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Ants are an important part of biodiversity and are useful bioindicators. Our aim was to determine whether ant species richness and composition differ among large clear-cuts (ca. 3000 m2), small forest gaps (ca. 400 m2), and areas of mature forest. The research was conducted in a large plantation of Picea abiesin the Jizerske Mountains in the Czech Republic at an elevation of ca. 900 m a.s.l. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps in three areas, each of which had a large clear-cut, mature forest, and gaps; a randomized complete block design was used. Species richness and composition of ant assemblages differed significantly among plots in the three treatments. The results showed that ant abundance and diversity were similarly low in small gaps and in closed-canopy mature stands; in comparison, large clear-cuts supported significantly higher species richness, more complex species composition, and a higher abundance of ants. Six species were found in large clear-cuts, but only one and two species were collected in small gaps and mature forests, respectively. Our findings suggest that small-scale forest management is not suitable for maintaining ant diversity.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is one of the most important pests of deciduous trees in Europe, occurring in all environmental zones of Europe except the Alpine North and part of the Boreal zone. The gypsy moth fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga, originally from Asia, was imported from the USA and released in Bulgaria, in 1999–2000. Spread of E. maimaigain Central Europe was documented from 2011 to 2013, but this pathogen was only detected as far north as Slovakia. Collections of dead L. disparlarvae in 2019 (but not 2018), in areas of both sporadic and cyclic L. disparoutbreaks, resulted in the first detections of E. maimaigain the Czech Republic. Lymantria disparlarvae were exposed to soil from oak forests in 2014–2018, but only infection by the gypsy moth nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdNPV) and the microsporidium Vairimorpha(= Nosema) lymantriaewas detected. At most localities in the cyclic outbreak area, in 2017 the first defoliations of a new outbreak cycle occurred and the numbers of gypsy moth egg masses began to increase, so the calculated duration of approximately 13 years from outbreak to outbreak in the Czech Republic was verified.

AbstractAnts are an important part of biodiversity and are useful bioindicators. Our aim was to determine whether ant species richness and composition differ among large clear-cuts (ca. 3000 m2), small forest gaps (ca. 400 m2), and areas of mature forest. The research was conducted in a large plantation of Picea abiesin the Jizerske Mountains in the Czech Republic at an elevation of ca. 900 m a.s.l. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps in three areas, each of which had a large clear-cut, mature forest, and gaps; a randomized complete block design was used. Species richness and composition of ant assemblages differed significantly among plots in the three treatments. The results showed that ant abundance and diversity were similarly low in small gaps and in closed-canopy mature stands; in comparison, large clear-cuts supported significantly higher species richness, more complex species composition, and a higher abundance of ants. Six species were found in large clear-cuts, but only one and two species were collected in small gaps and mature forests, respectively. Our findings suggest that small-scale forest management is not suitable for maintaining ant diversity.

SummaryXya pfaendleriwas observed in the Czech Republic at one locality in 2013. The X. pfaendleripopulation in the Czech Republic must have established only recently (within the last two years) because the species was absent (except for one specimen detected in the 1960s) in the Czech Republic before 2011. The new population is located in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic at a latitude that is similar to that of X. pfaendlerilocalities in Slovakia. These populations represent the northeastern edge of the X. pfaendleridistributional range. The locality of the Czech population has a similar longitude as X. pfaendlerilocalities in Austria. The Czech locality is a flooded gravel pit. A related species, Xya variegata, has been recently recorded in several regions in the Czech Republic and is distributed further west and north than X. pfaendleri. The northernmost and very abundant population of X. variegatain the Czech Republic was probably established recently. As with other Orthoptera with substantial migratory capabilities, X. variegataand X. pfaendleriare currently spreading northward in the Czech Republic.

During a study of endophytic and saprotrophic fungi in the sapwood and phloem of broadleaf trees (Salix alba, Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis, Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula) fungi belonging to an anamorphic coelomycetous genus not attributable to a described taxon were detected and isolated in pure culture. The new genus, Liberomyces, with two species, L. saliciphilusand L. macrosporus, is described. Both species have subglobose conidiomata containing holoblastic sympodial conidiogenous cells. The conidiomata dehisce irregularly or by ostiole and secrete a slimy suspension of conidia. The conidia are hyaline, narrowly allantoid with a typically curved distal end. In L. macrosporussimultaneous production of synanamorph with thin filamentous conidia was observed occasionally. The genus has no known teleomorph. Related sequences in the public databases belong to endophytes of angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a position close to the Xylariales (Sordariomycetes), but family and order affiliation remained unclear.

Chemical properties (total and available P concentration; oxidizable C concentration; available K, Na, and Ca concentration; and pH) were quantified for 33 nests of the ant Myrmica ruginodis and in surrounding soil in young spruce forest stands. All properties, except total P, were significantly higher in the nests than in the surrounding soil. Total P was not higher in nests than in surrounding soil across all nests because nests had higher total P than surrounding soil if the soil contained low concentrations of total P but nests had lower total P than surrounding soil if the soil contained high concentrations of total P. The effect of nests on total P in the surrounding soil corresponded with effects of nests on oxidizable carbon (an indicator of organic matter) in the surrounding soil (concentrations of oxidizable carbon and total P were closely correlated). Available P concentrations were much higher in nests than in surrounding soil. Overall, the results indicated that two main processes explain the chemical changes of soil in the ant nests: (i) mixing due to excavation of deeper soil layers and (ii) deposition of excreta and food residues. The effect of soil mixing (whereby ants transport mineral soil from deeper layers to layers near the surface) is more pronounced in soils with high organic content near the surface because mixing increases the proportion of mineral soil in the nest while decreasing the proportion of organic matter and the concentration of total P.

The period between 2000 and 2002 repeated outbreaks of the web spinning sawfly Cephalcia lariciphila(Wachtl1898) around the village of Větrný Jeníkov, Czech Republic. The impact of defoliation, caused by C. lariciphilafeeding, on tree-ring formation of European larch (Larix deciduaMill.) was studied using dendrochronological methods. Heavy defoliation resulted in much less growth in the years of insect attack, the average incremental loss being 67% for the 2000–2002 period. Also, defoliation resulted in the formation of latewood with fewer cells and reduced cell-wall thickness.The period between 2000 and 2002 repeated outbreaks of the web spinning sawfly Cephalcia lariciphila(Wachtl1898) around the village of Větrný Jeníkov, Czech Republic. The impact of defoliation, caused by C. lariciphilafeeding, on tree-ring formation of European larch (Larix deciduaMill.) was studied using dendrochronological methods. Heavy defoliation resulted in much less growth in the years of insect attack, the average incremental loss being 67% for the 2000–2002 period. Also, defoliation resulted in the formation of latewood with fewer cells and reduced cell-wall thickness.

The seasonal flight activity of Platycerus caprea was studied at two sites in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts in 2002–2004 using bark beetle pheromone traps of Theysohn® type. Platycerus caprea occurred at altitudes of 400 m up to 1200 m a.s.l. Seasonal flight activity in both males and females started at the beginning of May and continued until mid-June. At lower altitudes (up to ca 900 m a.s.l.), adults flew in the first half of May, at altitudes about 1000 m a.s.l. in the second half of May and in the highest sites more than 1200 m a.s.l. in the first half of June.