Savaria - A Vas Megyei Múzeumok értesítője 24/2. (1997) (Szombathely, 1997)

Nagy, Barnabás–Szövényi, Gergely: Orthopteroid insects of Őrség Landscape Conservation Area (Western Hungary)

NAGY, В.— SZÖVÉNYI, G.: Orthopteroid insects of Őrség О. schmidti occurs here and along the Dráva river in Hungary, the M. a. alpina (?) and /. brevipennis are also restricted to the very narrow préalpine zone of Western Hungary. The occurrence of O. schmidti population in the őrség and the neighboring Dráva river valley represents an interesting "dispersion" between the two populations of the O. decipiens (Fig. 1.). The borders and the eventual line of contacts of the populations of this two Odontopodisma species need more investigations. RELATIONS TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY The relatively low level of Orthoptera species diversity and species richness are connected in őrség region with the high percentage of wooded area and also with the scantiness of xeric habitats. Among the 46 Orthoptera species there is only one protected (by law in Hungary) species: Isophya brevipennis. This endemic species is well represented in the entire Carpathian mountain range and in Transylvania, but it occurs only in some localities at the western border of the country. It has scattered, very localized populations. Therefore, this species belongs to the rarities in our country. Previously only one publication had mentioned it from Hungary (PONGRACZ 1940). Its habitat type (clearings, glades, with scattered and low bushes of Rubus spp., Betula, etc., forest ecotones, small forest meadows) generally seems to be not being threatened. However, specimens are frequently exposed to dangers of trample, forest traffic at deforestation, etc., because it is not a vagile species; his capability for escape is very restricted (poor jumper, flightless). As seasonally early species, the most critical period of threat extends from April to July. The overwintering egg-clusters in the soil are generally not exposed to the perturbations described above. Related to the zoogeographical position, there are two similar species to the /. brevipennis, namely the catantopid Odontopodisma schmidti and Miramella a. alpina (?). They both have an area of distribution covering the western, southwestern part of the Alps and North-Western Balkan reaching the western, southwestern border of Hungary. Their habitat preferences are very close too each other (hygro-mesic meadows with scattered bushes along streams).The wingless Odontopodisma schmidti is a regular component of Orthoptera assemblages in these specific habitat type. However, as it is a wingless species, it seems to be not so vulnerable as the /. brevipennis, because it has a better capability for escape (more mindful, better jumper). Overwintering egg-pods may found among fallen leaves at the ground level. Larvae and adults remain active nearly during the entire vegetation period. We think that this species needs no particular protection in this region, however, deforestation, lumbering, etc. might be somewhat deleterious to the larvae and adults. The third zoogeographically valuable species is the catantopid Miramella. This genus is generally connected with mountain habitats, but the species found in the Őrség occurs here at relatively low altitude (about 300 m above sea level). The correct identification has not yet completed because of the lack of sufficiently 22