An Overview of Orthoptera Mass Occurrences in Croatia from 1900 to 2023.

During the last century, well-known locust species, such as Calliptamus italicus and Dociostaurus maroccanus, have produced outbreaks of varying degrees in the Balkans. The literature data on outbreaks in the region are scarce, and Croatia is not an exception. This study summarized the data on 23 Orthoptera mass occurrences in Croatia from 1900 to 2023 from 28 localities, representing 12 species. This is a low level of outbreak activity compared with other locust and pest grasshopper species in other parts of the world. The species with the most reporting is C. italicus with altogether six mass occurrences, while second is Barbitistes ocskayi and Miramella irena with three records, and in the third, place D. maroccanus and Gryllotalpa sp., each with two mass occurrences having been reported. One of the most notable swarms is that of Anacridium aegyptium which occurred around Sibenik in 1998, and this paper provides the first account of it, 25 years after it took place. The most recent outbreaks took place in 2022, and the most notable one was that of D. maroccanus swarm in Stikovo. The 2022 and 2023 reports were brief and muted, despite the affected agriculturists claiming significant damages.

Dinarippiger gen. nov. (Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae: Ephippigerini), a new saddle bush-cricket genus for Ephippiger discoidalis Fieber, 1853 from the Dinaric karst.

A new genus of the tribe Ephippigerini, Dinarippiger Skejo, Kasalo, Fontana et Tvrtkovic gen. nov., is described based on the characters of occiput coloration, tegmina coloration, cerci and pronotum shape. The new genus is morphologically intermediate between the genera Ephippiger Berthold, 1827 and Uromenus Bolívar, 1878, and presently includes only Dalmatian Saddle Bush Cricket, Dinarippiger discoidalis (Fieber, 1853) comb. nov., hitherto known as Ephippiger discoidalis Fieber, 1853. The species inhabits NE Italy (mainly Carso Triestino), SW Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, i.e., islands and karst habitats along the eastern Adriatic coast, with isolated findings in Albania and Italy. Its prominent variation in size and coloration has already produced many synonyms (= limbata Fischer, 1853, = limbata var. major Krauss, 1879, = limbata var. minor Krauss, 1879, = selenophora Fieber, 1853, = sphacophila Krauss, 1879), which may suggest that what is currently regarded as a single species could represent a complex of distinct species with restricted distributions. This study also presents an annotated distribution map and a bioacoustic analysis of D. discoidalis comb. nov. Further research, especially adopting molecular methods, is necessary to assess possible cryptic diversity within the genus Dinarippiger gen. nov. and elucidate its evolutionary history.

Vegetation Height as the Primary Driver of Functional Changes in Orthopteran Assemblages in a Roadside Habitat.

Exhibiting manifold ecological impacts on terrestrial biota, roads have become a major driver of environmental change nowadays. However, many insect groups with high indication potential, such as grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera), have been largely neglected in road ecology research from a functional perspective. Using two complementary sampling methods, we have investigated the spatial dynamics of functional diversity and six functional traits in orthopteran assemblages, with respect to motorway proximity and the associated environmental factors, in a grassland habitat in the Lika region, Croatia. This research shows, for the first time, that road proximity can facilitate an increase in the functional diversity of orthopteran assemblages, with shifts in functional traits related to mobility, feeding habits and lifestyle being primarily driven by changes in vegetation height. Our findings also suggest that our ability to detect road-related patterns depends on the choice of a diversity measure and sampling method, since different components of orthopteran assemblages (plant-dwelling vs. ground-dwelling) exhibit different functional responses to road proximity.

The first annotated checklist of Croatian crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Ensifera, Caelifera).

The first annotated checklist of crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) of Croatia is presented. With 184 orthopteran species, 103 Ensifera and 81 Caelifera, known to inhabit the country, Croatia is among the richest European countries in terms of Orthoptera diversity. Altogether 25 species erroneously reported from the country are omitted from the checklist, 16 Ensifera (Isophya speciosa, Poecilimon brunneri, P. jonicus, P. thoracicus, Modestana ebneri, Pachytrachis bosniacus, Rhacocleis neglecta, Tessellana carinata, T. nigrosignata, Zeuneriana marmorata, Pteronemobius lineolatus, Myrmecophilus acervorum, M. ochraceus, Dolichopoda palpata, Diestrammena asynamora, Troglophilus brevicauda) and 9 Caelifera (Tetrix kraussi, Paracaloptenus caloptenoides, Chorthippus albomarginatus, Omocestus viridulus, Pseudochorthippus montanus, Miramella alpina, Celes variabilis, Oedipoda germanica, O. miniata). First faunistic records of 10 taxa are reported for Croatia, in total four Ensifera (Leptophyes punctatissima, Metrioptera hoermanni, Zeuneriana amplipennis, Gryllotalpa sp.) and six Caelifera (Xya variegata, Chorthippus dichrous, C. loratus, C. mollis ignifer, Odontopodisma sp., Acrotylus l. longipes). For each listed species, its distribution in Croatia and in Europe is given, and IUCN European Red List status is shown for species within threatened categories. Numerous distributional, taxonomic and nomenclatural problems are discussed. Several taxa with poorly defined diagnostic traits are synonymized, namely Gampsocleis abbreviata renei syn.nov. (with G. a. abbreviata), Pholidoptera maritima syn.nov. (with P. dalmatica), P. brachynota syn.nov. (with P. dalmatica), Acrida m. mediterranea syn.nov. (with A. u. ungarica), Chrysochraon dispar intermedius syn.nov. (with C. d. giganteus) and Odontopodisma rammei syn.nov. (with O. fallax).

More than a century old 'Platycleis Kraussi case' finally resolved (Tettigoniidae: Platycleidini).

In this paper we deal with a not well known orthopteran species described from Croatia--Krauss' bush-cricket, Platycleis kraussi Padewieth, 1900 with unknown type series. After systematic field studies the species was found only three kilometres from Padewieth's locus typicus, in Francikovac near Senj (Croatia). It was found to be the same as Bicolorana kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931), thus B. kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931) syn. nov. became a synonym of Bicolorana kraussi (Padewieth, 1900) comb. nov. which is moved into genus Bicolorana Zeuner, 1941. Since the type was lost a neotype of B. kraussi is designated and deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands). Historical review of this species' taxonomy is given. An improved description is presented showing some variability of certain morphological characters. The morphology, morphometrics and bioacoustic data of the species are compared with those of the closely related B. bicolor (Philippi, 1830) and Modestana modesta (Fieber, 1853). Vichetia helleri syn. nov. is regarded a synonym of Bicolorana bicolor. The literature and new distribution data are gathered and presented.

First records of Croatian and Serbian Tetrigidae (Orthoptera: Caelifera) with description of a new subspecies of Tetrix transsylvanica (Bazyluk & Kis, 1960).

A review of the Croatian and Serbian Tetrigidae is given and first records of Tetrix undulata (Sowerby, 1806) for Croatia and Serbia as well as Tetrix tuerki (Krauss, 1876) and Tetrix transsylvanica (Bazyluk & Kis, 1960) comb. nov. for Croatia are presented. The status of the genus Uvarovitettix Bazyluk & Kis, 1960 and the taxonomic position of T. transsylvanica comb. nov. are discussed. The genus Uvarovitettix Bazyluk & Kis, 1960 syn. nov. is synonymised with the genus Tetrix Latreille, 1802. A new subspecies from Croatia and Slovenia, Tetrix transsylvanica hypsocorypha Skejo, 2014 subspecies nova, is described. Tetrix pseudodepressa (Ingrisch, 2006) comb. nov. and Tetrix depressa (Brisout de Barneville, 1848) comb. nov. are moved to the genus Tetrix and the genus Depressotetrix Karaman, 1960 syn. nov. is synonymised with the genus Tetrix. Tetrix gibberosa (Wang & Zheng, 1993) inc. sed. and T. nodulosa (Fieber, 1853) inc. sed. are now considered to be species of uncertain placement within the genus Tetrix. New combination is also given to Paratettix tuberculata (Zheng & Jiang, 1997), primarily placed within the genus Mishtshenkotetrix: Tetrix tuberculata (Zheng & Jiang, 1997) comb. nov., but its placement within the genus Tetrix is also uncertain. 

Accumulation of organochlorine contaminants in loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, from the eastern Adriatic Sea.

We analyzed 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and five organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fat tissue of 27 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eastern Adriatic Sea with the curved carapace length ranging from 25.0 to 84.5 cm. The PCB profile was dominated by hexa- and hepta-chlorinated congeners, with PCB-153 (median: 114.9 ng g⁻¹ wet mass), PCB-138 (80.0 ng g⁻¹ w.m.), and PCB-180 (26.7 ng g⁻¹ w.m.) detected with the highest levels. Toxic mono-ortho congeners PCB-118, PCB-105 and PCB-180 with dioxin-like toxicity were found in > 70% samples. 4,4'-DDE (81.0 ng g⁻¹ w.m.) prevailed the OCP signature, accounting for 80% of the total DDTs. A significant increasing trend in accumulation with size was found for PCB-52 (r(s) = 0.512, p < 0.01) and PCB-114 (r(s) = 0.421, p < 0.05). Comparison of our results with organochlorine contaminant (OC) pattern in some prey taxa suggest that contamination occurs primarily through the food web, with biomagnification factors of 0.14-6.99 which were positively correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient (logK(ow); p < 0.05). This study, based upon a fairly large sample size collected mostly from incidentally captured animals over a short time period (June 2001-November 2002), present a temporal snapshot of OC contamination in wild, free-ranging loggerheads from Adriatic feeding grounds and provide a baseline for monitoring the regional OC trends in this endangered species.

Phylogeography of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, as revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences.

In a phylogeographical survey of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, DNA sequence variation along an 887-bp segment of the cytochrome b gene was examined in 96 specimens from 86 localities covering the distribution range of the species. In addition, parts of the 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes from 12 selected specimens as representatives of more divergent cytochrome b haploclades were sequenced (together about 950 bp). Six phylogeographical main groups were found, three representing samples of the nominate subspecies Podarcis sicula sicula and closely related subspecies and the other three comprising Podarcis sicula campestris as well as all subspecies described from northern and eastern Adriatic islands. In southern Italy a population group with morphological characters of P. s. sicula but with the mitochondrial DNA features of P. s. campestris was detected indicating a probably recent hybridization zone. The present distribution patterns were interpreted as the consequence of natural events like retreats to glacial refuges and postglacial area expansions, but also as the results of multiple introductions by man.

Dinara - new natural focus of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Croatia.

AIM: To investigate the characteristics and determine risk factors for hantanvirus infection in natural focus of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) on the Dinara Mountain, where outbreak of disease emerged among Croatian soldiers in 1995, and to describe the features of HFRS acquired on the Dinara mountain and determine the scale of the largest HFRS epidemic so far in Croatia. METHODS: During 1996, small mammals were captured in the region of Dinara Mountain where infected Croatian soldiers had sojourned. By taxonomic classification of 42 captured small mammals, three species were determined: 23 yellow-necked mouse, 9 wood mouse, and 5 bank vole. Hantavirus antigen was determined in the lungs of the captured animals by means of direct immunofluorescence assay. The most important features of HFRS were retrospectively determined in 37 soldiers with HFRS treated in the Department for Infectious Diseases of the Split University Hospital. The degree of inapparent exposure to infection was determined by indirect immunofluorescence in 103 soldiers sojourning in this region of natural focus with no apparent signs of HFRS. Epidemiological questionnaire included 50 soldiers with negative serum antibodies, as well as 33 available out of total 37 soldiers with HFRS. Chi-square test was used to determine risk factors. RESULTS: Hantavirus was found in the lungs of 5/42 (12%) captured animals. Mild form of the disease, with few hemorrhagic symptoms and pronounced renal insufficiency, was present in 19/37 patients. The epidemiological questionnaire determined the following risk factors for hantanvirus infection in this focus: service in artillery corps (p=0.040), sleep in wooden barracks (p=0.004), station in forest biotope (p=0.037), usage of natural camouflage (p=0.024), smoking (p=0.010), and the presence of rodents in the place of housing (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A new natural focus of HFRS in Croatia, and the first one in Dalmatia, was defined by seroepidemiologic, mamologic, and virologic analysis. The risk factors for infection in the new focus have been identified. Our patients suffered from a mild form of HFRS, which predominates in south-eastern Europe, without lethal outcome.