Vlatka Mičetić Stanković

Annotated checklist of Croatian riffle beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elmidae)

In this paper an annotated checklist of Croatian riffle beetles is presented. It is a result of a literature review, revision of museum collections, implementation of results from various environmental impact and baseline studies, as well as field investigations throughout Croatia from 2002–2013. Altogether 23 species in eight genera of Elmidae were identified. Five species are new for the Croatian fauna: Elmis rioloides (Kuwert 1890), Esolus angustatus (Müller 1821), E. pygmaeus (Müller 1806), Oulimnius tuberculatus (Müller 1806) and Stenelmis consobrina Dufour 1835. Furthermore, the occurrence of Elmis aenea (müller 1806) in Croatia is confirmed.

Alderfly assemblages (Megaloptera, Sialidae) along an oligotrophic karst hydrosystem: spatial patterns and species-environment relationship

Even though alderflies, as well as many other aquatic macroinvertebrates, are widely used as indicators of freshwater quality, the knowledge of their distribution, biology and ecology in karst freshwater habitats is still very scarce. Aiming to fill this gap, we investigated alderfly assemblages along an oligotrophic karst hydrosystem. Sampling was carried out on a monthly basis over a one-year period (2007/2008) in different types of freshwater habitats and microhabitats. Our goals were to determine population aspects, habitat and microhabitat preferences of alderflies as well as their relation to environmental factors. Due to the specificity of karst freshwater habitats, alderflies were rather rare in the studied hydrosystem. Yet, their fauna was diverse with four identified species, where Sialis fuliginosa Pictet, 1836 was the most widespread one. Sialis sordida (Klingstedt, 1932) was recorded for the first time in the Balkan Peninsula being the rarest species in our study. Substrate type and water velocity showed as key environmental parameters in determining alderfly assemblages. Alderflies were mostly recorded from a canyon type mountainous stream, and silt with leaf litter, respectively. They were not recorded at sites characterized by predominately solid stones (i.e. cobbles) and mosses, and with intermittent water flow. Our results strongly indicate that alderflies could be used in future conservation and protection management procedures in karst freshwater habitats.

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773), Newly Recorded Invasive Species for Albania

ABSTRACT: The biological control agent and alien invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773), once introduced for pest control in Europe, is now spreading very rapidly over the European continent, especially since 2002. In this paper we give the first documented record of H. axyridis from Albania, southeastern Europe. The species was recorded in three localities in Albania.