A permanent snow cover for several months is typical for large parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Snow layers thicker than about 20 cm insulate the soil surface and stabilize the ground temperature close to 0°C. Many ground-living invertebrates are active at this temperature in the subnivean air space. From this "base camp", some invertebrates migrate upwards to use the snow as a substrate. The intranivean fauna consists of springtails (Collembola) and mites (Acari) that are small enough to move within the narrow pores between snow crystals. The supranivean fauna consists of various invertebrates that are active on the snow surface. Some of them are Collembola that have migrated through the snow layers. However, most of them are larger insects and spiders which migrate between the subnivean and supranivean habitats following air channels which are naturally created along tree stems, bushes etc. penetrating the snow. Likewise, certain Chironomidae and Plecoptera, hatching from winter-open rivers and brooks, are active on the snow surface. The supranivean arthropod fauna has the following characteristics: 1. It is a weather dependent assemblage of species, coming and going with changes in air temperature, cloud cover, and wind. Below ca. -6°C animals are absent, but at temperatures around or above zero, many groups can be simultaneously active on snow. 2. The snow surface fauna shows phenological changes throughout the winter, as certain species and groups are mainly active during certain months. 3. Some invertebrates are highly specialized and take advantage of the snow surface as an arena in their life cycle. Examples are Hypogastrura socialis (Collembola), and the two wingless insects Chionea sp. (Diptera: Limoniidae) and Boreus sp. (Mecoptera). They use the smooth snow surface for efficient migration. Chionea sp. and Boreus sp. lay their eggs during the snow-covered period, while H. socialis migrates to create new colonies. The cold tolerant spider Bolephthyphantes index is unique in constructing webs in small depressions on the snow, to catch migrating Collembola. Various adaptations for using the snow as a substrate are discussed. Besides physiological and morphological adaptations, snow surface arthropods show special behavioural adaptations. Most conspicuous is the ability of several Collembola species to navigate during migration, using the position of the sun for orientation. Furthermore, in Collembola and Mecoptera, jumping as an original mechanism to escape predators has independently evolved into a migrating mechanism. An evolutionary potential exists for more invertebrate groups to take advantage of snow as a substrate in their life cycle. For instance, several more cold tolerant spiders might evolve the ability to catch migrating Collembola on snow.
Palaearctic species of the genus Gymnophora are reviewed. Four new species, G. amurensis sp. n., G. gornostaevi sp. n., G. perpropinqua sp. n., and G. victoria sp. n., are described from the European Russia, Middle Asia, and Russian Far East. Females of two other species from the Far East are described under code letters. G. laciniata Michailovskaya, 1997 is synonymised under G. prescherweberae Disney, 1997. Lectotypes of G. arcuata (Meigen, 1839) and G. verrucata (Schmitz, 1929) are designated. The latter species is redescribed. Palaearctic females of G. nigripennis demonstrate wide variation of taxonomically important features and may, in fact, represent a group of closely related species. One female of G. nigripennis, which has been caught alive, is recorded to be infected with fungi.
Ten species of Cixiidae, formerly placed in Trirhacus Fieber, 1875, are redescribed and one additional species is described. They belong to seven genera: Trirhacus s. str. with T. setulosus Fieber, 1876 (type species), T. dubiosus Wagner, 1959, T. biokovensis Dlabola, 1971 and T. peloponnesiacus sp. n., Apartus gen. n. with A. michalki (Wagner, 1948) comb. n. (type species) and A. wagnerianus (Nast, 1965) comb. n., Nanocixius Wagner, 1939 stat. n. with N. discrepans (Fieber, 1876) comb. n., Neocixius Wagner, 1939 stat. n. with N. limbatus (Signoret, 1862) comb. n., Sardocixius gen. n. with S. formosissimus (Costa, 1883) comb. n., Simplicixius gen. n. with S. trichophorus (Melichar, 1914) comb. n. and Sphaerocixius Wagner, 1939 stat. n. with S. globuliferus (Wagner, 1939) comb. n. The phylogenetic relationships of these genera to other Cixiidae are briefly discussed and a key to the genera of European Cixiidae is provided.
European species of the genus Phradis Förster, 1869 are reviewed. A new species from Spain, Phradis mediterraneus sp. n., is described and illustrated. A key to all 24 European species and data on distribution and biology of these species are provided.
In this paper we review the taxonomy of the genus Zavrelia Kieffer, Thienemann & Bause and present emended generic diagnoses of all major life stages. Illustrated keys to larvae, pupae, adult males and females are presented as well as descriptions of four species new to science. Zavrelia species are only recorded from the northern hemisphere and comprise in total ten small to minute species. The following life stages and species are described: Larva, pupa, adult male and adult female of Zavrelia aristata sp. n., Zavrelia hudsoni sp. n., Zavrelia pentatoma Kieffer & Bause and Zavrelia sinica sp. n.; pupa and adult male of Zavrelia casasi sp. n.; and adult males of Zavrelia clinovolsella Guo & Wang and Zavrelia tusimatijea (Sasa & Suzuki). Zavrelia atrofasciata Kieffer and Stempellina paludosa Goetghebuer are proposed as new junior synonyms of Zavrelia pentatoma and lectotypes of Zavrelia nigritula, Zavrelia pentatoma and Stempellina paludosa are designated.
Analyzing the earthquake catalogue of the Upper Egypt area since 1982 revealed some char acteristics of the seismic activity in the area. Construction of a seismicity map according to the seismicity level in the Upper Egypt showed 14 seismic zones and that the seismic activity is intense around the stra it of the Gulf of Suez, along the Red Sea axis, Abu Dabbab and Aswan area. While the detailed study of Aswan zone showed 8 distinct sub-seismic zones and that the activity is concentrated in and around Gable Marawa area. The b-value was calculated for each seismic zone; it is found that the highest value is in Abu Dabbab area followed by Aswan area. A seismic energy rele ased map of the Upper Egypt was constructed for the period from 1982 to 2006; the map reveals the main active zones with high energy values. The study gives new insight for a better understanding of the seismic activity in the Upper Egypt and helps in the seismic hazard assessment., Haggag Hamed Mohamed, Gaber Hassan Hassib, Sayed Abdalah Dahy and Ezzat Mohamed El-Amin., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The species of the genus Tiarodes Burmeister from China are reviewed. Three species are recognized, described or redescribed, illustrated and keyed. T. venenatus Cai et Sun and T. pictus Cai et Tomokuni are described as new species. The T. versicolor (Laporte) previously reported from China by Hua is in fact T. salvazai Miller.
The Oriental genus Euchilofulvius Poppius is revised. New data concerning Euchilofulvius tibialis Poppius, the first description of the male and pictures of parameres are given. Two new species are described and illustrated: Euchilofulvius heissi and E. zdzislawi. A key to the species and a brief discussion on the systematic position of the genus are also provided.
The Metriorrhynchus fauna of the Philippines is revised. All known species are redescribed and seven new species are added: M. isarogensis sp. n., M. menieri sp. n., M. mindanaoensis sp. n., M. newbataanensis sp. n., M. ochii sp. n., M. palawanensis sp. n., and M. takedai sp. n. Additionally, M. yoshioi sp. n. is described from Sulawesi. Xylobanus longissimus Pic, 1922 is transferred to Metriorrhynchus, and Metriorrhynchus pallidus (Dalman in Schoenherr, 1818) is transferred to Leptotrichalus Kleine, 1925. The dispersal routes and speciation of Metriorrhynchus from the Philippines, Sulawesi and the Oriental Region were studied using mtDNA markers. One dispersal event is supposed for establishing of the Greater Sunda Islands fauna and another one for the Philippine fauna. Both faunas underwent speciation in the respective areas and all species show high degree of endemism. The Metriorrhynchus in Palawan is of Philippine origin in contrast with the tectonic history of Palawan and its connection with Borneo during the last glacial maximum.
The Australian species of the genus Coelioxys Latreille are revised. Six species are recognized: Coelioxys albolineata Cockerell, 1905; Coelioxys froggatti Cockerell, 1911; Coelioxys reginae Cockerell, 1905; Coelioxys weinlandi Schulz, 1904 and two new species: Coelioxys julia sp. n. and Coelioxys tasmaniana sp. n. Three names are synonymized: Coelioxys biroi Friese, 1909 syn. n. and Coelioxys albolineata darwiniensis Cockerell, 1929 syn. n. under Coelioxys albolineata, and Coelioxys victoriae Rayment, 1935 syn. n. under Coelioxys froggatti. Species descriptions and redescriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, floral records and a key to both sexes of all species are provided., Léo Correia da Rocha-Filho., and Obsahuje bibliografii