S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 48. (Budapest, 1987)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGIGA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK XLVIII . 1987 p. 271-277 Report on the zoological collectings in Tanzania, 1985 * By L. PEREGOVITS (Received March 23, 1987) Abstract: Report on the zoological collectings in Tanzania 1985, - A detailed report on a 2-month collecting trip to Tanzania (East Africa) in 1985, within the framework of the Integrated Research Project - Usambara Rain Forest, is given. The numbered list of zoological samples and a detailed description of the collecting localities are presented

. The mountains of equatorial East Africa are of exceptional geographical, geological, ecological and biogeographical Interest. However, the forests of the Usambara Mountains constitute what is probably one of the richest biological communities in East Africa_in_terms of the diversity of plant and animal species and endemic taxa. This is considered to be due to long periods of isolation and geological stability coupled with periods of species immigration during times of the re-establishment of forest cover. However, the Usambara Mountains have a very high human population density and these forests are subject to increasing pressure from legal and illegal encroachment due to agriculture and logging operations. For this very reason, the mountains of Tanzania have been included in the IUCN/WWF Tropical Forests and Primates Programme. These facts led both the Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Tanzánián National Research Council to initiate a joint research project for the biological inventory of the Usambara Mountains. Although the first research period was planned to be botanical inventory, the leadership of the project provided the possibility for a zoologist to participate on the second Expedition in 1985. The Swedish partner covered my expenses during the time of the expedition. Formerly, biological studies were implemented primary in the East Usambara Mountains while the West Usambara Mountains were neglected (this is true especially in case of the invertebrate fauna) except the Mazumbai University Forest Reserve, but the investigations here were also restricted to some groups, DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTING LOCALITIES An attempt is made here to give a brief outline of the collecting localities. The Usambara Mountains are situated in NE Tanzania, between the Masai Steppe in the south and the Umba plain in the north, between 4° 30' and 5°15' southern latitude. They are subdivided by the Lwengera river valley into two massifs, the East and the West Usambaras. The latter have no distinct high plateau; hilly, steep and montainous slopes, dissected by rather narrow valley bottoms, determine the topography of the region. Two main rainy seasons can be distinguished, tne long rainy season from March to May and Usambara Rain Forest Project Publications No.. 8.