JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 53, 2007 (Special Issue): 74–81 Neuroptera, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera assemblages inhabiting young spruce (Picea abies) forests: dominance structure and seasonal activity patterns Ľ. Vidlička1, J. Holuša2,3 1Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia 2Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady, Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic 3Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic ABSTraCT: Neuropteroid insects (Neuroptera, Raphidioptera) and scorpion flies (Mecoptera) were studied in six young spruce forest localities in the eastern part of the Czech Republic during years 2005 and 2006. Twenty-seven species of lacewings, four species of snake flies and four species of scorpion flies were found using the Malaise traps. Consequently, the seasonal flight activity of the seven most abundant species (Chrysopa perla, Hemerobius pini, Hemerobius humulinus, Dichrostigma flavipes, Phaeostigma notata, Panorpa communis and Panorpa germanica) is discussed. Keywords: Malaise traps; Neuroptera; Raphidioptera; Mecoptera; seasonal flight activity; faunistics; Czech Republic The research of neuropteroid insects (Neuropte- The flight activity of neuropteroid insects was ra and Raphidioptera) was carried very intensive- studied by Zelený (1984a,b) in one locality of ly in the Czech Republic during the last 25 years. Bohemia and later, a series of papers including The distribution of individual species was ob- localities in Slovakia and Moravia was published served especially by Zelený (1984a,b, 1986, 1988, by Vidlička (1994, 1995, 1998) and Holuša and 1995, 2004, 2005a,b) and Bezděk et al. (1997) in Vidlička (2002). Similar researches were conduct- Bohemia and Chládek (1995a), Chládek and ed by Szentkirályi (1992, 1997), Szentkirályi Zelený (1995), Ševčík (1995a, 1997, 1998, 1999a, and Kazinczy (2002), Szentkirályi et al. (1995) 2003), Ševčík and Hudeček (1995), Holuša and and Vas et al. (2001) in Hungary. Vidlička (2002) in Moravia. Summarization of all Only several authors (Martinek 1960; Bezděk relevant data on the occurrence of Neuroptera spe- et al. 1997; Holuša, Vidlička 2002) mention data cies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia was pre- about Neuroptera, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera sented by Jedlička et al. (2004). from spruce forest. Until recently scorpion flies (Mecoptera) in the Our study is focused mainly on following prob- Czech Republic (including Moravia) were studied lems. (i) What species spectrum of Neuroptera, by Chládek (1985a,b, 1995b), Ševčík (1995b, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera occurs in young 1999b), Ševčík and Hudeček (1994), Tajovský planted spruce forests? (ii) Which species of the and Lauterer (1986) and Zelený (2005c). studied insect orders are typical for such localities? Supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Project No. MZe 0002070201. J. FOR. SCI., 53, 2007 (Special Issue): 74–81 74 (iii) What are the flight activity patterns of domi- during a two-year research (2005–2006). All data nant species in young spruce forests? regarding species richness and species dominance detected in each locality are presented in Table 1 MATERIAL anD METHODS (Neuroptera), Table 2 (Raphidioptera) and Table 3 (Mecoptera). Considering our research took place The study area is situated in the eastern part of only in spruce forests, the number of species found the Czech Republic. The study was carried out in is very high. In total, 78 species of Neuroptera the industrially affected region (Ostravská pánev (Jedlička et al. 2004) were previously recorded in Plateau) with forest coverage 9–20% (dominance Moravia what means that 27 species found (Table 1) of Norway spruce, Picea abies, 30–50%) and in the represent 35% of the entire species richness. Nízký Jeseník Hills (forest coverage 70%, domi- All studied localities can be divided into two nance of Norway spruce 67.8%) (Culek 1996). groups according to the species frequency what is The Norway spruce dominates in both studied re- obvious mainly in Neuroptera. The highest species gions, however other tree species as larch (Larix richness was ascertained in the villages Lesní Al- sp.), beech (Fagus sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), oak (Quer- brechtice and Skřipov (18, resp. 17 species of Neu- cus sp.), lime (Tilia sp.), birch (Betula sp.) are also roptera) and a slightly lower number was found in present. Woods form a heterogenic mosaic of dif- the village Podvihov (14 species). The second group ferently aged spruce forests. includes the localities Kyjovice, Pustá Polom and The neuropteroid insects (Neuroptera, Raphi- Paskov (9, 8, resp. 7 species). When we add next dioptera) and scorpion flies (Mecoptera) were col- two species of Neuroptera which were found in the lected by Malaise traps of Townes (1972) type locality Paskov in 1998 (Holuša, Vidlička 2002), (modified and made by f. Entomologické pomôcky, a total of nine species is known from this locality. Bratislava, RNDr. O. Šauša). The Malaise trap is a The higher species composition could be a result passive, non-powered and continuously operating of the spruce forest decline caused by drought and tent-like trap. Its height is 2 m and collecting surface infestation by honey fungus. By comparison, other is approximately 6 m2. Collecting sheets are black localities are covered with much closer and denser and a covering sheet is white. The trap is anchored spruce forests as in the surroundings of Skřipov. to the ground by ropes and metal hooks. During Localities Lesní Albrechtice and Skřipov. Spe- 2005–2006, one trap was placed in each of six lo- cies Chrysopa perla and Hemerobius humulinus calities (Kyjovice: 49°49'30.17''N, 18°3'4.38''E, 390 m were very abundant in both localities. Species a.s.l.; Pustá Polom: 49°51'38.05''N,18°0'16.99''E, 430 m Chrysoperla carnea s.l. was abundant only in these a.s.l.; Podvihov: 49°51'36.47''N, 17°58'46.72''E, 460 m localities. Species Nineta flava, Nineta pallida, a.s.l.; Lesní Albrechtice: 49°48'21.09''N, 17°53'4.78''E, Chrysotropia ciliata, Chrysopa pallens, Hemerobius 460 m a.s.l.; Skřipov: 49°48'39.08''N, 17°52'59.02''E, stigma, Wesmaelius nervosus, Drepanepteryx pha- 480 m a.s.l.; Paskov: 49°42'43.34''N, 18°16'45.7''E, laenoides, Coniopteryx pygmaea and Myrmeleon 270 m a.s.l.) in very young spruce forests (10–20- formicarius did not occur in other surveyed areas. year-old). All Malaise traps were installed in small Several of them live sparsely in coniferous forests. forest clearings, minimally 30 m inwards the forest. Hemerobius atrifrons is associated with European The forest clearings are covered mainly by rough larch (Larix decidua) (Aspöck et al. 1980). The reedgrass (Calamagrostis arundinacea) and shrubs rare snake fly species Inocellia crassicornis, which like bird cherry (Padus racemosa) are growing there distribution data for Silesia and Northern Moravia occasionally too. The traps were exposed from the regions were summarized by Ševčík (1995a), was beginning of April to the end of October. From April collected in Lesní Albrechtice. to July, they were emptied every second or third day Locality Kyjovice. Euryoecic species Chrysopa and from August to October, they were emptied perla, Hemerobius humulinus and Micromus va- monthly (J. Holuša leg.). riegatus are very abundant in coniferous and de- Figs. 1a–f display only the time period in which ciduous forests (Aspöck et al. 1980). Hemerobius selected species were recorded. pini, typical for pine trees (Pinus sp.) (Aspöck et al. 1980), was also numerous in this locality. The RESULTS anD DISCUSSION Siberian faunistic elements predominated in this locality. Regarding snake flies (Raphidioptera), the Altogether nearly 2,000 specimens from the or- most abundant species were typical for pine and ders Neuroptera, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera spruce forests (Dichrostigma flavipes, Phaeostigma including 35 species of 7 families were collected notata) (Aspöck et al. 1980). 75 J. FOR. SCI., 53, 2007 (Special Issue): 74–81 b Hemerobiusȱpini a 50 Hemerobius pini 12 45 n Pustá Polom 2005 n = 43 10 Skřipov 2005 n = 20 40 Skìípovȱ2005ȱȱȱnȱ=ȱ20 Podvihov 2005 n = 87 35 8 SkSkřipovìípov ȱ20062006 ȱȱȱ nn =ȱ =31ȱ31 30 x. 6 25 ex. e 20 15 4 10 2 5 0 0 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 April I May I June I July I August AprilȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱMayȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJuneȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJulyȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱAugustȱ c Chrysopaȱperla d PustáȱPolomȱ2005ȱȱȱnnȱ=ȱ142 30 Chrysopa perla 35 Podvihov 2006 n = 42 n 30 Kyjoviceȱ2006ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱnȱ=ȱ13 25 Lesní Albrechtice 2006 n = 48 25 20 20 x. e 15 ex. 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 AprilȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱMayȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJuneȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJulyȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱAugustȱ April I May I June I July I August e f 14 Hemerobiusȱhumulinusȱ 25 Dichrostigmaȱflavipes ȱandȱPhaeostigmaȱnotata Dfȱ SkřipovSkìipov ȱ20062006 ȱȱȱȱȱȱ n n=ȱ =34ȱ34 12 Pustá Polom 2006 n = 14 PustáȱPolomȱ2006ȱȱnȱ=ȱ14 20 10 SkSkřipovìípov ȱ20062006 ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ nn =ȱ= 47ȱ47 Pnȱ Podvihov 2005ȱ2005 ȱȱȱn n=ȱ =48ȱ48 8 15 ex. 6 ex. 10 4 2 5 0 0 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 (week) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 AprilȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱMayȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJuneȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJulyȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱAugustȱ ȱAprilȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱMayȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJuneȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱJulyȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱIȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱAugustȱ g Panorpaȱgermanica h Panorpaȱcommunis 25 70 Kyjoviceȱ2006ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱnȱ=ȱ83 SkřipovSkìipov 2005ȱ2005 ȱȱȱn n= ȱ15=ȱ15 60 PustáȱPolomȱ2006ȱȱȱnȱ=ȱ80 20 SkřipovSkìipov 2006ȱ2006 ȱȱȱn n= ȱ28=ȱ28 50 15 40 ex. ex. 10 30 20 5 10 0 0 April May June July August September October April May June July August September October April May June July August September October April May June July August September October Fig.