Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria was observed during cold winters in different parts of Croatia, along the Adriatic coast, on islands as well as inland. Their origin remains unknown, but they may belong to the population nesting in the Alps or in Dinaric parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The overwintering along the Adriatic coast was explored during field observations, but also from the literature and museum data. The field investigations were carried out in Istria, North Dalmatia, Paklenica NP, Kornati NP and central Dalmatia, Krka NP. In total, 96 observations were made: 35 specimens from museum collections and literature and 61 during field research. The Wallcreeper was observed in Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons in Paklenica NP during cold winters, but not during milder winters. In the Paklenica NP, the earliest individuals were observed on 10 Oct and the latest on 28 Apr. On the complete east Adriatic coast and in Croatian inland, the earliest record was made on 6 Sep and the latest on 2 May. There are 5-10 individuals overwintering in Paklenica National Park.
Here we present new records of two rare tiger beetles in Croatia, their distribution and habitat selection. Cylindera trisignata trisignata (Dejean, 1822) was recorded in Croatia,for the first time in 115 years, on Mljet Island in Blace Bay. Specimens were collected on a sandy beach, 5 - 6 m from the water’s edge sea coast. Cylindera arenaria viennensis (Schrank, 1781) was found in Croatia, for the first time in 67 years, in Podravina, in Kloštar Podravski. It was collected in an area previously exploited for sand mining, which was later abandoned and left to the natural succession. Both species were recorded in rare natural or semi-natural sandy habitat types that are endangered in Croatia. The survival of these and other psammophilous species depends on the suitable management and protection of sandy habitats.
Pterostichus rhaeticus is widely distributed in northern and central Europe and has now been recorded for the first time in Croatia, and this record represents its southeasternmost distribution point. This species was only recently separated from the very common and widespread Pterostichus nigrita Paykull, 1790. These two sibling species differ in a few morphological features and can be certainly distinguished by the form of male and female genitalia. Therefore, we measured a few morphometric features, e.g. body length, elytrae length and width, male right paramere and female eighth abdominal sternite. In general, P. rhaeticus is significantly smaller and narrower than P. nigrita. However, in mixed populations, the differences in body size, length and width of elytrae were not observed and the overlap in sizes is considerable. Additionally, we noticed that the range edge individuals of P. rhaeticus are larger compared to individuals in central Europe. Most of the individuals of both species can be clearly and immediately identified by the shape of their genitalia, but in mixed populations these differences are possibly not so obvious, and measurements are necessary. P. rhaeticus is a tyrphophilous species that was exclusively found at three peatlands in Croatia. It was found in the open peat bog centre and adjacent shaded habitats, in both acidic peaty and alkaline soils with high soil humidity. According to present knowledge, this species can be considered an indicator species of peatland habitats in Croatia. These distinctive habitats are highly endangered in the Western Balkans, and therefore the survival of this and other bog-specific species depends on active conservation and protection measures.
the western palaearctic carabid beetle Agonum scitulum has been found at the fen in Mt Žumberak (Nw Croatia). this second Croatian record represents the south westernmost distribution point for this rare species in europe. Agonum scitulum is an extremely hygrophilous species, recorded on humid alkaline soil in the vicinity of the jarak stream, in the successional phase of common reed and willow surrounding the basophilous jarak fen. During two years of systematic sampling at this locality using different methods only two macropterous specimens of A. scitulum were collected with pitfall traps, leading to the conclusion that this species is probably rare in the area.
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