Archiv der Entomologica Austriaca

This study investigated the weather conditions that have to be fulfilled to ensure reliable observations of butterflies in alpine habitats. In the study area in the Zillertaler Alpen (Austria) 90 % of butterflies were observed above a temperature of 15.5 °C and at more than 31 klx illuminance, but below 62 % relative humidity and less than 4 m/s wind velocity. During the study period between mid of July to beginning of August 2007, 90 % of the butterfly observations were counted between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Sward islet is a term that has been used to describe a patch of longer vegetation in a pasture produced by a reduction in cattle grazing around their dung. They are known to affect the abundance and distribution of grassland arthropods. Hemiptera, like other groups, are found in higher densities within islets than the surrounding sward. Does this modify the community composition or is there just a density effect? Evidence from a paired (islets, non-islets) study at an Irish cattle-grazed site, would suggest that although a change in the density of species explains much of the patterns observed, some species respond to islets in different ways. Grassland Auchenorrhyncha were dominated by two genera, Javesella (mostly J. obscurella and to a lesser extent J. pellucida) and Macrosteles (mostly M. viridigriseus with some M. laevis and M. sexnotatus). The nymphs and to a lesser extent the adults, showed contrasting distribution patterns in relation to islets. Javesella were more common in the islets, whereas Macrosteles showed little difference between the two sub-habitats. Possible reasons for the difference in sub-habitat choice between these two Auchenorrhyncha taxa are discussed.

In the years 2014 and 2015 an inventory of the wild bee fauna was conducted at selected road verges and a few other localities in Ritzing, Austria. The aim of this study was to examine these road verges regarding their suitability for wild bees and to elaborate recommendations for their maintenance in accordance with bee conservation. Nine sample plots on the sides of various roads were surveyed, each five times between Mai 2014 and April 2015. Overall, 136 bee species (including the honey bee) were recorded directly on the road verges, and 153 species were found within the municipal boundaries of Ritzing. 22 of the 136 bee species have been identified as species of conservation concern: Hylaeus incongruus, Andrena dorsalis, Andrena lagopus, Andrena marginata, Andrena nasuta, Andrena oralis, Andrena saxonica, Andrena suerinensis, Panurginus labiatus, Halictus seladonius, Lasioglossum bluethgeni, Lasioglossum clypeare, Lasioglossum discum, Lasioglossum euboeense, Sphecodes pseudofasciatus, Systropha curvicornis, Chelostoma ventrale, Chelostoma styriacum, Lithurgus chrysurus, Megachile apicalis, Biastes brevicornis, and Ceratina nigrolabiata. This list contains species with a restricted southern or southeastern distribution in Austria, and consequently the federal state of Burgenland has a considerable responsibility for their protection. In some instances action has to be taken for a change in maintenance practices of the road verges to sustainably protect the wild bees. These are discussed in the report and management proposals are given.

In this paper, records of the family Tipulidae from Austria are published. The specimens were collected from the second author in the period 1991–2013 as by-products of his study about the aquatic insect fauna of Austria. The 432 identified specimens belong to 79 species. Three species, Dolichopeza (Oropeza) modesta Savchenko, 1980, Tipula (Pterelachisus) apicispina Alexander, 1934 and Tipula (Tipula) italica errans Theowald, 1984, have been recorded for Austria the first time. The previously unsure considered occurrence of Tipula (Pterelachisus) subglacialis Mannheims & Theowald, 1959 is now confirmed by a recent record. Additional 21 species have been recorded in provinces, in which they have been unknown according to Vogtenhuber (2011). All identified species are listed with locality information. For the new records from Austria and the provinces as well as for the special records additional details are presented in relation to the faunistic importance.

Ribautodelphax imitans (Ribaut, 1953) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is a rare planthopper throughout its recorded range, and in the UK where it is a orded conservation priority status. Following the discovery of this species on a site in Cambridgeshire, UK in 2010 a study was designed to understand the population status of R. imitans and its place in the Auchenorrhyncha community structure. The species was found not to be rare within the community – in fact it was one of the most abundant delphacids on the site. However, the community was dominated by Javesella pellucida (Fabricius, 1794). Although the reason for the general rarity of R. imitans on a national scale is still unclear, evidence from the community structure suggests that strong interspecies interactions between other species that it is phenologically synchronous with may be a factor.

Bumblebees are valuable pollinators and, like honeybees, contribute to crop production worldwide. During pollination, they come into contact with pesticides, which affect their vitality and behaviour. Moreover, the applications of pesticide mixtures in agriculture increase exposure risks to many animals, including insects. In this study, Bombus terrestris workers were fed with imidacloprid, cypermethrin and dimethoate, either as single compounds or as mixtures. Each pesticide was tested at the LD50 values found in the literature and in near concentrations to these, as well as at 1/10 of the experimentally evaluated LD50, including one to four replicates per pesticide or pesticide combination. The effect on worker mortality was documented after 24h and 48h, respectively. For these experiments, individuals from different colonies with nearly the same weights were used as subjects and were marked to trace their origin. The statistical strength of the results were verified by applying Mann-Whitney-U tests. A dramatically higher mortality rate was observed in the LD50 experiments that included combinations of the three pesticides, even at the minimal dosage of 1/10 of the full LD50 value. This study also alludes to the inherent difficulties of measuring LD50 values. LD50 values found in the present experiments were much higher than those reported in the literature. The results obtained support the hypothesis that pesticide combinations are responsible for higher mortality rates supposedly through synergistic effects.

Anton Handlirsch (1865–1935), born and deceased in Vienna, Austria, is said to be the founder of palaeoentomology. This dictum is due to his monumental opus magnum on “the fossil insects and the phylogeny of the extant forms” published in 1906–1908, which he updated by a large summarising review published in two parts (1937, 1939) after his death. A. Handlirsch was filled with enthusiasm for insects already in his childhood, and although he studied pharmaceutics, he devoted his life entirely to entomology. He entered the Museum of Natural History in Vienna already in 1886 and remained there for his whole life. His encyclopaedic knowledge, his competence, his dense working schedule and his productivity were extraordinary. His list of publications comprises about 100 titles, among these many original articles, several large monographs and comprehensive contributions in handbooks. The descriptions and illustrations of the fossil insects investigated by him and the synthesis of the knowledge on fossil insects will remain as an important documentation and a basis for future research and as long-lasting merits of Anton Handlirsch. The phylogenetic conclusions and the phylogenetic trees proposed by A. Handlirsch have, however, proved to be wrong in many respects. Nevertheless also Handlirsch’s studies on the phylogeny of insects are of great significance as they have initiated a previously largely neglected research field, in which after all a considerable understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of insects has been achieved.

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Anton Handlirsch on the occasion of his 150th birthday. He was an early pioneer in palaeoentomology and palaeobiodiversity and published the famous book about “Die Fossilen Insekten” in 1906. Handlirsch’s studies based predominantly on compressed fossils of insect wings pictured in 50 plates. This review introduces into his book and his studies and discusses in general the compression fossils of insect wings, which are then compared with fossil insect embedded in amber. Here, examples are given particularly from the extinct family Necrotauliidae Handlirsch, 1906.

Particularly in the early years of his career, Anton Handlirsch (1865–1935) published a number of milestone publications on the taxonomy of apoid wasps (Crabronidae) and a few smaller papers on bee taxonomy. In total, he has introduced 296 species-group names, of which 230 are still valid today. This corresponds with a synonymy rate of 22.3 %. Undoubtedly, Handlirsch ranks among the most relevant apoid wasp taxonomists of his time, and the quality, accuracy and completeness of his species descriptions and monographies set standards until today. In the present publication, Handlirsch’s hymenopterological work is presented and summarized and a complete list of his hymenopterological publications as well as a list of all species-group names in Hymenoptera described by him added.

Report on the second insect camp of the ÖEG: 1019 invertebrate species in the Gesäuse National Park (Upper Styria, Austria): The second insect camp was held by the Entomological Society of Austria (ÖEG) from 12. to 18.07.2015. All in all, 43 people with sincere interest in zoology took part. Nine recognized experts specialized on different arthropod groups gave talks and guided the participants through 37 collecting areas. The taxonomic determination of the collected material was done by the participants and experts during and after the event. A total of 1019 species was identified and is presented here: 3 Archaeognatha, 52 Auchenorrhyncha, 56 Heteroptera, 13 Orthoptera, 6 Plecoptera, 1 Raphidioptera, 8 Neuroptera, 345 Coleoptera, 170 Lepidoptera, 22 Trichoptera, 2 Mecoptera, 88 Diptera, 120 Hymenoptera, 6 Isopoda, 5 Chilopoda, 8 Diplopoda, 3 Acari, 51 Araneae, 17 Opiliones, 5 Pseudoscorpiones and 38 Gastropoda species. At least 107 species are recorded for the first time in the Gesäuse National Park.