Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle «Grigore Antipa» Vol. 59 (1) pp. 81–84 DOI: 10.1515/travmu-2016-0018 Faunistic Note

The Second Confirmed Station for hungaricus (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Irinel Eugen POPESCU1, *, Ionuţ Ştefan IORGU2

1“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Faculty of Biology, Carol I Blvd. 20A, 700505 Iași, Romania 2“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Kiseleff 1, 011341 Bucharest 1, Romania *corresponding author, e–mail: [email protected]

Received: April 24, 2016; Accepted: June 16, 2016; Available online: June 23, 2016; Printed: June 30, 2016

Abstract. is a typical steppic species declining throughout its range from Central to Eastern Siberia, sharing the fate of the temperate grasslands, being listed in the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) (Annexes II and IV) and protected in most countries of occurrence. The populations are isolated, fragmented and even facing extinction. In the spring of 2014, we observed and photographed one female of Carabus hungaricus in “Coridorul Jiului” Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0045), in an area with sandy grasslands near Murta locality (Dolj County), this being the second currently confirmed station for Carabus hungaricus in Romania.

Key words: Carabus hungaricus, distribution, Romania, Dolj County, nature conservation.

Carabus hungaricus is a typical steppic species distributed from Central Europe to Eastern Siberia (Turin et al., 2003, Sándor et al., 2007) and is declining throughout its range, sharing the fate of the temperate grasslands that are among the most threatened biomes on Earth. This thermophile inhabits dry calcareous, loess and sandy grasslands (Sándor et al., 2007, Szél et al., 2006), from lowlands up to nearly 600 m altitude in the Carpathian Basin. Steppic grasslands are considered regional biodiversity hotspots, being drastically affected by agricultural intensification. Carabus hungaricus is listed in the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) (Annexes II and IV) and is protected in most countries of occurrence. In Europe, it was found in , , , , , , , Romania, Russia and , but facing near extinction in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria and even in Hungary its populations are isolated and fragmented (Pokluda et al., 2012). Carabus hungaricus is mentioned in Romania in four Natura 2000 sites: “Ciuperceni–Desa” (ROSCI0039), “Coridorul Jiului” (ROSCI0045), “Mlaştina Satchinez” (ROSCI0115) and “Silvostepa Olteniei” (ROSCI0202). Unfortunately, the recent researches could not confirm the species presence in these sites (Barloy et al., 2006, Barloy et al., 2008; Barloy & Prunar, 2012a; 2012b). Carabus (Pachystus) hungaricus frivaldskyanus was described by Breuning in 1933 (Breuning, 1933) from four specimens, one from Timișoara, one from Maşloc–Remetea and two from Deliblat (Serbia), only one specimen being labeled with date – 7.06.1907 (Barloy et al., 2006), these specimens being now in the Breuning collection from Amsterdam University (Lie, 1996). Ever since, no other specimens were recorded in Romanian Banat or in any other part of the country and no material was found in the collections of Romanian museums (Lie, 1996). In the period 1993–1994, Lie (Lie, 1995; 1996) captured 105 specimens in a xerophyte meadow with Robinia 82 Irinel Eugen POPESCU, Ionuţ Ştefan IORGU pseudaccacia (forest “Şemiţa”, between Jamu–Mare and Lăţunaş, Timiş County, Banat) using pitfall traps. This was an important rediscovery and a confirmation of Carabus hungaricus presence in Romania. In the spring of 2014, we observed and photographed one female of Carabus hungaricus feeding with a Chrysomelidae beetle (Fig. 1) in “Coridorul Jiului” Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0045), near Murta locality (Dolj County), in an area with sand grasslands (Fig. 2). This location becomes the second confirmed station for the species in Romania (Fig. 3). We also examined several specimens of Carabus hungaricus from the collections of “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest: 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Budatétény (Hungary), 26.05–9.06.1968, leg. & det. I.

Fig. 1 – Female of Carabus hungaricus observed near Murta (Dolj County).

Fig. 2 – The habitat of Carabus hungaricus: sandy grasslands in “Coridorul Jiului” Natura 2000 site (ROSCI0045). The Second Confirmed Station for Carabus hungaricus in Romania 83

Fig. 3 – Distribution of Carabus hungaricus in Romania: white diamond – Breuning (1907, not confirmed), green square – Lie (1994–1995), red circle – present study.

Retezár; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Şemina forest (between Jamu–Mare and Lăţunaş, Timiș County, Romania), 6–28.06.1994, leg. & det. P. Lie. We acknowledge Dr. Florin Prunar for the very useful discussions on the topic and to Dr. Melanya Stan for granting access in the Coleoptera collections at “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest.

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