Jana Christophoryová

Eukoenenia florenciae (Arachnida: Palpigradi): Lessons from a newcomer to Central Europe and the island of Tenerife

We report on occurrences of the subcosmopolitan palpigrade Eukoenenia florenciae (Rucker, 1903) in a hothouse in Bratislava and in a dry river bed on Tenerife. We redescribe this probably parthenogenetic species, provide information on the thick setae of the coxae and the forked setae on the terminal segment of the first leg, and discuss the significance of these previously disregarded characters for species delimitation and systematics of the Palpigradi.

Association of pseudoscorpions with different types of bird nests

The hypothesis of associating pseudoscorpions with bird nest types was tested on the basis of an analysis of 480 specimens. Eleven pseudoscorpion species were found in 171 nests of 28 different bird species collected in Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic. The frequent appearance of Cheiridium museorum, Dactylochelifer latreillii, Chernes hahnii, Dendrochernes cyrneus and Allochernes wideri was confirmed. High proportion and association of Pselaphochernes scorpioides in hoopoe hollow nests with decomposed substrate, D. cyrneus in the Eurasian tree sparrow nest boxes and A. wideri in the nests of the tawny owls, the European scops owls and the European roller was proved. In contrast, C. hahnii and D. latreillii were related to the nest fauna of blackbirds and song thrushes, C. museorum to the nests of white wagtails situated on the ground and on buildings and C. cancroides to the nests in synanthropic habitats. Until present, the occurrence of 22 pseudoscorpion species has been confirmed in the bird nests of Central Europe based on the obtained results and published resources. According to the association to bird nests these pseudoscorpions were classified as (1) nidixenous species — Chthonius fuscimanus, C. tetrachelatus, Mundochthonius styriacus, Neobisium carcinoides, N. crassifemoratum, N. inaequale, N. sylvaticum, Chernes cimicoides, C. similis, C. vicinus, Allochernes powelli, Lamprochernes chyzeri, L. nodosus and Larca lata; and (2) nidiphilous species — C. museorum, C. cancroides, A. wideri, D. cyrneus, D. latreillii, C. hahnii, D. panzeri and P. scorpioides.

Two subterranean-dwelling spiders new to Slovakia (Araneae: Linyphiidae)

Abstract. Studies of subterranean habitats in Slovakia revealed two rare linyphiid spider species new to the country, Pseudomaro aenigmaticus Denis, 1966 and Pseudocarorita thaleri (Saaristo, 1971). Pseudomaro aenigmaticus was recorded in the Malé Karpaty Mountains in western Slovakia. A male was captured in the limestone Plavecká Cave and a female was found in a granitoid mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) in the Jajcajov jarok Valley. One pair of Pseudocarorita thaleri was found in the MSS in the Belinské skaly Nature Monument in the Cerová vrchovina Highland in southern Slovakia. This study also presents the characteristic habitus and habitats of the recorded spiders.

First record of Beierochelifer Mahnert, 1977 (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheliferidae) from Slovakia

Beierochelifer peloponnesiacus peloponnesiacus (Beier, 1929) is recorded for the first time from Slovakia. These records are based on two males found in tree microhabitats at two localities, both with forest-steppe character with xerothermic vegetation. A full description of the specimens of this rare subspecies is provided and the main diagnostic characters are discussed.

A multivariate study of differentiating characters between three European species of the genus Lasiochernes Beier, 1932 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chernetidae)

Abstract Morphological variation in three rarely collected European species of the genus Lasiochernes Beier, 1932 is thoroughly examined in the present study. Detailed descriptions of previously ignored morphological characters of Lasiochernes cretonatus Henderickx, 1998, Lasiochernes jonicus (Beier, 1929) and Lasiochernes pilosus (Ellingsen, 1910) are presented. The female of Lasiochernes cretonatus and the nymphs of Lasiochernes pilosus are described for the first time. Multivariate morphometric techniques (principal coordinate analysis and discriminant analyses) were employed to confirm morphological differentiation of the three Lasiochernes species and to identify the most reliable characters for their separation. The usefulness of particular body parts for species identification was evaluated. An identification key for the females of the Lasiochernes species studied is provided. Geographic distribution and habitat preferences of the three species are summarized.