Entomologica Austriaca 30

Flower-butterfly networks on three grassland types in the National Park Neusiedler See – Seewinkel were analysed, viz. (1) a fenced pasture grazed mainly by Przewalski’s horses at low densities, (2) pastures grazed by non-stationary cattle and (3) meadows maintained by mowing. Sampling took place in June and July 2021 during a drought period. We observed 4,160 flower-butterfly interactions involving 27 butterfly and 59 plant species, including 147 interaction pairs not previously recorded. Species diversity and composition of interacting communities varied across the three grassland types and two survey months, with highest diversities on mown meadows. Nectar flower abundance did not differ between grassland types, but decreased from early to high summer. Network specialization H2’ and modularity Q did not vary systematically between grassland types, but decreased in response to drought. All observed flower-visiting butterfly species visit multiple nectar plant species, but average species-level specialization d’ was higher on meadows than on pastures and further decreased with summer drought. This suggests that partitioning of nectar sources among butterflies is more effective at times of high supply, while overlap in resource use increases during drought. These results suggest that grassland butterflies in the study area respond opportunistically to shortages in nectar flower abundance caused by summer drought, whereas extensive management by grazing vs. mowing left a rather minor signature on these ecological networks. Due to their higher nectar flower abundance mown meadows are important for maintaining butterfly diversity in this large conservation area.

Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, cause extensive damage to arable crops and vegetables. Knowledge on the seasonal flight activity of click beetles is crucial to take effective measures. Soil cultivation carried out at the seasonal flight peaks of click beetles can interfere with egg deposition, and can harm egg clutches and newly hatched larvae. So far, the click beetle monitoring in Austria has been carried out with female sex-pheromones that specifically attract males of Agriotes species, but no pheromones are available for other economically relevant click beetle genera, such as Melanotus, Selatosomus and Hemicrepidius (Author’s observation). Trap systems that also attract female click beetles would further improve the quality of the click beetle monitoring, and indeed, kairomones are used for the monitoring of Agriotes ustulatus and Agriotes brevis. The present study examined whether available trap systems are suitable to trap various economically relevant click beetle genera. In addition, scent samples were taken and analyzed from grass clippings that are attractive to Agriotes sputator and A. brevis in order to develop new synthetic scent mixtures for the attraction of female click beetles.

Along the Tyrolean Lech-river and some of its tributaries some river stretches still exist where semi-natural braided floodplains predominate and where high seasonal and year to year hydrological and morphological dynamics still occur. However, regulation measures and other forms of severe human impact on the river course and river- side ecotones have been intensified during the 20th century and are dominating the scene along major parts of the Lech valley nowadays. The process of change and transformation is ongoing, and in the last few decades many gravel banks have suffered rapid succession by willows and other plants due to the construction of hydrological barrages, gryones, debris drabs and due to gravel mining along the river. These measures not only caused the lowering of the water table and the re- duction of flooding, but also severely impacted the distribution and abundance of the specialised river dwelling Caelifera species Tetrix tuerki, Bryodemella tuberculata and Chorthippus pullus which have been documented to inhabit the Lech valley since at least 1860. The paper illustrates the regional developments by contrasting former and recent distribution patterns of the three grasshopper species. The data at hand indicate a substantial regional range reduction experienced by the riparian grasshoppers which amounts to about two thirds of the 61km Lech-river course inhabited by the species around the end of the Second World War. In addition, even at sites still inhabited by the species local abundances – which have been monitored in the course of the river-restoration program Dynamic River System LIFE Lech 2016–2021 – seem to be reduced quite substantially as compared to the situations a few decades ago. In particular, the status and numbers of T. tuerki and B. tuberculata raise concerns for their future prospects along the Lech. The ecological effectiveness of former and recent river restoration programs along the Lech for the protection of specialised grasshoppers are discussed, and possible future conservation measures are proposed.

The Tyrolean Lech-river valley is widely regarded one of the least impaired river ecosystems of the Alps. In the Lech region some river stretches indeed were preserved where semi-natural braided floodplains predominate and where a high diversity of spring waters, bogs, ponds and running as well as stagnant riverine wa- ter bodies can be found offering attractive habitats for dragonflies and damselflies. This paper illustrates the regional diversity and distribution patterns of Odonata in the river valley. So far, 38 species (14 Zygoptera, 24 Anisoptera) were recorded along a 60km long stretch of the Lech at 800–1,200m a.s.l. The species list not only includes Coenagrion hylas as a special odonatological gem, whose only larger self-sustaining European populations inhabit the valley, but also a high proportion of lotic or rheophilic species bound to landscapes with a network of undisturbed or near-natural running waters. This e.g. includes Ischura pumilio, Cordulegaster bidentata and Orthetrum coerulescens which are listed in higher threat categories in several Red Lists of the Alpine countries. In addition, the data at hand indicate thatGomphus pulchellus – that recently was reported as new for the Tyrolean Odonata fauna based on a record from 2020 has already been observed 17 years earlier in the upper part of the Lech valley.

The collection of true bugs (Heteroptera) of Ernst Heiss, was donated to the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (TLMF) and is currently deposited at the Natural History Depart- ment of TLMF in Hall in Tirol. The collection data are being digitized, to facilitate future access to the collection for scientific purposes. The collection data are now published in several consecutive parts. Nine parts are published or in print. Part X presented here, comprises the pentatomomorphan family Coreidae with data of 2,025 specimens assigned to 2 subfamilies, 62 genera and 122 species including 1 paratype (Eubule bachmanni Brailovsky, 1992)

The collection of the Landesmuseum für Kärnten contains 154 louse fly specimens of ten different species from a total of eight countries. The majority of the material originates from Austria. The specimen of Hippobosca equina from Slovenia represents the first record for this country. Host information is available for three louse fly species.

The eighth Insect Camp of the Austrian Entomological Society took place in the Nature Park Leiser Berge from 23 to 26 June 2022. A large number of taxonomic specialists and entomological and arachnological students attended the camp and/or supported the post-processing of samples. During the camp, the participants had the opportunity to expierence field research, different trapping, identification and preparation methods. A network of specialist and people of nature conservation and biodiversity is important for biological work. The camp offers the chance to enter this network and gather knowledge on how to conduct scientific work. The study area included 28 different localities in the Nature Park Leiser Berge with different habitats, from water bodies to dry grassland. In total, 1,497 species of 23 orders were recorded: 1 species of Dermaptera, 2 of Blattodea, 7 of Odonata, 17 of Orthoptera, 127 of Heteroptera, 138 of Auchenorrhyncha, 8 of Sternorryncha, 23 of Neuroptera, 3 of Rhaphidioptera, 3 of Mecoptera, 75 of Diptera, 27 of Trichoptera, 507 of Lepidoptera, 171 of Hymenoptera, 311 of Coleoptera, 1 of Geophilomorpha, 1 of Entomobryomorpha, 1 of Glomerida, 2 of Archaeognatha, 3 of Isopoda, 48 of Araneae, 9 of Opiliones and 12 of Pulmonata. In addition, 179 plant species were documented. Worth mentioning are six new records of five different orders for Lower Austria, and two new records for Austria, a tenebrionid Cynaeus angustus and a syrphid fly Platycheirus sticticus.

Bees (Apiformes) are threatened by multiple biotic and abiotic factors. One increasingly studied and intensely discussed question is whether the presence of the generalist, eusocial honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a reason for the decline of wild bee populations. Proposed mechanisms for a negative impact are interference and resource competition, effects of managed bees on plant communities via pollination, and transmission ofpathogens. There are few studies for German-speaking countries. However, the number of articles purporting to document situations in which the honey bee outcompetes wild bees must be interpreted with care, because of a publication bias or as correlative results of bee abundances are presented, and causality is mostly not proven. Furthermore, studies showing the occurrence of honey bee-associated pathogens in other bee species or the cross-infectivity of these pathogens are no demonstration of competition that eventually leads to species decrease, as many pathogens typically known from the honey bee are commonly spread in Hymenoptera. In this article, we critically contextualize the scientific findings on competition between bee species, highlight knowledge gaps and suggest where research setups could be improved. We finally summarize how, to our understanding, wild bees and managed bees are both supported best.

The seasonal dimorphism, special egg clusters and caterpillars with “antlers” are reason enough to present some more aspects of the morphology, biology and ecology of this small Nymphalidae.

Here, the European Spider of the Year 2023, Cheiracanthium punctorium (Villers, 1789), is presented. The appearance and selected life-history traits (e.g. ecology, habitat, phenology) are briefly described. The modality of the voting is outlined as well as the decisive criteria for the win.