Antipredatory strategies of terrestrial isopods.

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) represent a widespread group of land Crustacea that have been able to successfully adapt to the terrestrial environment and occupy newly formed ecological niches. During the colonisation of land, they faced numerous challenges, including finding an effective way to avoid their new terrestrial predators. In response to predation pressure, they have developed various behavioural and morphological adaptations. These include tonic immobility, conglobation, clinging to the ground, releasing strongly acidic secretions, jumping, and efficient running away. Furthermore, terrestrial isopods can aggregate with other individuals, use stridulation, or change their typical activity time. Some of them also developed spiny tergites and aposematic colouration or posture. The majority of these strategies have not yet been studied.

Higher temperature and substrate vibrations as stress factors for terrestrial isopods - model species matter.

This study was focused on behaviour of the Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellioscaber) and the Plum Woodlouse (Porcellionidespruinosus) under the influence of stressors in the form of increased temperature, the vibrating surface, or their combination. Two types of experiments were performed. First, woodlice placed in a labyrinth were observed, to determine the degree of turn alternation, the speed of passing through the labyrinth, and the corrections of turn alternation, when exposed to stressors. In the second experiment how woodlice aggregate in the aforementioned potential stressors was recorded and whether the change in aggregation behaviour can be an indicator of the degree of stress. Increased temperature and the combination of increased temperature and vibrations were stressors only for P.scaber. The results show that vibrations are not a stress factor for P.scaber or P.pruinosus. Porcellioscaber passed through the labyrinth more slowly at increased temperatures, and although they made more turn-corrections, they alternated turns less intensely. Its aggregation behaviour was mainly influenced by temperature, which confirms that the aggregation behaviour of P.scaber actually indicates a degree of stress.

Bug cemetery: a case study of terrestrial isopod distribution on a brick wall in the Czech Republic.

Although terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) are primarily soil- and surface-dwelling invertebrates, they can also be found on tree trunks and walls. This study evaluated distribution patterns of terrestrial isopods on a brick wall during the first hours of night in autumn. Four species of terrestrial isopods were recorded with Armadillidiumversicolor being the dominant one. Terrestrial isopods were distributed from ground level up to a height of 2 m, but preferred a 70-80 cm height band. The highest number of active individuals was observed 3 h after astronomical dusk. Potential predators of terrestrial isopods were abundant during the same time and at the same height.

The first troglobiotic cryptopid centipede (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha: Cryptopidae) from the Caucasus.

Cryptops (Cryptops) datviensis sp. nov. from Datvi Cave in Georgia, is the first troglobiotic species of the genus Cryptops Leach, 1814 to be described from the Caucasus. The new species morphologically resembles the common epigean Caucasian species Cryptops caucasius Verhoeff, 1934, but differs in typical troglomorphic features, such as elongation of antennae and legs. A key to species of the genus Cryptops from the Caucasus is presented. A list of the invertebrates inhabiting Datvi Cave is provided.

Ornithologists' Help to Spiders: Factors Influencing Spiders Overwintering in Bird Nesting Boxes.

Spiders are common inhabitants of tree hollows, as well as bird nesting boxes, especially in autumn and winter. Some species of spiders use bird nesting boxes for overwintering. We investigated spider assemblages in nesting boxes and how temperature influences the abundance of overwintering spiders in nesting boxes in lowland forest in the Czech Republic. The study was conducted in the European winters of 2015-2017. In total, 3511 spider specimens belonging to 16 identified species were collected from nesting boxes over three years in late autumn and winter. Almost all species were arboreal specialists. The dominant species were Clubiona pallidula, Anyphaena accentuata, Platnickina tincta, and Steatoda bipunctata. Although the tree species had no effect on the abundance of overwintering spiders, the presence of nest material affected the abundance of spiders in the nesting boxes (preferred by C. pallidula and P. tincta). In general, spiders resettled nesting boxes during winter only sporadically, however A. accentuata reoccupied boxes continuously, and its activity was positively correlated with the outside temperature. Nesting boxes support insect-eaters all year around-birds during spring and summer and spiders during autumn and winter.

Subterranean biodiversity and depth distribution of myriapods in forested scree slopes of Central Europe.

The shallow underground of rock debris is a unique animal refuge. Nevertheless, the research of this habitat lags far behind the study of caves and soil, due to technical and time-consuming demands. Data on Myriapoda in scree habitat from eleven localities in seven different geomorphological units of the Czech and Slovak Republics were processed. Based on previous studies, as well as knowledge of cave and soil fauna, it was hypothesised that the occurrence of a varied and peculiar fauna would show a pattern of depth distribution with variations due to local specificities. From 2005-2016 (at least one year on each site), macrofauna was collected via sets of three long-term exposed subterranean traps consisting of 110 cm long perforated tube, with ten cups located in a gradient at 5-95 cm below the soil surface. In total, 14 symphylans (not identified to species level), 271 centipedes (23 spp.) and 572 millipedes (32 spp.) were sampled. The overall depth distribution of centipedes and millipedes appeared to have relatively similar pattern, with both groups being found at all depth levels. Nevertheless, this pattern depends on locations. The depth distribution trend lines are mostly in the form of an asymmetric 'U', with decreased abundance until the middle of the gradient, followed by increase in the deepest levels. Epigeic species were sporadically distributed along the whole depth gradient, but concentrated at the soil surface, while some subterranean species, such as the centipede Lithobius lucifugus and the millipedes Geoglomeris subterranea, Cibiniulus slovacus and Archiboreoiulus pallidus, were recorded in the deepest parts of the gradient. This characterises the debris community as a mixture of soil and subterranean species with an absence of species exclusively found in caves. The use of different fixation methods in traps had a significant and selective impact on samples; millipedes were either attracted by ethylene glycol or repelled by formaldehyde. Centipedes were also captured more frequently in ethylene glycol; however, the species composition varied in each of the fixatives. Depth distribution of myriapods was similar in both fixative solutions. Traps with these fixatives could be recommended for similar ecological studies.

Character of woodland fragments affects distribution of myriapod assemblages in agricultural landscape.

Fragments of woodland fulfil many irreplaceable functions in the agricultural landscape including being the main source of biodiversity of soil invertebrates. Due to intensive farming and land use changes, especially in the second half of the 20th century, fragments of woodland in agricultural landscape almost disappeared. This has led to a decrease in the diversity of invertebrates, especially those for which the presence of these woodland habitats in the landscape is a key element for survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of fragments of woodland (characterised by their area, vegetation structure, the amount of leaf litter layer and soil moisture) on the distribution of centipedes and millipedes (Myriapoda) in the agricultural landscape of South Moravia (Czech Republic). Myriapods were collected using pitfall traps during summer in 2016 and 2017. Results showed that activity-density of myriapods is positively correlated with thickness of the leaf litter layer. Moreover, the species richness of centipedes is positively correlated with increasing size of fragments of woodland although higher centipedes' activity-density was found in rather uniform woodlands in term of diversity of tree species.

Taxonomic status and behavioural documentation of the troglobiont Lithobiusmatulici (Myriapoda, Chilopoda) from the Dinaric Alps: Are there semiaquatic centipedes in caves?

Lithobiusmatulici Verhoeff, 1899 is redescribed based on type material and newly collected specimens. Strandiolusjugoslavicus Hoffer, 1937, described from another cave in the same region in Bosnia and Hercegovina, is presented as a junior subjective synonym of L.matulici (syn. nov.). L.matulici is shown to be most closely related to Lithobiusremyi Jawlowski, 1933, type species of the subgenus Thracolithobius Matic, 1962. The completeness of the chitin-lines on the forcipular coxosternite is discussed as a promising character for interspecific differentiation within Lithobiomorpha. Documentation of hitherto unknown semiaquatic behaviour in L.matulici and other cave-dwelling centipede species from Herzegovinian-, Montenegrin- and Pyrenean caves is presented.

On the identity of Photophilus Folkmanová, 1928: A new generic synonymy (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae).

The enigmatic monotypic genus Photophilus Folkmanová, 1928 and its type species, Photophilus griseus Folkmanová, 1928, were described almost 90 years ago from the Czech Republic. The new genus was erected not only based on some morphological characters, but also on behavioural features rather peculiar among Central European geophilomorphs. Although the patria of these taxa is among the best studied regions regarding Chilopoda, and focussed effort has been made to collect further representatives of these taxa, none have been found since the original description As the type material is lost and we failed to collect new specimens from the type locality, we tried to elucidate the true identity of these genus and species by analysing the characters given in the original description in comparison to all other geophilomorphs known from Europe. The structure of the mouth-parts, the shape of the ventral pore-fields and the arrangement of the coxal pores indicate Photophilus to be in the closest relation with the genus Geophilus Leach, 1814 from which it is separated by characters which are shown here as artefacts or misinterpretations according to the judgement of the original descriptions illustrations. Considering the remaining characters of Photophilus and its type species-including the behavioural features-they actually fit only to the widespread European species Geophilus carpophagus Leach, 1815, which is formerly proposed here to be the subjective senior synonym of Photophilus griseus Folkmanová, 1928 (syn. nov.). Photophilus is formerly proposed here as subjective junior synonym of Geophilus (syn. nov.).

Out of Africa: The first introduced African geophilomorph centipede record from a European greenhouse (Chilopoda: Geophilidae).

In Europe, 184 species of Geophilomorpha are recognised (Bonato & Minelli 2014) of which eight are evaluated as alien to the region (Stoev et al. 2010, Decker et al. 2014). Four of these have been reported from greenhouses exclusively: Mecistocephalus guildingii Newport, 1843, Mecistocephalus maxillaris (Gervais, 1837), Tygarrup javanicus Attems, 1929 and Pectiniunguis pauperatus Silvestri, 1907. In this paper, we report another species, Polygonarea silvicola Lawrence, 1955, which is the first Geophilomorpha species of unambiguous African origin in Europe. Description of the specimen found in Olomouc (Czech Republic) is provided. Co-occurrence of another African species, the lithobiomorph Lamyctes africanus (Porath, 1871) (also new for Czech Republic) is also reported here.

A checklist of the centipedes (Chilopoda) of Lithuania.

Only 4 species of centipedes were previously reported for Lithuania. Here we present current distributional data for a total of 20 species (12 species of Lithobiomorpha and 8 species of Geophilomorpha) collected mainly during 7 years conducting ecological research at Curonian Spit, drawing on samples from the central, eastern and north-western parts of Lithuania.

True identity of Folkmanovius paralellus Dobroruka (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae).

The mysterious monotypic genus Folkmanovius Dobroruka, 1957, and its type species, Folkmanovius paralellus Dobroruka, 1957, have never been found again since their description, although the patria of these taxa-the Czech Republic-is among the best studied regions regarding Chilopoda. Analysing the characters given in the original description, we found Folkmanovius to be in the closest relation with another European genus, Clinopodes C.L. Koch, 1847. Some characters could fit with the only Central European representative of this latter genus (Clinopodes flavidus) if, and only if, we consider that the description was based on juvenile specimens. Studying C. flavidus specimens of the first adolescens stadia, we found morphological changes during postembryonic development for several characters, documented first time for the genus. These results explain and elucidate all the tentative differential characters of Dobroruka's taxa and prove that Folkmanovius Dobroruka, 1957, is a junior subjective synonym of Clinopodes C.L. Koch, 1847, (syn. nov.), as well as Folkmanovius paralellus Dobroruka, 1957, being a junior subjective synonym of Clinopodes flavidus C.L. Koch, 1847 (syn. nov.).

Personality affects defensive behaviour of Porcellioscaber (Isopoda, Oniscidea).

We evaluated individual behavioural patterns of isopods expressed as tonic immobility following some intrusive treatments. Common rough woodlice, Porcellioscaber, were kept individually in plastic boxes and tested for tonic immobility repeatedly. Reactivity, sensitivity (number of stimuli needed to respond), and endurance of tonic immobility (TI) according three types of treatments (touch, squeeze, drop) were evaluated. Touch was the weakest treatment and it was necessary to repeat it a number of times to obtain a response; while squeeze and drop induced TI more frequently. Nevertheless, duration of the response persisted for a longer time with the touch treatment. Within each set of the three treatment, the strongest response was the third one, regardless of treatment type. Duration of reaction was affected by the size of the woodlouse, the smallest individuals feigning death for the shortest time. Despite body size, we found a significant individual pattern of endurance of TI among tested woodlice, which was stable across treatments as well as across time (5 repetitions during a 3 week period). Porcellioscaber is one of the first species of terrestrial isopods with documented personality traits.

The effect of external marking on the behaviour of the common pill woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare.

Zoologists distinguish individual animals using marking techniques. Generally they test the potential influence of marking on survival only; the influence on behaviour is usually neglected. We evaluated the influence of two external marking techniques (nail polish and queen-bee marker) on the behaviour of common pill woodlouse, Armadillidium vulgare. The behaviour was examined from two points of view: (1) activity during 24 hours and (2) specific expressions of behaviour (exploring, feeding, resting and hiding) over a 24 hour period. We compared behaviour among woodlice marked with nail polish and queen-bee marker with the unmarked control group during a nine-day experiment. Although we did not find any influence of marking on survival, there was an evident influence on behaviour in most cases. Generally, in the groups of marked individuals of Armadillidium vulgare there were large differences observed against the control group in the overall activity. Activity of marked individuals was significantly reduced and they preferred hiding. The influence of polish and marker on the overall frequencies of behavioural categories was evident, mainly in feeding, resting and hiding. The influence on the frequency of exploring was significant in the polish marked group only.