Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 305–324, 2012
Title: Review of the Chinese species of Falsocamaria Pic with descriptions of two new species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae)
Authors: Lin-Fei Wang, Guo-Dong Ren1 and Chao Liu
Authors' address: College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P. R. China
1E-mail:gdren@hbu.edu.cn, hbuwanglinfei@126.com
Abstract: The Chinese species of Falsocamaria Pic are reviewed. Two new species are described, Falsocamaria obscurovientia sp. n. and F. rufisutura sp. n.. Three species are recorded in China for the first time, F. fruhstorferi (Fairmaire, 1903), F. imperialis (Fairmaire, 1903), and F. distinctestriata (Pic, 1917). Five species which had been previously described superficially are re-described or supplemented. A key to the eight Chinese species of genus Falsocamaria is provided.
Key words: Tenebrionidae, Stenochiinae, Falsocamaria, new species, new record, China
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 325–336, 2012
Title: Three new species of genus Temnothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Indian Himalayas with a revised key to the Indian species
Authors: Bharti, H.1, Gul, I.1, and Schulz, A.2
Authors' addresses: 1Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi
University, Patiala-147002, India E-mail: himenderbharti@gmail.com Abstract: We describe three new species of the Myrmicinae ant genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861: Temnothorax himachalensis sp. n., Temnothorax kashmirensis sp. n. and Temnothorax microreticulatus sp. n. from Indian Himalaya. An identification key to worker caste of known Indian species is provided.
Key words: Temnothorax, Formicoxenini, taxonomy, new species, key, Orientalis, Himalaya
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 337–350, 2012
Title: Four new species of the genus Athlophorus Burmeister, 1847 from the Indian Himalayas (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Tenthredinidae:
Allantinae) with a key to Indian species
Authors: Saini, M. S. and Ahmad, M.
Authors' address: Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala–147002, India, E-mail: muzamil.ahmad264@gmail.com Abstract: Four new species of the genus Athlophorus Burmeister, 1847 are described and illustrated from the Indian Himalayas. This includes Athlophorus smithi sp. n. from Rongli (Sikkim), A. taegeri sp. n. from Cheerpapunji (Meghalaya), A. weii sp. n. from Phodong (Sikkim), and A. toongensis sp. n. from Toong (Sikkim). Athlophorus cephalomaculus Saini
et Vasu is synonymised with Athlophorus perplexus
(Konow). With the addition of these four new records, the
genus Athlophorus is now represented by 20 species from India.
Apart from illustrating the genitalia and some other morphological
attributes, these new species are distinguished from allied congeners.
A key to the known Indian species is provided.
Key words: Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Tenthredinidae, Allantinae, Athlophorus, Burmeister, India
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 351–359, 2012
Title: Visual and olfactory cues for catching parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)
Authors: Vuts, J.1, Razov, J.2, Kaydan,
M. B.3 and Tóth, M.1
Authors' addresses: 1Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agriculture Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-2462 Martonvásár, Hungary; E-mails: joci0617@gmail.com,
h2371tot@ella.hu Abstract: Scoliid wasps (Scolia spp.) are day-flying flower visitors. Earlier field observations indicated preference of Scolia hirta, S. flavifrons and S. sexmaculata for a combination of a light blue colour and a quaternary floral blend [(E)-anethol, 3-methyl eugenol, 1-phenylethanol and lavandulol], constituents of traps used for catching the scarabs Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea. Subsequent field experiments for Scolia hirta, S. flavifrons and S. sexmaculata in Hungary, Croatia and Turkey, respectively, comparing different colours and floral blends previously found efficient for catching several scarab species, confirmed observations on the preference of scoliids for the Cetonia/Potosia trap. When investigating the relative importance of the colour and the quaternary floral blend released from the Cetonia/Potosia trap for S. hirta, joint application of the visual and chemical cues resulted in a significant increase of catches, compared to those in traps containing only one of the cues, or in unbaited traps with no colour. An explanation of the activity of the Cetonia/Potosia trap on scoliid wasps can be that, since the wasps feed on flowers and the bait of the Cetonia/Potosia trap comprises common floral compounds, it represents olfactory stimuli essential in host plant-finding. Role of the blue colour also seems to be important, however, more detailed comparative studies, including different colours and chemicals, are necessary to better understand interactions mediating host plant-finding. Possibilities of practical application of the Cetonia/Potosia trap for monitoring S. hirta and S. flavifrons are discussed.
Key words: floral compounds, colour, synergism, attractant, trapping, biological control, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 361–368, 2012
Title: Fluctuating asymmetry as a tool in identifying population stress in Hungarian populations of Bombina bombina, B. variegata and their hybrids
Authors: Plaiasu, R.1,3, Vörös, J.2 and Bancila, R.1,3
Authors' addresses: 1"Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology of the Romanian Academy, 13 Septembrie Road, No. 13, 050711, Bucharest, Romania, E-mail: rodica_plaiasu@yahoo.com Abstract: Hybridization can occur under natural conditions among well-differentiated species and may affect the developmental stability of hybrids. In the present study, we investigated the effect of interspecific hybridization between Bombina bombina and B. variegata on fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of forelimb, femur, tibia and foot. The hybrids did not show higher levels of FA compared to the parental populations for either investigated traits. This suggested that the effect of hybridization on FA in the analyzed traits is negligible or overwhelmed by other factors. A significantly increased FA was found in the B. bombina populations when compared to B. variegata, which can be attributed to low pressure of natural selection in these populations.
Key words: interspecific hybridization; Bombina; fluctuating asymmetry
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 369–378, 2012
Title: Do different plasticine eggs in artificial ground nests influence nest survival?
Authors: Purger, J. J.1*, Kurucz, K.1, Csuka, Sz.1 and Batáry, P.2, 3
Authors' addresses: 1Department of Animal Ecology, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Ifjúság útja 6, Hungary; E-mail: purger@gamma.ttk.pte.hu Abstract: In order to understand the role of plasticine eggs in nest predation studies, altogether 78 ground nests were monitored in a large wheat field near to Pécs (southern Hungary) in June 2006. Two eggs were placed in each of the artificial nests, comprising, in an alternating sequence, quail + quail, quail + natural colour plasticine, and quail + white lime coloured plasticine eggs. During one week 65.4% of the artificial nests were depredated. When the damage or disappearance of any of the eggs was considered as a predation event, the daily survival rates of nest containing only two quail eggs was higher than of nests with quail and natural plasticine eggs and significantly higher than of nests with quail and white coloured plasticine eggs. When considering predation to real eggs only, the results remained similar, however, the significant difference in survival rates of the two nest types with different plasticine eggs disappeared. Simultaneously with the nest predation experiments, 78 small mammal live traps were set up in the wheat field and operated for 7 nights. The capture success of traps baited with quail egg was 9.9%, with natural plasticine egg 15.4%, and with white coloured plasticine egg 23.1%, but only a marginal significant difference was found between daily survival rates of quail vs. white coloured plasticine eggs. Natural, but especially white coloured plasticine eggs resulted in an increased predation rate, therefore we suggest that in artificial ground nest experiments nest should be considered to be predated only when the real egg is damaged or disappeared.
Key words: Coturnix coturnix, nest predation, small mammals, live traps, Hungary
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 379–394, 2012
Title: Dispersal history of an invasive rodent in Hungary – subfossil finds of Rattus rattus
Author: Kovács, Zs. E.
Author's address: Hungarian National Museum, National Heritage Protection Centre, H-1113 Budapest, Daróczi út 1–3, Hungary, E-mail: kovzsofi@yahoo.com Abstract: The origins of the black rat Rattus rattus can be placed in the Indian Peninsula and its occurrence in Europe is a result of a westward expansion. Based on archaeozoological finds, this rodent came into the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe before the Roman Period, as a commensal species associated with trade, although it was also introduced in many other parts of the continent during that time. After a depression in the population there is an increase in number of rat finds dating to the 11th century in Europe. The same tendency was observed in Hungary. The earliest rat remains in the country were recovered from sites dated to the Roman period (3–4th century AD) from inside and outside the territory of the Empire as well. Remains outside the limes (the border of the empire running along the right bank of the Danube) indicate that the Danube River did not pose a barrier in the expansion of rats. Records from the Roman period were followed by a gap of ca. 1000 years when the appearance of black rat was detected again at medieval Hungarian sites (from the 14th century onwards) reaching large numbers at sites dated to the Ottoman period (16–17th century).
Key words: Hungary, archaeozoology, black rat, expansion routes, flotation
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Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (4), pp. 395–396, 2012
Title: Cumulative contents of Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, Volume 58, 2012
2Pletschbachstrasse 13, D-41540 Dormagen, Germany. E-mail: schulz_ant@gmx.de
2Department of Mediterranean Agriculture and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Mihovila Pavlinovica bb. Zadar, HR-23000 Croatia; E-mail: jrazov@unizd.hr
3Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, Yüzüncü Yżl University Van, TR-65080 Turkey; E-mail: bkaydan@gmail.com
2Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary, E-mail: jvoros@nhmus.hu
3University Ovidius Constanta, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aleea Universitatii, No. 1, 900470, Constanta, Romania
2Agroecology, Georg-August University, Grisebachstr. 6, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
3MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány P. s. 1C, Hungary