Post-mining ponds in the Sandomierz Forest (SE Poland) as an important site for the conservation of a species-rich odonate assemblage

In this study, the species composition and diversity of dragonfly and damselfly assemblages of six post-mining ponds differing in habitat conditions, located within a single sand pit in the central part of the Sandomierz Forest (SE Poland) were assessed. In total, 42 species were recorded in 2019, including 35 species considered resident to the site. In the six studied ponds, a range of 8 to 30 species were recorded, including 5 to 26 resident species. In each pond, at least one unique species was found, and one-third of all species were confined to single ponds only. As a result, the qualitative (Jaccard) and quantitative (Bray-Curtis) similarity indices between the pairs of ponds were low, reaching 12-61% and 19-53%, respectively. Thus, despite a lack of distinct barriers and negligible distances between the ponds (max. 350 m), the structure of assemblages in adjacent water bodies differed considerably. This is probably largely due to the habitat selectivity of species. A redundancy analysis (RDA) showed, that factors such as area and plant diversity of the pond were shaping odonate assemblages, explaining 49.1% of the total variance in the dataset. Due to the high species richness and the identification of several species of special concern, the studied sand pit should be considered a valuable secondary habitat for odonates, which – after termination of exploitation – should be regarded as a good candidate for a site designated for the conservation of biodiversity.

Key and atlas to the genus Trichocera MEIGEN in Europe (Diptera, Trichoceridae)

The key presents all 59 species of the genus Trichocera Meigen which occur in Europe. Four subgenera are represented: Trichocera Meigen 1803 (five species), Metatrichocera Dahl 1967 (seven species), Saltrichocera Krzemińska 2002 (35 species), and Staryia Krzemińska & Gorzka 2016 (13 species). The type material of two species, one from North America and one from Asia, are described (Trichocera columbiana Alexander, 1927 and T. arctica Lundström, 1915), whose identities cause some problems and whose presence in the northern regions of Europe is possible. Two new species are described, Trichocera (Saltrichocera) longa, n. sp., and T. (Staryia) oulankae, n. sp. Trichocera versicolor is resurrected from synonymy; T. limpidipennis is synonymized with T. regelationis. There are separate keys to males and females; species are illustrated with camera pictures of diagnostic features: genitalia, antennae, and male tarsal claws, and additionally, wings and thoraces when only one sex is known, to enable further search. The state of knowledge of the genus in Europe and in the world is discussed.

Polymera alexanderi n. sp., a new species of Limoniidae (Diptera) from Dominican amber

Dominican amber is the fossil resin famous for the best quality of inclusions, exploited in Dominican Republic from the deposits formed in the late Early Miocene, ca. 16 Ma. A new species, Polymera (Polymera) alexanderi sp. n. of the dipteran family Limoniidae is described from this amber. This new limonid belongs to the genus Polymera Wiedemann, 1820 with 63 extant species described mostly from South America. Only three fossil species are known so far from Dominican and Baltic amber.

The oldest species of the genusLaeviprosopon (Decapoda: Brachyura: Prosopidae) from the Oxfordian of Poland

Till now the genus Laeviprosopon has comprised 12 species aged from the Late Jurassic to the end of the Early Cretaceous. Recently a new species was found in the Oxfordian locality of Polish Jura Chain, Laeviprosopon musialiki n. sp., described herein. Representatives of the genus Laeviprosopon are very rare in the Oxfordian localities of southern Poland. Laeviprosopon musialiki n. sp. is the oldest member of the genus.

Two species with ventral receptacles in Trichocera MEIGEN (Diptera: Trichoceridae)

The ventral receptacle is a kind of a sperm storage shaped as an elongated pouch and positioned at the ventral side of female genitalia. It is a novelty and an alternative system to the spermathecae present in a vast majority of Diptera, and insects in general. Among the Diptera the ventral receptacle is present in the families of Brachycera Acalyptrata; the subgenus Trichocera (Staryia) is the only taxon among the entire Diptera Nematocera known to date in which the ventral receptacle was found. The subgenus comprises 13 species known from northern and central Europe. In this paper two new species of Staryia are described, one from Switzerland, and the other from Scandinavia. Additionally, a revised description of a female of T. (Metatrichocera) gigantea DAHL, 1967, is provided, based on specimens from the far eastern locality in Siberia.

Isomyiomma hirtagen. et sp. n., a new peculiar plant bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Isometopinae) from late Eocene Baltic amber

Isomyiomma hirta gen. et sp. n. is described from late Eocene, Baltic amber. This peculiar genus is mainly characterized by an unusually developed scutellum and a very short claval commissure like Metoisops akingbohungbei HERCZEK & POPOV, 2014, but with a different head structure. So far, six of the extinct genera Isometopinae have been described from Baltic amber; the key to these genera is provided.

A case of cooperative hunting by a pair of northern goshawks

Cooperative hunting is a rare strategy in raptors, although it has been widely described in Falconidae and in some species of Accipitridae. Records about synchronous hunting in the member of the genus Accipiter are occasional. Here we describe a case of the cooperative hunting of two northern goshawks, A. gentilis, of a pigeon, Columba sp., observed in southern Poland in 2020. This exemplary behavior could be either exceptional, or cooperative hunting is an overlooked phenomenon in goshawk biology.

First record on the roosting behaviour of Montane myotis Myotis oxyotus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Montane myotis is an Andean bat species whose ecology and roosting behavior is poorly known. Three females were discovered and caught roosting in a crevice in a home’s roof located in Sibundoy Valley (SW Colombia). This is the first roost of Montane myotis ever recorded and evidence that this species, usually caught in forests, may use anthropogenic shelters.

Pseudoleria pectinata (Loew, 1872) – a new genus and species of heleomyzid fly introduced into the European fauna (Diptera: Heleomyzidae)

One female specimen of Pseudoleria pectinata (LOEW, 1872) was identified from photos taken at the Spanish Atlantic coast by Antonio J. PIZARRO MÉNDEZ, an amateur biologist. The species was observed in nature, in Rota, Spain, on 6th December 2019, and after detailed identification process, it was recorded for the first time in Europe. The pictures concerning the Pseudoleria pectinata specimen and the diagnostic features are presented. A discussion concerning the utilization of citizen science to help monitor invasive or introduced animals is included.

Wild bees of the proposed nature reserve "Skarpa Wiślana" in Męćaemierz (Kazimierski Landscape Park). Part 1 – long-tongued bees Megachilidae and Apidae

This paper presents data on bees of the families Megachilidae and Apidae (Apoidea) of the proposed nature reserve "Skarpa Wiślana" in Męćaemierz (Kazimierski Landscape Park). Distributional and phenological data are given. Thirty-one species of Megachilidae and forty-three species of Apidae were collected. For rare and very rare species (Anthidium oblongatum (ILLIGER, 1806); Heriades crenulatus NYLANDER, 1856; Hoplitis claviventris (THOMSON,1872); Hoplitis papaveris (LATREILLE, 1799); Megachile genalis MORAWITZ, 1880; Osmia cerinthidis MORAWITZ, 1876; Stelis odontopyga NOSKIEWICZ, 1926; Stelis ornatula (KLUG,1807); Epeoloides coecutiens (F ABRICIUS , 1775); Eucera interrupta BAER, 1850; Nomada bifasciata OLIVIER, 1811; Nomada stigma FABRICIUS, 1804; Nomada zonata PANZER, 1798) this paper summarizes information about their distribution in 21st century in Poland, as well as data on their bionomics and their present status of threat in Europe.