Somogyi Múzeumok Közleményei 16. (2004)

Lajos Lilla – Vadkerti Edit: Adatok a Villányi-hegység talajlakó pókfaunájához (Araneae)

GROUND-DWELLING SPIDER FAUNA OF VILLANYI HILLS 309 a species with holarctic distribution, dominating in dry grassland habitats (JEDLICKOVA 1988), and is widely disributed in Hungary also (SAMU and SZINETAR 1999). Liocranum rutilans is usually found in arid habitats, under rocks (KREUELS and PLATEN 1999). It occurs in several Hungarian locations (LOKSA 1966, 1971, 1991). Among members of the Gnaphosidae family there were 4 species found to be new to the fauna of Villányi Hills. Gnaphosa lugubris and Zelotes aurantiacus favour dry, warm habitats (BUCHAR 1992). Their occurrence in Hungary is sporadic (SAMU and SZINETAR 1999, SZINETAR and MILTÉNYI 2000). Zelotes latreillei lives under stones in damp forest and also occurs in dry biotopes (JEDLICKOVA 1988). It is reported to be common in Hungary (SAMU and SZINETAR 1999, KEREKES 1988, LOKSA 1988, SAMU et al. 1996, SZINETÁR 1998). Zelotes subterraneus occurs under rocks, in forest clearings and edges, in dry grassy habitats (JEDLICKOVA 1988) and in orchards as well (BOGYA and MARKO 1999). Although it is widely distributed in Europe, it is not common (ROBERTS 1995), and has only few published occurrences in Hungary (SAMU and SZINETÁR 1999). Out of the 5 species of the Zoridae family that occur in Hungary, 4 are found in the Villányi Hills, Zora nemoralis and Z. silvestris being new to the fauna of the studied areas. Both species are common in Hungary. Z. manicata has been found in the Budai Hills (BALOGH 1935, KISBENEDEK 1991), in similar habitats to some locations in the study area, therefore its occurrence here is possible. Thanatus formicinus is a xerobiotic species (Szita and SAMU 2000, KREUELS and PLATEN 1999), typical of dry, open, sandy areas primarily (KEREKES 1988, ROBERTS 1995), but occurs also on dolomite rock in mountains (KISBENEDEK 1991). It has holarctic distribution, found on vegetation (JEDLICKOVA 1988) as well as on soil surface. Xysticus sabulosus is a species with western, palearctic distribution (BALOGH 1935), found mostly on dry soil (KREUELS and PLATEN 1999), or sometimes in low vegetation (ROBERTS 1995). In Belgium it was found to be an indicator species of meso-oligotrophic, short, sparse vegetation, and sandy patches (BONTE et. al 2002). In Hungary its occurrence has been reported in lowland sandy areas (LOKSA 1981, 1987, KEREKES 1988), and in mountain regions (KISBENEDEK 1991, LOKSA 1977, 1979, 1988). Xysticus ulmi is a Euro-Siberian species (JEDLICKOVA 1988), with a wide spectrum of habitat choice. In Belgium it was found to be an indicator species of moist, nutrient-rich areas (BONTE et al. 2002), and was reported from similar habitats by LOKSA (1991), SZINETÁR (1992a, 1998, 2001), and ROBERTS (1995). TÓTH et al. (1996) found it in winter wheat, whereas SZINETÁR (1992b) discovered this species in buildings as well. It is reported to be common in Hungary (LOKSA 1981). Talavera aequipes occurs widely in Europe, but has sporadic distibution (KREUELS and PLATEN 1999, AAKRA and HAUGE 2000). In Hungary it is found in dry, open, sandy areas (SZITA and SAMU 1999, KEREKES 1988) and dolomite (BALOGH 1935, LOKSA 1977). KÉKESI and SEGESDI (1979), thesis students working with Loksa, report in their dissertation (unpublished data) that Nothocyba subaeoalis (Westr.), Leptyphantes ericeus (Blackw.), and L. stygius Sim. occur on Szársomlyó Hill. In the checklist compiled by PLATNICK (2004) these species are listed as Micrargus subaequalis, Palludiphantes ericaeus and P. stygius, but they are not included in the Hungarian checklist (SAMU and SZINETÁR 1999). No proof specimens have been found since then, thus to confirm the presence of these three species further research is required. Micrargus subaequalis is a xerobiotic, Euro-Siberian species (KREUELS and PLATEN 1999) which lives on rocks and in man-made habitats too (RÛIZICKA 2000), based on which it seems possible that it occurs in our study area as well. Palludiphantes ericaeus is a palearctic species (TANASEVITCH 1999) and common throughout the British Isles, frequently recorded from heather and grass, usually in dry habitats, and has also been recorded from hay meadows and heathland. It exhibits a strong preference for undistrubed, well vegetated sites, characterised by taller vegetation (MCFERRAN, 1997). KÉKESI and SEGESDI (1979) collected 6 specimens on Szársomlyó Hill in silver lime rocky slope (3), bushy forest (1) and rocky grassland (2). The possibility of its Hungarian presence cannot be excluded. Palludiphantes stygius is a species with palearctic distribution (TANASEVITCH 1999), found primarily in Mediterranean areas such as Portugal (CARDOSO 2003), Spain, France, Azores (PLATNICK 2004), and Macaronesia (TANASEVITCH 1999). With a view to its known geographic distribution, the occurrence of this species in the studied area is unlikely. Acknowledgments We thank Csaba Szinetárfor his help in innumerable ways during this study and we are grateful to him for his constructive discussion. Research has been financed by the environmental grant KAC KO 440322001 won by L. Lajos and E. Vadkerti. Research activities were permitted by the Danube-Drava National Park Directorate.