervals throughout the growing season, from April to October. We recorded adults of 27 species and larvae of 11 ladybird species. Conifer specialist ladybird species predominated both in adult and larval communities (adults – 9 species, 85.2% of all individuals; larvae – 7 species, 92.1% of all individuals). Exochomus quadripustulatus and Aphidecta obliterata were the most common in adult (31.8% and 33.5% of all individuals, respectively) and larval (57.5% and 25.1% of all individuals, respectively) communities. The most abundant generalist species was nonnative invasive Harmonia axyridis (adults – 5.6%, larvae – 6.8% of all individuals). Adults and larvae of ladybirds were more abundant on solitary trees than on trees growing in groups. Our results confirmed that blue spruce hosts rich ladybird communities and provides them shelter and food resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using seventeen-year records of daily light trap catches of predatory Neuroptera (Chrysopidae, 13 species) and Coleoptera (Coccinellidae, 10 species), and of phytophagous Lepidoptera (Noctuidae, 79 species) we tested a hypothesis predicting that the range of annual fluctuations of catch size is greater in aphidophages, whose diet occurs irregularly and locally, than in phytophages, whose diet is available regularly and abundantly. The ranges of fluctuations of annual catches measured as the coefficient of variance (standard deviation expressed as a percentage of the average) of detrended annual catches were significantly greater in Chrysopidae (84 ± 7.1%) and Coccinellidae (121 ± 14.0%) than in Noctuidae (66 ± 2.6%). The difference between aphidophages and phytophages remained when we tested differences between the former and the samples of Noctuidae consisting only of those species whose characteristics (abundance, length and timing of flight period, number of generations per season, overwintering stage) were the same as in aphidophages. Similarly, no differences were found between sets of Noctuidae species that have characteristics (abundance, voltinism, period of flight activity) similar to aphidophages and sets of Noctuidae species that have contrary characteristics. Flight abilities of aphidophages are smaller than those of Noctuidae. As a result of this difference a light trap collects populations of aphidophages from a smaller area than populations of Noctuidae. Thus the extent of fluctuations of catch size of aphidophagous and phytophagous species is influenced both by annual differences in food availability and by differences in size of the area from which the individuals assembling to the light source are recruited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide services that are critical to food production, and they fulfill an ecological role as a food source for predators. The richness, abundance, and distribution of ladybirds, however, are compromised by many anthropogenic threats. Meanwhile, a lack of knowledge of the conservation status of most species and the factors driving their population dynamics hinders the development and implementation of conservation strategies for ladybirds. We conducted a review of the literature on the ecology, diversity, and conservation of ladybirds to identify their key ecological threats. Ladybird populations are most affected by climate factors, landscape composition, and biological invasions. We suggest mitigating actions for ladybird conservation and recovery. Short‐term actions include citizen science programs and education, protective measures for habitat recovery and threatened species, prevention of the introduction of non‐native species, and the maintenance and restoration of natural areas and landscape heterogeneity. Mid‐term actions involve the analysis of data from monitoring programs and insect collections to disentangle the effect of different threats to ladybird populations, understand habitat use by taxa on which there is limited knowledge, and quantify temporal trends of abundance, diversity, and biomass along a management‐intensity gradient. Long‐term actions include the development of a worldwide monitoring program based on standardized sampling to fill data gaps, increase explanatory power, streamline analyses, and facilitate global collaborations. Article impact statement: In light of major ecological threats, mitigating actions at different timescales are crucial for ladybird conservation and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cytogenetic study of bisexual species belonging to the genera Cirrorhynchus, Dodecastichus and Otiorhynchus is presented in order to confirm their taxonomic position. The karyotype characterization was accomplished by an analysis of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes after differential staining, namely by C-banding, silver impregnation, DAPI and CMA3. A review of the cytogenetic data for the tribe Otiorhynchini contributed to knowledge of chromosomal evolution in this group. An investigation of five of the species studied showed some similarities such as a sex chromosome system of "parachute type" (Xyp), the presence of 10 autosomal bivalents (2n = 22) and heterochromatin localized around centromeres. These observations are similar to those already described for Otiorhynchini species, and confirm the karyological conservatism of this weevil group. In contrast, another species Cirrorhynchus kelecsenyi has an additional four autosomal bivalents (n♂ = 14 + Xyp, 2n = 30), which differs considerably from the chromosomal homogeneity of the other genera. Karyotypic evolution in this species was achieved most probably by increasing the number of chromosomes by centric fissions, resulting in variation in the number of acrocentric chromosomes. DAPI-positive and CMA3-negative reactions of heterochromatic DNA in all the species studied suggest that it has an AT-rich composition. Impregnating chromosomes with silver nitrate reveals NORs on one pair of autosomes, and probably argentophilic material in the interspace between the X and y sex chromosomes. The karyological findings support the taxonomical revision of Otiorhynchini based on morphological characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering the world of social parasitic ants is difficult due to their rarity and local distribution. Moreover, the more advanced the stage of parasitism, the rarer the species. Anergates atratulus (Schenck, 1852) is an extreme workerless parasite that lives with host species of the genus Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 and is locally distributed throughout large parts of the ranges of its hosts. In this study, two queenless colony fragments of A. atratulus and two of the degenerate slave-raiderStrongylognathus testaceus (Schenck, 1852) were collected in the field and kept in a laboratory. The host species, Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758) and T. staerckei (Kratochvíl, 1944), were identified in an integrative fashion combining worker morphometrics with COI gene identification and revealed T. staerckei as a new host species of A. atratulus. Novel sexual and host-parasitic behaviour was observed: Gynes of A. atratulus successfully obtained from breeding in laboratory nests exhibit female-female competition behaviour for males. Ten incorporation attempts to queenless mixed colony fragments of T. caespitum and S. testaceus were conducted. The workers of T. caespitum and S. testaceus killed all gynes of A. atratulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subfamily Cryptinae Kirby, 1837 is considered the largest group in the Ichneumonidae with more than 400 described genera including around 4500 species. The subfamily has a worldwide distribution and its members play a key role in the biological control as parasitoids of many important pests. The study provides a new and updated overview of the Slovakian ichneumonid fauna after 28 years. So far over 750 species of Ichneumonidae have been reported from Slovakia, including around 150 species in the subfamily Cryptinae. Our study presents a complete checklist of Cryptinae and adds 32 species to the Slovakian fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerothermic species are rare and threatened in central and eastern Europe. In light of the continuing loss of steppe-like habitats due to anthropogenic fragmentation and degradation, the evaluation of genetic variation in populations inhabiting them is of immediate importance if appropriate conservation measures are to be undertaken. Here we report on the genetic diversity of the rare leaf beetle Crioceris quatuordecimpunctata, whose populations in central and eastern Europe inhabit highly geographically isolated areas. All of the studied populations (in Poland, Ukraine, and Slovakia) were differentiated at the mitochondrial marker COI. However, with respect to the nuclear marker ITS1, Polish populations were monomorphic, but distinct from all other populations. The distinctiveness of the studied populations was confirmed by Wolbachia screening, which showed that all populations carried different strains (one or two), which were probably transferred independently from other insects. On the other hand, no diversity was found in any marker within particular populations, which could be caused (at least for mt DNA) by a Wolbachia selective sweep. Crioceris quatuordecimpunctata probably consists of isolated populations, which went through narrow bottlenecks leading to a drastic reduction in their genetic diversity. As these populations are reciprocally monophyletic for mt DNA haplotypes and show a significant divergence of allele frequencies at nuclear loci, they could be classified as evolutionarily significant units ( ESUs). In addition, DNA barcodes were used to identify Asparagus officinalis as the host plant for members of all studied populations. These data should be valuable in efforts to conserve populations of C. quatuordecimpunctata (e.g., for guiding reintroductions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]