Distribution of the Southern Oak Bush-cricket Meconema meridionale (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Folia oecologica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Orthoptera; expansion; distribution; invasive behaviour; Czech and Slovak Republics |
| Description | Numerous animal species which were originally Mediterranean are seen to be spreading through Central Europe. The bush-cricket Meconema meridionale is one of them and it has been known to be spreading mainly in Western Europe. After the first record in late summer of 2008 in the Czech Republic, we checked 44 sites of potential occurrence in the country and 48 in Slovakia. Material was sampled by beating from tree branches and sweeping bushes and small trees. The species was found at 15 localities in the CR and two in Slovakia. The recorded distribution is concentrated in urban environments, connected with traffic or camping. This supports the idea of passive dispersal by cars. The absence of the species in close surroundings of the localities supports the idea of its recent spread over the countries. All the 19 localities are situated in lower altitudes, between 130 and 350 m a.s.l. and the species was found on at least 14 woody species. Morphological parameters of Czech and Slovak specimens are not significantly different from those in original area of distribution. |