Vig Károly: Zoological Research in Western Hungary. A history (Szombathely, 2003)

Phylum Arthropoda 81 CSABA SZINETÁR deals intensively with the spider fauna of the region, coenological studies and the spider species of town-park vegetation and buildings (SZINETÁR 1988, 1991a, 1991b, 1992a, 1992b, 1993a and 1994; SZINETÁR and VAJDA 1992; SZINETÁR et al. 1991 and 2002). He demonstrated the presence of over 60 species of 40 genera, in the crowns of Norway spruces (Picea abies) in Szombathely plantations, including the first Hungarian record of Cheiracanthium mildei. The gild structure he deduced from the species mix in spider communities and capture techniques employed strongly resembled those found among spiders inhabiting natural plant associations (SZINETÁR 1992a and 1993b). Examining spiders living on the trunks of black pines (Pinus nigra) planted in Szombathely and the Kőszeg Hills, he collected 1603 spider specimens of 42 species, including the rarities Entelecara penicUlata, Amaurobius fenestralis, Harpactes hombergi, Micaria subopaca and Marpissa muscosa. Especially interesting was the occurrence of Cheiracanthium mildei from the fauna of Southern Europe. There were marked differences not only between the urban and hill materials collected, but between samples taken at different points in Szombathely, in species counts and species structures (HORVÁTH and SZINETÁR 1998). Similar studies were done of spiders on the trunks of London planes (Platanus hybrida

—SZINETÁR 1996b), in the crowns of black pines (Pinus nigra—

SZINETÁR 1996a), and in the foliage of common junipers (Juniperus communis

—SZINETÁR et al. 2002). Investigating spider species that inhabit buildings in Szombathely and vicinity, he found four species new to the Hungarian fauna (Eophrys lanigera, Physocyclus simoni, Tegenaria nemorosa and Uloborus plumipes

—SZINETÁR 1992b, 1995a). Snail shells were collected at 24 points in the country when CSABA SZINETÁR and his associates were investigating spiders that dwell in them. The samples from Ság Hill in Western Hungary yielded 11 individual spiders, of a Titanoeca sp. (juvenile), Haplodrassus signifer, Heliophanus cupreus, Heliophanus sp. (juvenile) and Pellenes nigrociliatus (SZINETÁR et al. 1998). Spider fauna was investigated in six Ság Hill habitats in 1998-9, using pitfall trapping and singling. Fifty species were collected. Typical terricolous spiders such as Alopecosa sulzeri, A. trabalis and Gnaphosa modestior were present in the scrubby woodland on the western side of the hill. Typical of the scree slopes of the artificial crater were disturbance-tolerant species such as Pardosa hortensis. Some rare species such as Zelotes aurantiacus and Zodarion rubidum were also found (SZINETÁR and MILTÉNYI 2000). Two protected spider species are known from Ság Hill: Atypus affinis and Eresus cinnabarinus. The last was also found in an abandoned quarry in the Kőszeg Hills. The raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus), which is also protected, is fairly common in Vas County in marsh and water meadows, reeds and swamp forest (SZINETÁR 2002). Collections in 1999-2000 yielded 47 spider species from Turkey oaks (Quercus cerris) in oak woodland stretching northwards from the Tömörd Bird Observatory. All the dominant species were typical foliage dwellers. Notable from the faunistic point of view was the occurrence of Diaea pictilis, which is rare throughout Europe and so far recorded only from oak. Another interesting record from Tömörd was Paidiscura pallens, also from oak (SZINETÁR 2000).