Coprophagous Hydrophilid Beetles (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Sphaeridiinae) Distribution in the Polish Carpathians.

Research on coprophagous beetles of the Hydrophilidae family in the Polish Carpathians was conducted from 2011 to 2013. The beetles were caught using baited traps. The research sites were selected to take into account both the horizontal diversity of habitat conditions and the vertical diversity associated with elevation above sea level. During the study, 9589 coprophagous hydrophilid individuals were collected, representing 17 species and five genera. Two species that were new to Poland were found: Cercyon tatricus and Pachysternum capense. The vertical ranges of the individual species of coprophagous hydrophilid beetles within the Polish Carpathians were determined as well as the elevations above sea level, with the highest and lowest species richness of this group of insects. The capture of Pachysternum capense in the Tatra Mountains may indicate the existence of an unrecognized path of migration of small insects from Southern to Northern Europe. The route and mechanisms of their migration are discussed.

New locality and new habitat data of Philonthus nitidus (Fabr., 1787) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) in the Polish Carpathians.

Philonthus nitidus (Fabr., 1787) inhabits mainly northern and central Europe. In Scandinavia, it reaches far outside the Arctic Circle, in the west it is found in France, in the South in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Serbia, and in Transylvania; it was also recorded in Siberia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia (Burakowski et al. 1980, Schillhammer 2000, Herman 2001, Löbl Smetana 2004, Fernández 2010, Viñolas et al. 2014).

Notes on distribution and ecology of Philonthus spinipes Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the Polish Carpathians.

Philonthus spinipes Sharp for the first time was described from East Asia (Sharp 1874). Presently the species occurs in the whole Palaearctic region. Original distribution of this species is difficult to define because it has obviously extended its distribution range westwards (Schillhammer 1999).

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in hard ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) parasitizing bats in Poland.

A total of 491 Ixodes vespertilionis and 8 Ixodes ricinus collected from bats and cave walls in southern Poland between 2010 and 2012 were examined by the polymerase chain reaction for tick-transmitted pathogens. PCR analysis for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum yielded negative results for all I. vespertilionis. DNA of Rickettsia helvetica was detected in three specimens of I. ricinus attached to Rhinolophus hipposideros or Myotis myotis, while Borrelia garinii was found in one tick parasitizing Myotis daubentonii. These pathogens were recorded for the first time in hard ticks that parasitized bats.

The Yeast Fungus Trichosporon lactis Found as an Epizoic Colonizer of Dung Beetle Exoskeletons.

The study on the biology and biodiversity of coprophagous Scarabaeoidea carried out in the Polish Carpathians revealed the occurrence of unusual epizoic excrescences on various dung beetles species of the genus Onthophagus. The excrescences occur on the elytra, prothorax, and head of the studied beetles. Detailed research on this phenomenon determined that the fungus grew in the form of multicellular thalli. The ITS-based identification of fungal material collected from beetles' exoskeletons resulted in a 100 % match with Trichosporon lactis. Until now, only a yeast lifestyle/stage was known for this basidiomycete species. Therefore, in this paper, we describe a new substrate for growth of T. lactis and its unknown and intriguing relationship with dung beetles. The results obtained in this study open up numerous research possibilities on the new role of dung beetles in terrestrial ecosystems, as well as on using the physiological properties of T. lactis to restore soils.

The patterns of seasonal activity of Ixodes vespertilionis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Rhinolophus hipposideros in nursery colonies.

The aim of this study was to describe the dynamics of the long-legged bat tick Ixodes vespertilionis infestation on the lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros in 2 nursery colonies roosting in attics. Out of a total of 810 lesser horseshoe bats examined, 217 (26.8%) were found to be infested with a total of 464 I. vespertilionis individuals. The developmental stage most frequently found was the larva, followed by the nymph, and the adult female. Bats were significantly more frequently infested with I. vespertilionis ticks in the period April to May than in other months. In these months, all tick developmental stages were observed. During summer and autumn, only immature developmental stages were recorded, whilst in September and October larvae predominated. Considerable differences in tick load between nursery colonies were observed. The length of seasonal presence on bats, prevalence, and infestation intensity of I. vespertilionis on lesser horseshoe bats were higher in the nursery colony situated in close vicinity of a cave than in the colony situated far from the caves. The results suggest that the pattern of seasonal infestation of ticks on bats roosting in nursery colonies coincides with the seasonal activity of Rh. hipposideros in the caves. The first case of mixed infestation of the lesser horseshoe bat with I. vespertilionis and I. ricinus were also recorded.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) parasitizing bats in Poland and Slovakia.

We summarize the previously published reports and the results of our own research about distribution of ticks parasitizing bats in Poland and Slovakia. Five species of ticks infesting bats were recorded: Carios vespertilionis, Ixodes (E.) vespertilionis, I. (P.) simplex, I. (I.) ricinus and I. (Ex.) trianguliceps. Two last species were observed only on bats in Poland. C. vespertilionis, I. vespertilionis and I. simplex are specific parasites of bats. C. vespertilionis was recorded on 37 sites in Poland and 7 in Slovakia. Fourteen species of bats in Poland and 5 in Slovakia were parasitized by this species. I. vespertilionis was collected from 6 bat species both in Poland and Slovakia respectively on 22 and 11 sites, respectively. The remaining species have been reported very rarely.