Pecina Cave Research Articles

DIPHYUS QUADRIPUNCTORIUS (MÜLLER, 1776) (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE: ICHNEUMONINAE): THE FIRST RECORDS FROM SERBIAN CAVES

Here we present new findings of the hymenopteran Diphyus quadripunctorius (Muller, 1776) from three cave localities in Serbia. We examined a total of five overwintering female specimens collected during 2016, 2019 and 2020 in caves – Devojacka Pecina Cave, Sisevacka Pecina Cave in eastern Serbia and Ogorelicka Pecina Cave in southeastern Serbia. Additionally, a short description of D. quadripunctorius females is provided. Its phenology, tentative host association and adaptations to cave life are also discussed.

Assemblages from Marginal Spaces

Špilja Mala (Nova) pećina smještena je u planinskome području dalmatinskoga zaleđu koje predstavlja dodirnu zonu između istočne jadranske obale i unutrašnjosti. U arheološkim iskopavanjima u Maloj pećini istražen je rano- i kasnoneolitički špiljski lokalitet koji bi mogao biti ključan za bolje razumijevanje odnosa između obalnih zajednica te onih smještenih u zapadnobalkanskoj unutrašnjosti. U članku će biti predstavljeni nalazi i kontekstualni podaci prikupljeni u istraživanju iz 2016. godine, kao i rezultati njihove obrade provedene 2017. godine, koji uključuju keramičke i litičke nalaze te zooarheološke i arheobotaničke analize. Preliminarni dokazi ukazuju da špilja nije korištena kao nastamba duži vremenski period, već kao privremeno sklonište od strane zajednica koje su se kretale kroz okolne planine ili onih koje su posjećivale špilju u sklopu kratkotrajnih aktivnosti. Iskopavanja su također ukazala na moguću razliku u korištenju špilje u ranome neolitiku s tragovima naseobinskih, ali i potencijalnih ritualnih aktivnosti, u odnosu na kasni neolitik s isključivo pastoralnom funkcijom. Mala pećina je stoga iznimno važna za bolje razumijevanje odnosa između obale i zaleđa u razdoblju neolitika.

ON THE FIRST NON-TYPE LOCALITY FINDING OF DUVALIUS (PARADUVALIUS) STANKOVITCHI GEORGEVITCHI (JEANNEL, 1923) (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE: TRECHINAE)

Troglobitic trechine ground beetle, Duvalius (Paraduvalius) stankovitchi georgevitchi (Jeannel, 1923) was found outside its type locality (Lazareva Pecina Cave, village of Zlot, near Bor, Kucajske Planine Mts., eastern Serbia) for the first time. Specimens of the mentioned taxon were recently collected in Vernjikica Cave nearby. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed that specimens from both caves belong to the same subspecies, and that there are no significant differences between them.

Duvalius (Paraduvalius) petrovici sp.n. and D.(P.) sotirovi sp.n. (Carabidae: Trechinae: Trechini): Two new troglobitic ground beetles from eastern and southeastern Serbia

The following two new troglobitic trechine ground beetle species are described from two caves in eastern and southeastern Serbia: Duvalius (Paraduvalius) petrovici sp. n., from the Resavska Pecina Cave, village of Jelovac, near Despotovac, Kucajske Planine Mts., and D. (P.) sotirovi sp. n., from the Ogorelicka Pecina Cave, village of Sicevo, near Nis, Svrljiske Planine Mts. The new species considerably differ from the related taxa. All important morphological characteristics of the species, along with the diagnoses and images of the taxa are presented. These represent relicts and endemics of eastern and southeastern parts of Serbia and are of great age (probably Tertiary or even before).

Three new cave-dwelling trechine ground beetles from eastern and southeastern Serbia (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)

Three new troglobitic trechine ground beetle species are described from three caves in eastern and southeastern Serbia: Duvalius (Paraduvalius) bogovinae sp. n., from the Bogovinska Pecina Cave, village of Bogovina, Kucajske Planine Mts., near Boljevac, eastern Serbia; D. (P.) milutini sp. n., from the Samar cave system, village of Kopajkosara, Mt. Kalafat, near Svrljig, southeastern Serbia, and D. (P.) beljanicae sp. n., from the Velika Atula Cave, village of Strmosten, Mt. Beljanica, near Despotovac, eastern Serbia. The new species are easily distinguished from relatives. All important morphological features, along with the diagnoses and illustrations of the new taxa are presented. The new species are relicts and endemics of eastern and southeastern Serbia. They probably belong to old phyletic lineages of Tertiary or even pre-Tertiary origin.

Speleogenesis of the Jankova pecina cave and karst in it's nearby vicinity

This paper provides the insight into morpho-hydrologic characteristics and speleogenesis of the Jankova pecina cave and the evolution of karst in the nearby vicinity. Phases in cave evolution, which represents the alternation of accumulative and erosion processes, were analysed. Clogging of existed conduits during the first accumulative phase leads to displacement of the Janko's creek abyss and formation of another entrance along with new, deeper storaged conduits. The strewed parts of the cave were exposed to partial removal of sediments what resulted in exhumation of its oldest products. The opening of the quite new entrance (vigled) during the opposite process and phase of clogging the endure air circulation inside the cave has been changed. As the consequence, the asymmetric forms of stalactites and stalagmites formed. Study of the Jankova pecina cave represents a contribution to better knowledge of accumulative processes as a significant speleogenetic factor.

Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) rhizon n. sp.: A new cave false scorpion from the bay of Kotor (Chthoniidae, Pseudoscorpiones)

A new cave pseudoscorpion from Montenegro, Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) rhizon n. sp., is described. The newly erected taxon is endemic to the Bukaricka Pecina Cave, Knezlaz, Montenegro. Its taxonomic relationship with the phenetically close congeners, including comparative morphological traits, is described.

On some new cave-dwelling ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechini) from eastern Serbia

The following new cavernicolous ground beetle taxa are described from three caves in eastern Serbia: Duvalius (Paraduvalius) trifunovici sp. n., from the Mandina Pecina Cave, village of Zlot, near Bor, Kucajske Planine Mts., D. (P.) rtanjensis sp. n., from the Golema Porica Pit, Mt. Rtanj, and Glabroduvalius gen. n., G. tupiznicensis sp. n., from the Gornja Lenovacka Pecina Cave, village of Lenovac, near Zajecar, Mt. Tupiznica. The new taxa are easily distinguished from related organisms. All important morphological features have been listed, along with the diagnoses and illustrations of the taxa. The new taxa are relicts and endemics of eastern Serbia and probably belong to old phyletic lineages of Tertiary or even pre-Tertiary origin.

A new Epigean pseudoscorpion from east Serbia: Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) timacensis n. sp. (Chthoniidae, Pseudoscorpiones)

Only five species of Chthonius C. L. Koch (subgenus Ephippiochthonius Beier, 1930) (Chthoniidae) are presently known from Serbia. Among these, one should mention Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) bidentatus Beier, 1939 (endemic to the Petnicka Pecina Cave in Western Serbia), C. (E.) kemza Curcic, Lee & Makarov, 1993 (from a cave in Eastern Serbia), C. (E.) microtuberculatus Hadzi, 1937 (distributed in southern Serbia, FYROM, and Bulgaria), C. (E.) tetrachelatus (Preyssler), 1970 (widely distributed all over the world), C. (E.) metohicus Curcic, 2011 (from the UN Administered Province of Kosovo), and C. (E.) civitatisveti Curcic & Radja, 2011 (from southern Croatia), respectively. However, a new epigean species belonging to the genus Chthonius - Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) timacensis Curcic & Stojanovic n. sp. is described from eastern Serbia and is endemic to the area studied. Its taxonomic relationships with the phenetically close congeners C. (E.) metohicus Curcic and C. (E.) tetrachelatus (Preyssler), as well as its comparative morphological traits, are described.

A new cave Pseudoscorpion (Pseudoscorpiones: Chthoniidae): Chthonius (Chthonius) lupinus n.sp. from Bosnia-Herzegovina

A new cavernicolous pseudoscorpion pertaining to the genus Chthonius (Chthonius) C. L. Koch, from Herzegovina (Bosnia-Herzegovina) is erected. Its relations with close congeners are briefly discussed. The new species Chthonius (Chthonius) lupinus n. sp. is an endemic form presently known only from its type locality (Vucija pecina Cave, Mt. Leotar, nr. Trebinje, Herzegovina).

On Roncus almissae n. sp., R. krupanjensis n. sp., and R. radji n. sp., three new pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae) from Croatia and Serbia, respectively

Three new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Roncus L. Koch (Neobisiidae) are described from Croatia (from nr. Omis, Dalmatia: R. almissae n. sp.) and Serbia (near the town of Krupanj, north-western Serbia, Lukica Pecina Cave and nr. Izvor: R. krupanjensis n. sp., and R. radji n. sp.), and their diagnostic characteristics are illustrated. Their interrelations with phenetically close congeners are analyzed; in addition, the presence/absence of microsetae proximal to the trichobothria eb and esb is established as an important taxonomic characteristic.

Magnetostratigraphy and fold tests from Račiška pečina and Pečina v Borštu caves (Classical Karst, Slovenia)

Clastic and chemogenic cave sediments were sampled and analyzed from Raciska pecina and Pecina v Borstu caves of southwestern Slovenia. Samples were subjected to both thermal and alternating field demagnetization; specimens belonging to the same sample of the same layer produce identical results. Unblocking temperatures of 540 to 560°C on average suggests magnetite as the principal carrier of magnetization. These directions also pass a reversals test indicating the demagnetization results are free of secondary overprints and have adequately averaged out paleosecular variation. Normally magnetized clays containing fauna belonging to the MN17 mammal biozone at a depth of ∼ 4 m in Raciska pecina cave indicate these clays were deposited at the beginning of the Olduvai subchron (1.95 Ma). Correlation with the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) indicates the base of the speleothems in Raciska pecina terminate in the upper part of subchron C2An.3n with numerous breaks in deposition, lasting up to 250 ka and more. Therefore rates of speleothem growth cannot be calculated. Fold tests on dome-like stalagmites of differing sizes and ages (Pleistocene, Pliocene) from the two caves indicate the domelike structures are primary.

Neobisium deltshevi (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), a new endemic cave-dwelling pseudoscorpion from East Serbia

A new endemic cave-dwelling pseudoscorpion species from the Seselacka Pecina Cave, village Seselac, nr. Soko Banja, East Serbia is presented, described and illustrated. Its main morphometric characteristics and important diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to those of its closest congener Neobisium carpaticum (Beier, 1930) from Serbia.

Roncus hajnehaj n. sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), a new endemic cave pseudoscorpion from Montenegro

A new species of cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions pertaining to the genus Roncus L. Koch, 1873 from Montenegro is erected. Its relations with close congeners are briefly discussed. The new species, Roncus hajnehaj n. sp., is an endemic form presently known only from its type locality (Haj Nehaj Pecina Cave, nr. Sutomore, Montenegro).

Neobisium bozidarcurcici (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), a new endemic cave pseudoscorpion from Montenegro

A new endemic cavernicolous pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium bozidarcurcici, from Vodena Pecina Cave on Mt. Durmitor in Montenegro is described and illustrated. Its morphological characters and diagnostic features are analyzed and compared to those of its phenetically closest congeners, N. davidbengurioni Curcic & Dimitrijevic and N. mendelssohni Curcic & Curcic, from caves on Mt. Durmitor.

Fossil Vertebrates and Paleomagnetism Update of One of the Earlier Stages of Cave Evolution in the Classical Karst, Slovenia: Pliocene of Črnotiče II Site and Račiška Pečina Cave

For the first time in the Classical Karst, paleontological data enabled to match the magnetostratigraphic record precisely with the geomagnetic polarity timescale in two studied sites: (i) a series of speleothems alternating with red clays in Raciska pecina Cave (Matarsko podolje), and (ii) an unroofed paleocave of the Crnotice II site (Podgorski kras Plateau) completely filled by fluvial clastic sediments covered by speleothems. The later sites are also characterized by a rich appearance of fossil tubes of autochthonous stygobiont serpulid Marifugia cavatica. The vertebrate record is composed mostly of enamel fragments of rodents and soricomorphs. Absence of rootless arvicolids as well as taxonomic composition of the mammalian fauna suggests the Pliocene age of both sites. For (i) Raciska pecina (with Apodemus, cf. Borsodia) it was estimated to middle to late MN17 (ca 1.8–2.4 Ma), while (ii) the assemblage from Crnotice II (with Deinsdorfia sp., Beremedia fissidens, Apodemus cf. atavus, Rhagapodemus cf. frequens, Glirulus sp., Cseria sp.) is obviously quite older: MN15–MN16 (ca 3.0–4.1 Ma). In respect to congruence of biostratigraphic and paleomagnetic data and a reliable sedimentary setting of the samples we propose to apply the respective datum also as the time of one ancient speleogenetic phase in the Classical Karst.

Roncus travuniensis sp. n. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), a troglobitic false scorpion from Bosnia-Herzegovina

A new pseudoscorpion species, Roncus travuniensis sp. n. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones), was collected in the Arenstorfova Pecina Cave, near Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main morphological traits of the specimen studied clearly demonstrate its affinities with Roncus vulcanius Beier, 1938. Additionally, some taxonomic and biogeographical traits of this new pseudoscorpion are also discussed.

Neobisium rajkodimitrijevici n. Sp. (Neobisiidae, Pseudoscorpiones): A new false scorpion from a cave in eastern Serbia

A new cave-dwelling species of pseudoscorpion belonging to the family Neobisiidae - Neobisium rajkodimitrijevici n. sp. - is described from the Rajkova Pecina Cave near Majdanpek in Eastern Serbia. A diagnosis of the new species is presented. This taxon is a relict and endemic to the area studied. Additionally, some taxonomic, biogeographical, and phoretic traits of the new species are discussed in the light of evolution of the karst relief of the Balkan Peninsula.

A new endemic representative of the genus Rascioduvalius S. B. Curcic, Brajkovic, Mitic & B. P. M. Curcic from Mt. Zlatibor, Western Serbia (Trechini, Carabidae, Coleoptera)

A new species of cavernicolous and endemic trechine ground beetles Rascioduvalis zlatiborensis n. sp., is described and diagnosed in the present paper. Also, all important taxonomic features are considered and illustrated. The type specimens of the new species were collected from the Markova (= Rsumska) Pecina Cave, village of Gornji Ljubis, Mt. Zlatibor, Western Serbia. The new species and its congeners belong to a separate phyletic lineage of Tertiary age. All members of Rascioduvalius S. B. Curcic, Brajkovic, Mitic & B. P. M. Curcic are distributed in Western Serbia only, where they have gone through intense differentiation and radiation due to evolution of the karstic relief.

Pholeuonopsis cvijici, a new troglobitic bathysciine beetle from west Serbia - Coleoptera, Cholevidae

A new species of the troglobitic bathysciine cholevids (Pholeuonopsis cvijici n. sp) has been described from the Potpecska Pecina Cave, village Potpece, near Uzice, west Serbia. This new species is clearly distinct from its phenetically close congeners in many important respects such as: the body size, the body length to breadth ratio, the shape of the pronotum, the size of the scutellum, the shape of elytra, the form of aedeagus, the different position of setae on the apex of the paramerae, and the form of the inner sac of aedeagus. The new species belongs to an old phyletic lineage of the early Tertiary origin, and is both relict and endemic to west Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula.