European Fauna Research Articles

An insight into the molecular phylogeny of Drepanidae (Lepidoptera) with an emphasis on the European fauna

An insight into the molecular phylogeny of Drepanidae (Lepidoptera) with an emphasis on the European fauna

The Final Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Faunal Dispersals from East to Europe and Correlation of the Villafranchian Biochronology between Eastern and Western Europe

The Villafranchian stage in the mammal fauna evolution in Eurasia (ca. 3.6/3.4 Ma—ca. 1.2 Ma) is associated with the beginning of the formation of the modern appearance of the mammal megafauna of today’s Palaearctic. The cooling and the aridification starting with the beginning of the Early Pleistocene gradually eliminated the quasi-tropical appearance of the Late Neogene landscapes and fauna of Europe. The time from the Mid-Piacenzian (ca. 3.3–3.0 Ma) to the end of the Early Pleistocene was a time of particularly intense dispersal of species, of faunal exchange between Eurasia and Africa, and of the entry of new mammals into Europe from the East. That is why the correlation of the biochronology of the Villafranchian fauna between Eastern and Western Europe is of particular interest. Accumulated data make possible a more precise correlation of these faunas today. A correlation of selected Eastern European localities with established faunal units and MNQ zones is made in the present work. Usually, the dispersal from Asia or from E. Europe to W. Europe is instantaneous from a geological point of view, but in a number of cases, reaching W. Europe happens later, or some species known to be from Eastern Europe do not reach Western Europe. The main driving forces of the faunal dispersals, which are the key bioevents in the faunal formation, are climate changes, which in turn, affect the environment. We can summarize the following more significant Villafranchian bioevents in Europe: the End Pliocene (Early Villafranchian: MNQ16) turnover related to the first appearance of a number of taxa, for example, felids, canids, proboscideans, and ungulates; the Quaternary beginning turnover. Correlated with this are the beginning of the Middle Villafranchian, which should be placed at about 2.6 Ma; the Coste San Giacomo faunal unit turnover (Senèze and Slivnitsa localities should be included here, and the FU itself, at the very beginning of the late Villafranchian (=MNQ18a)); the Pachycrocuta event at the very beginning of the Olivola FU; and the events related to the Late Villafranchian/Epivillafranchian bounfary.

Areas of Endemism and Biogeographic Regionalization of the Iberian Peninsula Based on Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Based on the distribution of 275 species of ants native to the Iberian Peninsula (IP), we identified areas of endemism (AE) within its geographical limits and present a biogeographic regionalization using two complementary methods and two types of operational geographical units. For endemicity analysis (EA), we used a 100 km2 grid cell, and for parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), we used hydrological basins as natural units. The EA revealed twelve areas of endemism that were grouped into five consensus areas. These are the Northeastern area, South plateau, Guadalquivir Valley, Baetic System, and Iberian Peninsula (whole). PAE resulted in a cladogram that classified hydrological basins into at least two successively nested subsets: an Atlantic group that is more related to northern European fauna and an Iberian subset that is well supported by synapomorphies. The Iberian subset was differentiated into four main areas: (a) a Northeastern area formed by the Pyrenees and the Catalan Coastal Range, (b) a mainland area containing the Central System and Guadiana and Tajo valleys, (c) a Southern area consisting of the Guadalquivir Valley and the Baetic System, and (d) a Northern coastal area. The results showed congruence between the two methods since many of the synapomorphies are shared among the diagnostic and IP endemic species of the EA. Both EA and PAE showed the relevance of the heterogeneous peninsular orography that combines mountainous regions with valleys and plateaus, which have acted as historical barriers or corridors. The presence of numerous endemic species, particularly in the southern third of the IP, suggests that several Iberian refuges for ants originated during glacial periods. These areas constitute priority sites for the conservation of ants in particular and biodiversity in general on the IP and allow further research about the processes that generated these distributional patterns.

Evaluating the expansion of African species into Europe driven by climate change

AbstractAimOngoing climate change is presently influencing the distribution ranges of numerous species, with both range expansions and latitudinal shifts being observed. In southern Europe, a biogeographical border that separates African and European biota, while at the same time acting as a migration bridge for many species, these changes are of particular relevance. This study aimed to analyse the responses of nine typically African birds to climate change to provide information on the ongoing and future occupation of Europe by these species.LocationWestern Palearctic and surrounding areas.MethodsTo this end, the distributions of the species in their native ranges were modelled, both in the present and in future climate scenarios, using their current breeding ranges and a set of topographic and climatic variables. The climatic favourability for the nine species was then combined using fuzzy logic.ResultsThe results showed that southern Europe is highly favourable for our set of African birds, except for Rüppell's Vulture, and future forecasts indicated that this favourability would increase further north, again excluding the African Vulture.Main conclusionsIf the climate continues to warm, further arrivals of individuals are to be expected, increasing the possibility that self‐sustaining populations may become established in southern Europe. Furthermore, new African species may start to occupy this area, with the likelihood of an Africanisation of the European fauna. Considering the role played by southern Europe as a potential focal point for the colonisation of this continent by African species, it is important to track their northward expansion and future spread.

Evolution of wing shape in geometrid moths: phylogenetic effects dominate over ecology.

Locomotory performance is an important determinant of fitness in most animals, including flying insects. Strong selective pressures on wing morphology are therefore expected. Previous studies on wing shape in Lepidoptera have found some support for hypotheses relating wing shape to environment-specific selective pressures on aerodynamic performance. Here, we present a phylogenetic comparative study on wing shape in the lepidopteran family Geometridae, covering 374 species of the northern European fauna. We focused on 11 wing traits including aspect ratio, wing roundness, and the pointedness of the apex, as well as the ratio of forewing and hindwing areas. All measures were taken from images available on the internet, using a combination of tools available in Fiji software and R. We found that wing shape demonstrates a phylogenetically conservative pattern of evolution in Geometridae, showing similar or stronger phylogenetic signal than many of its potential predictors. Several wing traits showed statistically significant associations with predictors such as body size, phenology, and preference for forest habitats. Overall, however, all of these associations remained notably weak, with no wing shape being excluded for any value of the predictors, including body size. We conclude that, in geometrids, wing traits do not readily respond to selective pressures optimizing aerodynamic performance of the moths in different environments. Selection on wing shape may nevertheless operate through other functions of the wings, with the effectiveness of crypsis at rest being a promising candidate for further studies.

Enhancing Buprestidae monitoring in Europe: Trap catches increase with a fluorescent yellow colour but not with the presence of decoys.

This study investigated the efficacy of various traps differing in colour (green or yellow), presence or absence of decoys (dead Agrilus planipennis) or design (commercial MULTz or multifunnel traps, and homemade bottle- or fan-traps) for monitoring European Buprestidae in deciduous forests and pear orchards. Over two years, we collected 2220 samples on a two-week basis from 382 traps across 46 sites in Belgium and France. None of the traps proved effective for monitoring Agrilus sinuatus in infested pear orchards (17 specimens captured in 2021, 0 in 2022). The decoys did not affect the catch rates whatever the trap model, colour, buprestid species or sex. The fluorescent yellow traps (MULTz and yellow fan-traps) tended to be more attractive than the green traps (green fan-traps and, to a lower extent, multifunnel green traps). Most Agrilus species showed similar patterns in mean trap catches, with the exception of Agrilus biguttatus, which had the largest catches in the green multifunnel traps. Finally, we observed a high variation in catch rates between localities: the site explained 64% of the catches variance, while the tree within the site and the type of trap explained only 6-8.5% each. In many sites, we captured very few specimens, despite the abundance of dying mature trees favourable to the development of Buprestidae. For the early detection of non-native Buprestidae, it therefore seems essential to maximise the number of monitoring sites. Due to their cost-effectiveness, lightweight design, and modularity, fan-traps emerged as promising tools for buprestid monitoring. The study's findings extend beyond European fauna, as a preliminary trial in Canada suggested that yellow fan-traps could also improve captures of non-European buprestid species and catch species of interest such as Agrilus bilineatus (a species on the EPPO A2 list of pests/pathogens recommended for regulation in the EU).

On the weevil fauna (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) of the Volga upland and the Oka-Don lowland

Information is provided on new ndings in European Russia of 14 rare species of weevils (Curculionidae), signi cantly complementing the knowledge of their distributions. Icaris sparganii pertinax , Ceutorhynchus nanus , Platypteronyx auritus , Platygasteronyx solskyi , Pseudorchestes asiaticus and Phacephorus hirtellus were recorded for the rst time on the Volga Upland ( Phacephorus hirtellus was reliably recorded for the rst time in the fauna of Europe). Ceutorhynchus nanus , Oprohinus suturalis , Tychius pumilus , Orchestes quedenfeldtii and Pseudorchestes exiguus are discovered for the rst time in the Oka-Don Lowland. Eight species are listed for the rst time for Saratov Province, six species, for Voronezh Province, and one species for Volgograd Province. For some species, new data on their host plants have been obtained.

Neogene climatic fluctuations and poor connectivity with the centres of diversity shaped the Western Palaearctic net-winged beetle fauna

Abstract Only 22 net-winged beetle species (Elateroidea: Lycidae) are known from the Western Palaearctic region (WPR), i.e. less than 0.5% of the global lycid diversity and much fewer than from similar latitudes of East Asia or Northern America. We used comprehensive distribution data and a molecular phylogeny of ~400 world lycids, including 14 European species, to provide a new perspective for understanding the structure and evolution of this group in the WPR. All Mediterranean species represent deeply rooted lineages with relatives in eastern Asia. These species occur in relictual ranges close to the family’s Pleistocene refugial edge. The phylogeny points to the loss of biological connection with East Asia since the Mid-Miocene. A third of WPR species is widespread in Central and Northern Europe, reaching eastern Asia, some of them possibly younger elements of the European fauna. Unlike the relatively high diversity in the Eocene amber, the extant net-winged beetles represent a small fraction of elateroid diversity in the WPR and are generally rare. Therefore, we assume that most WPR species are relics trapped in Mediterranean refugia since the onset of the Plio-Pleistocene cooling and are critically endangered by the ongoing loss of suitable habitats.

PHTHEOCHROA APENNINANA, EPINOTIA CINEREANA AND CYDIA INDIVISA NOT YET LISTED IN THE ITALIAN FAUNA, CNEPHASIA KENNELI NEW TO EUROPE (LEPIDOPTERA TORTRICIDAE)

In the paper are reported few notes on four Lepidoptera Tortricidae, Phtheochroa apenninana, Epinotia cinereana and Cydia indivisa not yet listed in the Italian fauna, and Cnephasia kenneli new also to Europe. P. apenninana was collected on Gran Sasso, Abruzzo; E. cinereana and C. indivisa were collected in South Tyrol; C. kenneli was found along the Adriatic coast of central Italy. This last species was previously cited for Jordan, Asia Minor, Syria?, Kuldscha?, and Iran. Key Words: Lepidoptera Tortricidae, new records, Italian and European fauna

Current state of trees and shrubs vegetation conditional references linden-ash oakwoods flood places of Dniprovsk Prisamarya

Natural oakwoods are considered one of the main centers of biodiversity of flora and fauna in Europe and an important agent of providing a wide range of ecosystem, sociocultural and economic services. But in the modern period, there is a decrease in the share of common oak natural forests in the forest reserves of European countries and various manifestations of their degradation. Floodplain forests form a particular value among natural oakwoods. They’re not only play an important role in the formation of vegetation and biogeocenotic cover, but also have a significant positive environment-transforming effect on soil-hydrological and mesoclimatic conditions. That helps to regulate the hydrological regime of river floods. An analysis of the current state of the tree-shrub vegetation of conditional reference linden-ash oakwoods of the central floodplain of the Samara River was conducted. They are a complex of forest vegetation component of Prysamary Dniprovskyi, the territory of which is reserved for the creation of a national nature park. The forest valuation indicators of stands of the main forest-forming tree species have been determined. According to the obtained data, the species composition of tree-shrub vegetation and the type of stand correspond to typical fresh central floodplain linden-ash forests. An increase in the share of participation in the tree stand of Acer campestre and a decrease of Tilia cordata are characteristic. Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior take a leading part in the formation of stocks of stem wood. It is determined that in the natural linden-ash oak centropopulation Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides, Acer campestre, Ulmus laevis, Tilia cordata, Ulmus glabra, Pyrus communis, Ulmus minor belong to the normal type and are stable and capable of self-maintenance. The most active self-regeneration is recorded in Acer campestre. The population of Quercus robur is characterized as regressive with signs of disruption of natural regeneration processes and the absence of healthy undergrowth. Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides, Ulmus laevis, Pyrus communis are distinguished by the highest indicators of vitality ((Ln) and according to the index of relative vitality their tree stands belong to the “healthy” categoty. The tree stand of Quercus robur belongs to the “weakend” category. Deterioration of the vitality of Quercus robur tree stands and disruption of its self-regeneration processes can potentially lead to a decrease in the edifying role of oak in fresh linden-ash forets of the valley complex of the Samara River. Also, it can lead to a transformation of their type of wood composition and a decrease in productivity. Major of environmental significance of the forest vegetation of this area requires systematic comprehensive monitoring studies to update current data on the state of unique natural oakwoods. The presented results are a continuation of the monitoring studies of natural reference central floodplain linden-ash forests and can become the basis for the development of differentiated methods of their preservation and restoration.

The DeepFaune initiative: a collaborative effort towards the automatic identification of European fauna in camera trap images

The DeepFaune initiative: a collaborative effort towards the automatic identification of European fauna in camera trap images

THE STRUCTURE ASSOCIATIONS OF CARABIDAE (COLEOPTERA) IN WATERSHED LINDEN FORESTS OF UDMURTIA AND THEIR CHANGES UNDER ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCE

The composition and structure of peculiar complexes of ground beetles (Carabidae) of watershed linden forests of Udmurtia were studied and analyzed in comparison with complexes of disturbed forests with a predominance of linden in the green zone of Izhevsk. It has been shown that about 40 species of the family inhabit the primary watershed linden forests, among which forest mesophiles and mesohygrophiles predominate, including a number of rare and specially protected species of Siberian and Ural origin ( Carabus schoenherri Fischer von Waldheim, 1820, C. aeruginosus hermanni Mannerheim, 1827, Carabus henningi Fischer von Waldheim, 1817, Pterostichus urengaicus Jureček, 1924, P. uralensis krasnobaevi O.Berlov & Tilly, 1998) and representatives of European fauna ( Carabus glabratus Paykull, 1790, C. hortensis Linnaeus, 1758, Pterostichus aethiops (Panzer , 1796). Complexes of recreational and, especially, park linden forests are characterized by low species richness and trivial species composition, which is based on common eurybiont and meadow-field species, as well as an invasive European species - Carabus nemoralis Müller, 1764.

Updating the fossil record of the alligatoroid crocodylian Diplocynodon from the late Eocene of Transylvanian Basin

The basal alligatoroid crocodylian Diplocynodon kochi erected for incomplete three-dimensional skull from the late Eocene (Priabonian) Cluj Limestone Formation in Romania, represents one of the easternmost distributed European members of Diplocynodontidae. New isolated cranial and postcranial remains provide new insights into the diagnostic features, phylogenetic relationships and lifestyle of this taxon, extending its fossil record to four new localities situated on the north-western side of the Transylvanian Basin. Diagnostic traits of the holotype include an extended insertion surface of jaw adductors on the parietal and squamosal, whereas the newly referred mandibles possess an enlarged and procumbent first dentary tooth, and the posterior teeth and alveoli are mediolaterally compressed. These attributes might have been related to the prey capture approach of D. kochi, involved undoubtedly in the food chains of both continental (fluvial or marshy-lacustrine) and shallow marine environments, as indicated by the taphonomic settings of the surveyed fossil bearing deposits. The warm and humid climate is indicated for the late Eocene (Priabonian) of the Transylvanian Basin based on palynomorphs, however, the presence of “growth rings” and “lines of arrested growth” on the prezygapophyses of a dorsal vertebra referred to D. kochi, points to a seasonal climate, installed well before the Eocene–Oligocene terminal event. Positioned between western and eastern European faunas, the diplocynodontid populations from the Transylvanian Basin survived probably the Eocene–Oligocene transition, as suggested by the early Oligocene (Rupelian) fossil record from the area.

Early Middle Pleistocene Fauna Of Fossil Rodents And LoessPaleosol Series Of The Pekla Key Section (Taman Peninsula, Russia)

The history of the early Middle Pleistocene small mammal faunas of Eastern Europe is very complicated. The early Middle Pleistocene which spanned from the Brunhes-Matuyama transition (772.9 ka BP, within MIS 19) till the beginning of the Likhvin Interglacial (424 ka BP, MIS 11) includes a number of interglacials and glaciations. Rodent species of the Tiraspolian faunal assemblage were found in the Chaudian fluvial deposits of the Cape Pekla section (northern coast of the Taman Peninsula). The evolutional level of the Pekla rodents are similar to those from the stratotype section of the Tiraspolian faunal assemblage in the Kolkotova Balka in Moldova (MIS 17) , which includes Eolagurus sp., Mimomys savini, Microtus (Terricola) arvalidens, Microtus (Alexandromys) ex gr. oeconomus and other species. The Pekla fauna also resembles the rodent fauna from famous English West Runton Freshwater Bed locality formed during the Cromerian Interglacial II and some other East and West European faunas. In the current work the entire loess-paleosol sequence of the Pekla section was described with five paleosols from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene. The sequence reflects the complexity of climatic fluctuations from the early Middle Pleistocene to the Holocene.

Troglomorphic adaptations on the northern European frontier: the phylogeny of the cave Pseudosinella (Hexapoda, Collembola) in the Western Carpathians

IntroductionUsing an integrative taxonomic approach, we investigated the morphological and molecular characters to identify the species of the genus Pseudosinella occurring in caves of the Western Carpathians and to clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Based on morphological characters, we hypothesized that Pseudosinella aggtelekiensis (Stach, 1929) and Pseudosinella paclti (Rusek, 1961) originated from different phyletic lineages.MethodsWe used the barcoding fragment of the mtDNA COI gene from 87 individuals from 16 caves to reconstruct the phylogenetic history of the genus Pseudosinella.ResultsThe molecular phylogenetic tree revealed two distinct species groups with allopatric distributions. The first group consisted of P. aggtelekiensis populations from the Slovak Karst and three undescribed species from fragmented and isolated karst areas in southeastern Slovakia. The second group, P. paclti populations in the Central Western Carpathians, was merged. This group included Pseudosinellamuranensis, a new species taxonomically described in this work. It is characterized by highly developed troglomorphic features and is restricted to a small karst area, the Muranska planina Plateau. The phylogeny of the genus Pseudosinella from the caves of the Western Carpathians revealed a Miocene diversification. According to molecular calibration, the two distinct Pseudosinella lineages were separated in the Middle Miocene, about 14.51 Mya, followed by further diversification in the P. paclti lineage 10.89 Mya and in the P. aggtelekiensis lineage 11.14 Mya.DiscussionThis phylogeny is consistent with the uplift of Triassic limestones during the early formation of the Western Carpathians in the Paratethys region and the initial development of caves during this period. The study provides further important evidence that the Western Carpathians played a significant role as an independent speciation center of the obligate cave fauna in Europe.

Wildlife mortality on roads crossing a protected area: The case of Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park in north-eastern Greece

Wildlife-vehicle collisions have been identified as an important ecological problem in most countries around the world, during the last decades. In the present work we examined the impacts on wildlife arising from two road categories crossing and adjoining the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park (DLS NP), in north-eastern Greece. The study area is consisted of one of the most diverse fauna in Europe, with 202 bird species including 36 out of 38 European diurnal raptors, 60–65 mammal species, 29 reptiles and 13 amphibians. Vehicle collisions was the highest mortality factor in the study (83.9%) among five recorded categories, poison, electrocution, drowning, vehicle collisions and unidentified causes. 204 vehicle casualties were recorded out of 243 in total. Mammals (90.7%) were the vertebrates that mainly suffered from road mortality, including 11 species. The stone marten Martes foina contributed with the highest numbers, followed by the red fox Vulpes vulpes, the hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus and the wild cat Felis silvestris. Although the contribution of birds on the road casualties was low, nine species were identified, including five diurnal and four nocturnal species, with raptors predominating. Most road casualties were observed in the national road network (71.6%), mainly during holidays (58.3%). Traffic volume, road category, season and blind bend were all dominant factors with different effects determining high wildlife-vehicle collision values. Mitigation measures that can reduce the harmful effects of roads on wildlife in the DLS NP are also discussed.

Chronology and distribution of Central and Eastern European Pleistocene rhinoceroses (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae) – A review

The family Rhinocerotidae is a key component of the Cenozoic European fauna. It reached its peak diversity during Miocene and began to decline in the Pliocene; the last representatives became extinct in Europe during the Quaternary. The present state-of-the-art review takes stock of the knowledge accumulated on Central and Eastern European Pleistocene rhinos to date. Eight species were present in Central and Eastern Europe in the Quaternary; five belonged to the genus Stephanorhinus (S. etruscus, S. jeanvireti, S. hundsheimensis, S. hemitoechus, and S. kirchbergensis), one was the woolly rhino Coelodonta antiquitatis, and two species were members of the genus Elasmotherium (E. peii and E. caucasicum). This review also offered the opportunity to critically reconsider some aspects of the systematics and stratigraphic location of the finds. Coelodonta antiquitatis is shown to have still been present as late as the Interplenivistulian and the Last Glacial Maximum; radiocarbon dating of its latest remains provided the timing of the final disappearance of the woolly rhino from the studied region. The Late Pleistocene distribution of Coelodonta antiquitatis in Central and Eastern Europe was found to largely overlap that of the woolly mammoth.

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: contribution to the knowledge on DNA barcodes of cuckoo wasps, with the description of new species from the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae).

DNA barcoding technologies have provided a powerful tool for the fields of ecology and systematics. Here, we present a part of the InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: contribution to the knowledge on DNA barcodes of cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) dataset representing 144 specimens and 103 species, covering approximately 44% of the Iberian and 21% of the European fauna. The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI - DNA Barcoding Portuguese terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity) aims to fill the barcoding gap for the terrestrial invertebrate taxa. All DNA extractions are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources and specimens are deposited in the University of Mons collection (Belgium) and in the Natur-Museum in Lucerne (Switzerland). This dataset increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of 102 species of cuckoo wasps. A total of 52 species, from 11 different genera, were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), with DNA barcodes for another 44 species added from under-represented taxa in BOLD. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through the BOLD online database. Nine cuckoo wasp species are newly recorded for Portugal. Additionally, two new species for science are described: Chrysiscrossi Rosa, sp. nov. from southern Portugal and Hedychridiumcalcarium Rosa, sp. nov. from eastern Spain. Several taxonomic changes are proposed and Hedychrumrutilans Dahlbom, 1845 is found to consist of two different taxa that can be found in sympatry, Hedychrumrutilans s. str. and Hedychrumviridaureum Tournier, 1877 stat. nov. Stilbumwestermanni Dahlbom, 1845 stat. nov. is confirmed as distinct from Stilbumcalens (Fabricius, 1781), with the latter species not confirmed as present in Iberia; barcoded Stilbum material from Australia is distinct and represents Stilbumamethystium (Fabricius, 1775) sp. resurr.; Portuguese material identified as Hedychridiumchloropygum Buysson, 1888 actually belongs to Hedychridiumcaputaureum Trautmann & Trautmann, 1919, the first confirmed record of this species from Iberia. Philoctetesparvulus (Dahlbom, 1845) is confirmed to be a synonym of Philoctetespunctulatus (Dahlbom, 1845). Chrysislusitanica Bischoff, 1910 is confirmed as a valid species. Chrysishebraeica Linsenmaier, 1959 stat. nov. is raised to species status.

Biogeographical Patterns of Earwigs in Italy

Placed in the center of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, Italy plays a central role for the study of Europe's biogeography. In this paper, the influence of climatic, spatial, and historical factors on current patterns of variation in earwig species richness and composition is investigated. The Italian earwig fauna is mainly composed of species which are either widely distributed in Europe and the Palearctic region or that are endemic to the Alps and the Apennines. Variation in species richness does not follow any obvious geographical patterns, but a positive influence of precipitation on richness is consistent with earwig preferences for humid climates. European mainland territories did not contribute substantially to the current biodiversity of Italian earwigs, which explains the lack of a distinct peninsula effect, although a southward decrease in similarity with the central European fauna was observed. However, southern areas did not exert a pivotal role during Pleistocene glaciations in determining current patterns of species richness. Variation in species composition among Italian regions can be mostly explained by geographical proximity, while climatic differences and historical (paleogeographical and paleoecological) events seem to have played a minor role. However, the isolation of ancient earwig stocks on Italian mountains led to the origin of a relatively large number of endemics, which makes the Italian earwig fauna one of the richest in Europe.

Brenthis daphne (Bergsträsser, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) – new species for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova

This article presents a new species for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova – Brenthis daphne (Bergsträsser, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), which was reported in the center and northwest of the country. Genus Brenthis was recorded for the first time in the country in 2014, being represented by B. ino – an endangered species in the European fauna. Thus, the genus Brenthis includes two of the three species known in Europa and the number of species from the Nymphalidae family identified on the territory of the Republic of Moldova reached 61.