Haris Attila: Hymenoptera Research in the Carpathian Basin - Natura Somogyiensis 29. (Kaposvár, 2016)
History of the Aculeata research in Hungary from 1920
90 Natura Somogyiensis Rhophites bluethgeni Benedek, 1973 new for science (Benedek 1973b), which proved to be synonym of Rhophites quinquespinosus Spinola, 1808. He put together the list of Sphecoidea fauna of Tapolca-brook, Veresegyház and Bátorliget and completed their ecofaunistical analysis (Benedek 1969a). He published a separate paper on the Sphecoidae fauna of Tapolca-Brook, providing the list of 90 species (Benedek 1970a). Significant part of Pál Benedek's publications the studies on the wild bee fauna of alfalfa and it's pollination. Comparing to works of László Móczár, the reason of differences: while László Móczár worked in the pre-pesticide period, these studies were carried out in the time of intensive use of chemicals in agriculture (Benedek 1966, Benedek 1967a,b, 1968b, c, d, 1969b, c, 1970b, 1970d, 1972a, b, d, 1973a, 1978, 1987, 1997, 1998, Benedek and Móczár 1972, Tanács and Benedek 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, Tanács et al. 2008, Tanács, Benedek and Bodnár 2008a, b, Tanács, Benedek and Móczár 2009, Tanács, Benedek and Tóth 2007, Tanács et al. 2010). Benedek also studied the wild bee pollination of red clover, vetch and onion (Benedek 1970e, 1972c, 1975, Benedek, Buglos and Manninger 1971, Benedek and Prenner 1972, Benedek, Bánk and Komlódi 1973, Benedek 1974, 1976, Benedek, Prenner and Wilhelm 1977). They also studied the transformation of pollinator wild bee fauna: 113 wild bee species were registered at flowering alfalfa fields but the structure of wild bee assemblages has changed significantly, due to the changed weed vegetation caused by pesticides. Bumblebees became the most common wild bees in alfalfa fields. The density of Melitta, Andrena and Halictus species were reduced significantly. Density of Eucera species decreased also dramaticly but Megachile species became somewhat more frequent (Benedek 1971, Benedek and Tanács 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009a,b). Pál Benedek's other important field of research is the pollinator friendly agricultural and plant protection technologies (Benedek 1970c, Benedek et al. 1976). He has one popular scientific paper, titled "Apoidea - Nearly 800 wild bee species live in our country" (Benedek 2014). We should also mention, that Pál Benedek frequently appeared on TV channels with short plant protection presentations. Zsolt Józan (21st November 1943 Érsekújvár (now Nove Zamky) -) The family, on paternal side, originated from the Hungarian Highlands (now Slovakia). His father received public servant position at the county council at Érsekújvár which in that time was the part again of Hungary. After, the WW2, the family was forced to leave immediately Érsekújvár and they had to move to the remaining territory of Hungary. (In this aspect, this story is similar, that happened with László Móczár and his family). Zsolt graduated at Pécs, Pedagogical College and started his first job in Kaposmérő as biology and geography teacher in the local elementary school. After 3 years, he moved to Memye, and continued his teacher career in the local primary school. Beyond his teacher career, from 1968, he worked as pedagogical inspector and advisor as well. He is author of 2 teacher's guide-book on geography education for primary schools. Zsolt Józan specialized for Aculeata research of Central-Europe which he completed later with studying of Aculeata fauna of the Mediterranean Europe (Croatia and Sicily). His interest in Aculeata started in the last years of the secondary school and his earliest captures dated back to this time (1961-62). Majority of Józan's papers are faunistic studies. He investigated the Aculeata fauna of the following territories: South Transdanubia, Hortobágy National Park, Juniper Woodland in Barcs, Kiskunság National Park , Tihany Peninsula, Zselic Hills, Bátorliget Nature Reserve, Béda-Karapancsa Nature Reserve, Boronka Nature Reserve, Bükk National Park, Duna-Dráva National Park, Mátra Mts., Heves-Borsod Hills, Mecsek Hills, Lake Baláta, Bakony Mts., Villány Hills, Őrség, Fertő-Hanság National Park, Simontornya, Síkfőkút, Bükk National Park, Aggtelek
