Thrips (Thysanoptera, Insecta) of the Babia Góra massif (Western Carpathians, Poland)

Abstract

This first investigation of the Thysanoptera of the Babia Góra massif (Western Carpathians, Poland), carried out in 18 plant associations in five mountain belts, resulted in the collection of 64 species. By using a sweeping net 61 species were caught and by shaking flowering plants 53 species. The number of collected species decreased with altitude, from 62 in the lower forest belt to 21 in the alpine belt, as a result of the decreasing number of host plants and unfavorable abiotic factors. The proportion of graminicolous species increased from 22% in the foothills to 33% in the alpine zone (75% in Junco trifidi-Festucetum airoidis ). Four species characteristic of foothills and mountain areas were noted ( Oxythrips tatricus, Thrips trybomi, Haplothrips alpestris and H. alpicola ). O. tatricus was collected only on Pinus mugo in the sub-alpine belt and this was the second finding of this species in Poland.