Folia faunistica Slovaca, 2011, 16 (2): 77–78 ISSN 1335-7522

FIRST FINDING OF PORPHYROPHORA POLONICA (: COCCOIDEA: ) IN SLOVAKIA

Pavel Lauterer Moravian Museum, Department of Entomology, Hviezdoslavova 29a, CZ 627 00 Brno – Slatina, Czech Republic; [[email protected]] Abstract: Porphyrophora polonica A female specimen of the scale, (Linnaeus, 1758), was found in the surroundings of the city of Nové Mesto nad Váhom in August 1956. This is the first published record of the speciesKey words: from Slovakia. Porphyrophora polonica Hemiptera, Margarodidae, , Slovakia, faunistics. INTRODUCTION -

Porphyropora poloni- common than nowadays. Köhler (2008) summa ca rised all recent findings from GermanyP. polonica inth a table: The Polish cochineal scale, the majorityth of them dated back to the 19 and the (Linnaeus, 1758), is a scarcely recorded early 20 century. Recently, became- species at present. However, its complete life cycleth much rarer in consequence of modern practices in was accurately described already in the early 18 agriculture and even ranked among critically en P. polonica P. polonica century (Bregnius 1731–1732). Females and cysts dangered species in many countries. of contain largeP. polonica quantities of intensive The occurrence of in Slovakia has not crimson red dye which can be used for dyeing wool- been published till now. This paper reports on a and silk. For this reason, was intensively- finding of this species in Slovakia 1950’s. collected and used throughout the Middle Ages be MATERIAL AND METHODS Dactylopiusfore it was replacedcoccus by a cheaper and more inten sive dye from the bodies of the Mexican cochineal, (O. Costa, 1829). It is supposed- - that the medieval Czech words for the months of On 20.8.1956, the author foundScleranthus one female perennis moving June (červen) and July (červenec) and the red col- on tops of plants in a low-growing, sparse ruder- our (červená) were derived from „červ“ which was al vegetation with dominant - used then for denoting most small epigeicP. polonica inverte in an extensive pasture and military training ar- brates and that their etymologies are associated ea on sandy soil. The site was situated in the low with the season of the occurrence of and land near the former Váh River basin in the ca its colour. P. polonica dastre of Kočovce near the city of Nové Mesto nad - Váhom (48°44’26” N, 17°51’15” E, altitude 177 m). The development of takes place in the The specimen was fixed in 70% ethanol and was- ground on roots of various plants in sparsely veg later deposited in the collections of the Department etated areas on loose sandy soils, as deep as 30–50 of Zoology, Charles University in Prague (Czech Re cm below the ground. Altogether about 60 plant Gypsophila, Cerastium, Festuca, public). Fragaria,species from Herniaria, 12 families Melampyrum, were recorded Potentilla, as hosts,Sper- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION gulariae.g. from the genera - Scleranthus perennis - P. polonica - , but the main host plant species. is every where (Jakubski 1965, Ko- has one generation per year. It overwin sztarab & Kozár 1988, Köhler 2008) This latter- ters as first instar nymphs inside waxy egg cases.- plant is amongP. polonica most frequent field weeds and oc The nymphs start their activity in late March to curs in particular on long-term fallows. In the Mid late April and first emerge from the ground, lat ©dle Faunima, Ages, Bratislava, 2011probably used to be much more er return into the soil to roots.http://zoology.fns.uniba.sk/ffs The first moulting

77 (ecdysis) begins as soon as the nymphs achieve the- more often. Only isolated findings were made in size of 1,2 mm in diameter, resulting in a cyst with westernP. Europepolonica (southern France to Scandinavia),- stunted legs. A female cyst undergoes ecdysis al the species is also rare e.g. in Germany (Köhler together twelve times, the male nymph five times 2008). occurs mostly in lowlands in Eu (the last nymphal stages being called protopupa rope, while it reaches the subalpine zone in Asia and pupa). New adults appear at the end of June (Jakubski 1965). LITERATURE (Jakubski 1965). - The mature female is oval to sphaerical, consid Gedani erably varying in size between 1,5 to 6,5 mm. Its Breynius JP, 1731: Historia naturalis Cocci radicum mouth parts are stunted and the fore legs are very tinctorii qod polonicum vulgoGedani audit. . P.robust polonica with tarsus transformed into a sharp thorn Breynius JP, 1732: Corrigenda and emendenda circa as an adaptation for soil digging (Jakubski 1965). generationem Cocci radicum. . Jakubski AW, 1965:Trustes A criticalof the British revision Nuseum of the (Natural families P. polonica shows a wide morphological variability- History),Margarodidae London and Termitococcidae (Hemiptera, and have a number of younger synonyms because Coccoidea). of that. is widely distributed in the Eu- , 185 pp. - rosiberian region from Europe to Inner Mongolia in Köhler G, 2008: Zur Kenntnis der Polnischen Cochenille, China, a distribution map was published by Jakub EntomologischePorphyrophora Nachrichtenpolonica (Linnaeus, und Berichte 1758) 32(Sternor ski (1965). It has not been published from Slovakia rhyncha, Coccina, Margarodidae) in Deutschland. (Zahradník 1977). Zahradník (in litt.) also found , (3–4): this species in Slovakia, but has not published his 193-202.Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest - Kosztarab M & Kozár F, 1988: Scale of Central records for his illness. In the neighbouring Czech - Europe. , 456 pp, 16 pl. - Republic, it is known as uncommon from sever Zahradník J, 1977:Acta Aleyrodinea faunistica entomologica– Coccinea. In: Musei Dlabo na- al localities in southern Moravia (Mohelno, Dolní tionalisla J (ed.): Pragae, Check15, list. Suppl. Enumeratio 4 insectorum Bohe Věstonice, Pavlovské vrchy). In Hungary, Moldova, moslovakiae. and namely on sandy soils in Poland, it was found : 117–122.

Doručené (Submitted): 27.10.2010 Prijaté (Accepted): 23.3.2011 Vyšlo (Published) online: 18.8.2011

Folia faunistica Slovaca, 2011, 16 (2): 77–78

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