Ján Kulfan

Slovak Academy of Sciences | SAV · Dept of Animal Ecology

The abundance and species composition of adult ladybird communities (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were investigated on two congeneric trees, native Norway spruce (Picea abies) and the introduced blue spruce (Picea pungens), at four locations in Slovakia (central Europe). For two years (2021–2022), coccinellid adults were sampled using a standard meth...

Blue spruce (Picea pungens) has been planted in urban greenery as an ornamental tree in central Europe for more than 150 years. We investigated whether this nonnative spruce is a convenient habitat for ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). In 2021 and 2022, adults and larvae were sampled in four towns in Slovakia at monthly intervals throughout th...

Using seventeen-year records of daily light trap catches of predatory Neuroptera (Chrysopidae, 13 species) and Coleoptera (Coccinellidae, 10 species), and of phytophagous Lepidoptera (Noctuidae, 79 species) we tested a hypothesis predicting that the range of annual fluctuations of catch size is greater in aphidophages, whose diet occurs irregularly...

Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) provide services that are critical to food production, and they fulfill an ecological role as a food source for predators. The richness, abundance, and distribution of ladybirds, however, are compromised by many anthropogenic threats. Meanwhile, a lack of knowledge of the conservation status of most species and...

The capability of a non-native species to withstand adverse weather is indicative of its establishment in a novel area. An unusually cold winter of 2016/2017 that occurred in the West Carpathians of Slovakia and other regions within Europe provided an opportunity to indirectly assess survival of the invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Co...

Wildlife observations submitted by volunteers through citizen science initiatives are increasingly used within research and policy. Ladybirds are popular and charismatic insects, with most species being relatively easy to identify from photographs. Therefore, they are considered an appropriate taxonomic group for engaging people through citizen sci...

In 2016–2019, seasonal changes in the abundance of the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were established in the city center of Prague, Central Europe, and in its outskirts. Adults were sampled from lime trees (Tilia spp.) at regular intervals throughout the growing season. The abundance of H. axyridis parall...

In temperate forests within Europe, early-flushing (EF) deciduous trees are often heavily infested by early spring leaf-eating Lepidoptera, while late-flushing (LF) trees are better protected in a phenological manner against such heavy infestations, as spring moth larvae begin to appear before their bud burst. The associational effects of EF trees...

The gypsy moth is one of the most serious pests in forests and fruit tree plantations over prevailing parts of the Northern Hemisphere. This work is based on a literature review, and presents history of gypsy moth Lymantria dispar L., observed in Slovak forests within the period 1945–2020. The life cycle, hosts, natural enemies, population dynamics...

The article presents internet services running on the websites www.skodcoviadrevin.sk and www. los.sk/mavysk/. Service www.skodcoviadrevin.sk is the digital online version of the printed atlas, previously published by the team of researchers working at Forest Protection Service. It is designed to identify pests of trees and shrubs and is intended f...

Understanding of habitat favourability has wide relevance to the invasion biology of alien species. We studied the seasonal dynamics of the alien ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in monoculture Scots pine forest stands in southwest Slovakia, Central Europe, from April 2013 to March 2015. Adult H. axyridis were collected monthl...

The box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species in Europe and a serious pest of box trees (Buxus spp.). In Slovakia, Central Europe, it was first reported in 2012 within the low elevation region with a warm climate. We hypothesize that the cold mountain region of Slovakia would provide less sui...

The Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas, native to eastern Asia, is an invasive, non-native species that has recently achieved an almost worldwide distribution. A conspicuous feature of this species is colour polymorphism of the elytra. In its native area, the populations consist of a recessive non-melanic morph, several dominant melanic mo...

The box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis is an invasive pest on box trees originating from Eastern Asia which spread throughout Europe. We assessed the efficacy of photo-eclectors (emergence boxes) for the detection of its larvae. We also investigated their spatial distribution on the hosts and the spatial and temporal distribution of the leaf damag...

Invasive organisms represent great threats to ecosystems and great challenges to forest management. In Europe, the black timber bark beetle (Xylosandrus germanus) is an invasive secondary pest that mostly attacks the logs of felled trees. We showed the invasion history for Europe and using many local surveys, we summarize the current distribution a...

Species within the group of winter moths (Geometridae) are important oak defoliators in European forests. Adults of these species emerge either in late autumn ('autumn species') or in early spring ('spring species'), and caterpillars of both 'autumn' and 'spring' species appear in spring. The abundance of adults assessed by regular monitoring allow...

The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is native to East Asia and was introduced in Europe more than a decade ago. It causes severe damage to box trees (Buxus spp.) in both urban and natural habitats. The occurrence of this invasive pest in southeastern Europe has not been documented in a comprehensive way yet. The main...

Adult moths from an ecological group of winter geometrid species look for trees where they copulate and females lay eggs. We investigated how tree trunk and lower branch thickness affects the occurrence of females on trunks and branches and how the density of females and tree trunk thickness affects the occurrence of males on trunks. The research w...

Ability of a non-native insect speciesto increasein number and to withstand adversewinter weather conditions are indicative of its successfulestablishment in a particular area. We studied temporal changesin the population of the ambrosiabeetle Xy/osandrus germonus (Blandford) (Scolytinae)in the West Carpathiansin Slovakia, Central Europe, since the...

Many species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are important predators of seeds. While the consumption of herb seeds has been intensively studied, little attention has been paid to the consumption of seeds of gymnosperm plants. Here, we determined the consumption of seeds of six coniferous species by four common carabid species and compared...

Lesnícka ochranárska služba (LOS) vykonáva kontrolnú, prognostickú a expertíznu činnosť z problematiky ochrany lesa, navrhuje opatrenia na zlepšenie zdravotného stavu v lesoch a zvládnutie kalamitných situácií, kontroluje zdravot-ný stav lesov a navrhuje opatrenia na jeho zlepšenie. Okrem týchto činnosti venuje LOS pozornosť aj vzdelávaniu v ob-las...

Entomophaga maimaiga is an important host-specific fungal pathogen of gypsy moth larvae in North America. In 1999, this entomopathogenic fungus was successfully introduced into Bulgaria. At present, it is spreading fast in southeastern and central Europe. It has been recorded from Serbia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech...

The black timber bark beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that originates from Southeast Asia and has become successfully established within Europe and North America. Herein, we provide a review of the spread and distribution of this tree and timber pest species across Europe, before and after 2000, along with a r...

We surveyed ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in 10 stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), all monoculture stands 5–100 years old, in western Slovakia, Central Europe, over two successive periods, October 2013 – March 2014 and October 2014 – March 2015. The winter in each period was exceptionally mild. Ladybirds were collected from the lower...

The black timber bark beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) is an invasive ambrosia beetle originating from Southeastern Asia that has become successfully established within Europe and North America. Herein, we provide a review of the spread and distribution of this pest of trees and timber across Europe before and after 2000, along with a review...

I>Dioszeghyana schmidtii (Di󳺥ghy 1935), is forest species protected by European Union. Its distribution has been studied essentially by the use of light traps. However, its biology and habitat preferences are not sufficiently known and thus its habitats may be damaged by forest management. We suggest the beating method in order to collect larvae as...

We evaluated the status of native ladybird assemblages in the presence of the non-native ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in three European countries. To achieve this, we assessed the abundance of ladybirds from common host plants in urban areas of Great Britain, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 2014. We determined...

During two periods (December 2013 – March 2014 and November 2014 – March 2015) a total of 9 species of Lepidoptera larvae belonging to six families were collected at five localities and ten study plots in leaf bearing crowns of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) in the Záhorie Protected Landscape Area. The family Geometridae encompassed the highest num...

Wind is both an ecological provider and disturbance facilitator influences trees and other organisms in forests. Impacts of wind on indu-vidual trees and forests mainly depend on the strength (or intensity) of the wind and the stability of the trees. Wind causes large-scale damage to forests and serious economical losses for the forestry sector wit...

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is native to Asia but has been intentionally introduced to many countries as a biological control agent of pest insects. In numerous countries, however, it has been introduced unintentionally. The dramatic spread of H. axyridis within many countries has been met with co...

Mites of the genera Trichouropoda and Uroobovella are characteristic associates of bark beetles which act as agents of their dispersal in many types of forest ecosystems worldwide. We compared the phoretic assemblages of Trichouropoda and Uroobovella mites on six species of bark beetle associated with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten), namel...

Lepidoptera associated with Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karsten, play important roles in ecosystem processes, acting as plant pests, prey for predators, and hosts for parasites and parasitoids. Their distribution patterns in spruce crowns and forests are only poorly understood. We examined how slope and crown aspect affect the occurrence and ab...

Wind storms play an important role in structuring European forests, however, the direct effects of strong wind on insects roosting in tree canopies are poorly known. In this study we assess the proportion of moth larvae which remain on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees which have fallen during high winds. Next, we contribute to the know...

The harlequin ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) has invaded and established in Slovakia. Following unintentional introduction in 2008, the spread of the alien coccinellid was very fast. By the end of 2009, it was recorded across the whole country, and by the end of 2012 it was widely distributed and common in various hab...

Records of Harmonia axyridis in Slovakia

This publication was elaborated within BioREGIO Carpathians project supported by South East Europe Programme and was fi nanced by a Swiss-Slovak project supported by the Swiss Contribution to the enlarged European Union and Carpathian Wetlands Initiative.

Spatial occurrence and abundance of Ips sexdentatus, Phaenops cyanea, Pissodes piniphilus, Tomicus minor and Ips acuminatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Buprestidae) were examined in mature Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) growing on poor sandy soils in Záhorská nížina lowland in western Slovakia, Central Europe. In the study area, the five given...

A comprehensive atlas to the world of insects and diseases damaging trees and shrubs in Europe. Illustrated by over 4,300 unique colour photographs, showing more than 1,100 species of insects and diseases causing damage to tree species and shrubs in Europe. 535 p.

Lepidopteran larval assemblages were collected in the northern part of the Malé Karpaty Mts (western Slovakia), on three oak species (Quercus poly- carpa, Q. pubescens and Q. cerris) in forests with closed canopy and in sunlit forests. The studied habitats were situated very near each other, without any barriers for moving insects. The abundance an...

Larvae and adults of some generalist insect species co-occur in identical habitats whereas adults and larvae of other generalist species do not co-occur and occupy different habitats. The Meadow brown, Maniola jurtina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is common and widely distributed in Europe where it is considered a habitat generalist. As knowledg...

The harmful influence of air pollution on health status of beech forests is discussed, mainly the influence of air pollution of fluoride type (alluminium plant in Žiar nad Hronom) and alkalic pollution of magnesite type (magnesite plant in Jelšava - Lubeník) in Central Slovakia. Since the year 1990, emissions released and transfered across the ter...

Windstorm on November 19, 2004 seriously affected Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests in Tatra Mountains, Northern Slovakia. We studied as to whether moth larvae and eggs overwintered successfully on branches of uprooted spruce trees. Also, we evaluated differences in assemblage structure of overwintering developmental stages of moths between the u...

Attraction of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to Norway spruce was studied in the timberline forest in Tatra Mountains, West Carpathians, Central Europe, by trapping bark beetles in flight interception traps fixed to the lower parts of the 18 trunks of spruce trees, and by recording colonizations of bark beetles on those trees in 2004. The tr...

Blue spruce has locally been introduced to the forests in Central Europe. It was considered as a suitable substitute tree species in areas where afforestation with the native Norway spruce had not been successful, e.g. in areas heavily affected by air pollution. Young plantations of blue spruce were healthy, without serious insect damage. We studie...

The bark beetle Hylastes cunicularius was studied in the Tatra Mountains, West Carpathians, to clarify its role in transferring phoretic uropodine mites during dispersal in a mountain spruce forest. Emphasis was placed on the proportion of beetles vectoring deutonymphs of uropodine mites, and on assemblage structure, frequency distribution and plac...

Abs Tr AcT: Dioszeghyana schmidtii (Diószeghy 1935), is forest species protected by European Union. Its distribution has been studied essentially by the use of light traps. However, its biology and habitat preferences are not sufficiently known and thus its habitats may be damaged by forest management. We suggest the beating method in order to coll...

Tatry sú pohorie, kde sa nachádzajú pozoru-hodné druhy motýľov (Lepidoptera), ktoré sa nikde inde na Slovensku nevyskytujú.

Cryptic green caterpillars of Thera variata and Pungeleria capreolaria and brown caterpillars of Peribatodes secundarius, Eu-pithecia tantillaria and Hylaea fasciaria (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) were studied. The question was if these caterpillars could improve the effect of their crypticity by selecting for their diurnal roosting a specific place o...

We studied the leaf litter-dwelling fauna of managed deciduous forests and primeval reference sites in Western and Central Europe and addressed the questions if the higher overall species richness close to downed coarse woody debris (CWD) is related to intra-specific or inter-specific aggregation, if the aggregation pattern changes with the amount...

We studied roosting positions of caterpillars of five cryptically coloured moth species (Lepidoptera, Geometridae: Thera variata, Pungeleria capreolaria, Peribatodes secundarius, Hylaea fasciaria and Alcis repandata) during winter 2006/2007 (November-April). The separate caterpillars were bred in outdoor conditions, placed in transparent plastic vi...

A new Lepidoptera species found in the Tatra Mts. (Western Carpathians, northern Slovakia) is described. The description, pictures, and line drawings of the imago, pupa and larva of the species are given, together with its bionomics, behaviour, the present available data about the species range and distribution as well as the characteristic feature...

In two successive years we recorded a total of 3,636 individuals and 17 species of adult lady beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in the spruce forests of Pol’ana Mts (the West Carpathians) at altitudes ranging from 600 m to 1,300 m a.s.l. Four lady beetle species were documented as predominating (dominance of abundance > 5%) over the study period....

We investigated the distribution pattern of centipedes (Chilopoda) in four primeval forests of the western Carpathians, central Slovakia. The forests are located in two different mountain ranges (Kremnické vrchy and Pol’ana Mountains), which are exposed on either the southern (Boky, Rohy) or northern slopes (Pol’ana, Badín). In these forests, the i...

We investigated the distribution pattern of litter dwelling beetles in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians. The forests are situated in two mountain ranges and are either southerly exposed oak forests or northerly exposed beech forests. Beetles were extracted from leaf litter of plots close to coarse woody debris (c-CWD) and distant fr...

We studied the snail fauna of four primeval forests of Central Slovakia and focused on the influence of forest type and coarse woody debris (CWD) on species assemblages. We found a total of 3281 individuals from 39 species. Species assemblages differed between the forests. In SW-facing oak forests, CWD enhanced the proportion of forest species such...

We collected 1605 isopod individuals (eight species) and 671 diplopod individuals (17 species) in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians, Central Slovakia, by leaf litter extraction. The forests are of different temperate deciduous forest types varying in tree species, aspect, elevation and soil characteristics. The oak forests, establish...

Libythea celtis, earlier known as a southern European species, was recorded in the extreme southern regions of the Slovak Republic from the 1950s to 1980s. In the study period 1976-1998, the species expanded northwards and it has been the most abundant in the southern part of central Slovakia, with single specimens also found in the central Slovak...

Herbivorous beetles were sampled in central Slovakia and in the Tatra Mountains of northern Slovakia from seven different Salix species which are partly characterized by smooth leaves containing phenolic glycosides and partly by hairy leaves containing tannins. The collection included about 8000 individuals representing 129 species. Of the 129 spec...

A total of 28 seeds of Phoenix canariensis, collected on the littoral of Croatia (former Yugoslavia) in August 1998, were brought to the Slovak Republic in order to grow palm trees In artificial conditions. Surprisingly, the seeds yielded 284 specimens of bark beetles which were identified as Dactylotrypes Iongicollis. This is the first evidence fo...

In June 1996, Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees growing in a managed mixed forest near Cologne, Germany, were felled and debarked. Several days after felling, the examined spruce logs had attracted 21 beetle species, of which the alien ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) predominated. Another ambrosia beetle, Gnathotrichus...

In April 1996, we collected soil samples in thevicinity of a magnesite plant at Lubenk, southernSlovakia, and screened them for soil microbial biomassand activity. Six investigated sites were chosen alonga transect, with distances ranging from 600 to 8000 mfrom the plant, to represent a gradient ofintoxication. Soil microbial cellulase activity,res...

Health state of forest tree species and occurrence of selected groups of fungi and animals were investigated in surroundings of a magnesium factory in three zones of immissions load A, B, C and D (control). The average defoliation of oaks and hornbeams in the zone C confirms including these stands into the zone of the chronic damage. A significantl...

We investigated species assemblages of Lepidoptera which fed onQuercus petraea, Carpinus betulus andFagus sylvatica trees growing in commercial forests in the Rhineland (Germany). In total we found 63 different species of caterpillars. Several species (Operophtera fagata, O. brumata, Tortrix viridana, Agriopis leucophaearia, A. aurantiaria andErann...

We investigated species assemblages of Lepidoptera which fed on Quercus petraea, Carpinus betulus and Fagus sylvatica trees growing in commercial forests in the Rhineland (Germany). In total we found 63 different species of caterpillars. Several species (Operophtera fagata, O. brumata, Tortrix viridana, Agriopis leucophaearia, A. aurantiaria and Er...

Three species of the genusArgyresthia Hbner (A. bergiella Ratzeburg,A. amiantella Zeller andA. glabratella Zeller) were studied in Norway spruce forests at an elevation of 380–1550 m in the West Carpathian Mountains (central and western Slovakia). These species have distinct external pupal characteristics and feed marks. They occur together, being...

Three species of the genus Argyresthia Hubner (A. bergiella Ratzeburg, A. amiantella Zeller and A glabratella Zeller) were studied in Norway spruce forests at an elevation of 380-1550 m in the West Carpathian Mountains (central and western Slovakia). These species have distinct external pupal characteristics and feed marks. They occur together, bei...

In 1993-1995 the Small Tortoiseshell - Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758) population strongly declined in all explored lowlands and hilly areas of the Slovak Republic. The butterfly formerly was more frequent in the mountain areas above 1000 m but now its population is certainly decreased. Decline of this well-known species is discussed.

Butterflies (Papilionoidea and Hesperiidae) were recorded in the Piešt'any area, the surrounding alluvial plain of the river Váh and part of the Považský Inovec mountain range (162-650 m elev.) between 1990-1995. Results were compared with data obtained in 1978-1989 from literature and butterfly collectors. In total, 24 threatened and/or local butt...

Selected faunal assemblages (Orthoptera, Mantodea, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Aves) have been investigated along a transect (464-1458 m a.s.l.) covering four generalized forest zones of the Pol'ana Biosphere Reserve. Vertical distribution of insects and birds in the area of interest are affected by a number of factors, of which the geographical posit...

Tento príspevok bol po redakčných úpravách vytlačený 20. 2. 2002 0:48. Číslovanie strán nezodpovedá číslovaniu, ktoré bude v konečnej podobe časopisu. Po označení potrebných opráv (štandardnými korekčnými značkami) a úpravách podľa požiadaviek redakčnej rady ho vráťte redakcii. Prípadné otázky pošlite e-mail na adresu stloukal@fns.uniba.sk 10-Úradn...

On the basis of original studies and data from literature, 25 species of the family Zygaenidae were found in Slovakia (10 species from the subf. Procridinae and 15 species from the subf. Zygaeninae). Of them, 11 species are considered to be threatened species (10 species are vulnerable and 1 species has local distribution and 11 species reach to hi...