L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 8. 1993 (Budapest, 1993)

Merkl, O.: Zoological collectings by the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Africa: a report on the Elgon Expedition, 1992

MISCELLANEA ZOOLOGICA HUNGARICA To m us 8. 1993 p. 51-64 Zoological collectings by the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Africa: a report on the Elgon Expedition, 1992 by O. Merkl (Received June 16,1993) Abstract: A general report on the zoological collectings of the Hungarian Elgon Expedition to Kenya is presented. Most of the zoological work was carried out in the montane forest and the ericaceous belt of Mt. Elgon. Minor collectings were made in the Kakamega Forest, on Mt. Kenya and at a few other localities. The collecting sites are briefly described. An annotated list of the localities and dates is given. With 3 figures. Key words: Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Mt. Kenya, Kakamega Forest, zoological trip, collectings of invertebrates Introduction Between 4th January and 6th February, 1992, a study trip was carried out in the southern part of Kenya (Fig. 1). The trip was devoted to a field practical for students of the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest in order to get some experience of tropical regions. Simultaneously, a scientific programme was planned; the principal goal was to survey the bryophyte and lichen communities of the upper forest and afro-alpine belt of the Mt. Elgon (see Pócs & Szabó 1993) and to sample the invertebrate (first of all insect) fauna of the same area. More limited collecting was made on Mt. Kenya, in Kakamega Forest and at a few other localities. The participants of the trip were Mr. Ferenc Fodor (general leader), Dr. Tamás Pócs (botanical leader), the author (zoological leader), Mr. József Sáfrány (cameraman at the Hungarian Television), eight students, a driver and a helper sent by the travel agency. Drs Min Chua and Elisabeth Kungu from the Botanical Department of the University of Nairobi also joined us. Dr. András Galácz, geologist at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, also took part in the trip during the first and last days. Zoological collecting was made by Mr. András Lobmayer (Lepidoptera), Mr. Gergely Várkonyi (Hymenoptera) and the author (other groups with an emphasis on Coleoptera) but all of these three helped one another in collecting and botanists also contributed a few specimens. We reached and departed Nairobi by aeroplane via Zürich. Our vehicles, a Mercedes truck (with driver) and a Suzuki four wheel drive car were hired from local travel companies. The collecting facilities (two portable generators, light trap, blended light bulbs, killing and conservation agents, personal collecting kit etc.) and the main camping equipment were brought from Hungary; supplies necessary for everyday life were bought in markets of Nairobi, Eldoret and Kitale.