Zoltan Varga

Zoltan Varga
University of Debrecen · Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology

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194
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3,236
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Publications

Publications (194)
Article
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Zoos and botanical gardens have a special role in the promotion, presentation and conservation of biodiversity in urbanised environments. Additionally, they provide special habitats for alien and invasive species. The formerly used methods of biodiversity assessments (e.g., light trapping, transect counts, etc.) are mostly labour-intensive and/or n...
Article
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The chemical ecology and host plant preferences of the different Conistra species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Xylenini) are mostly unknown, even though they are essential components of the herbivorous assemblages of temperate zone forests. During field studies, (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7-14Ac) was identified as a sex attractant of Conistra vaccini...
Article
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The first occurrence of an invasive pest species, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Bulgaria is reported. Different trapping methods (black light trap, traps baited with semiochemical lures, and food attractants) were used to study Noctuidae assemblages in Bulgaria in 2023. Two males of S. frugiperda were caught...
Article
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Attractivity and selectivity of two types of traps with synthetic, long-lasting, bisexual generic attractants were compared to conventional light traps to promote their wider use, as an easy-to-use standardised method for entomology. The targeted herbivorous Macroheterocera species playing important role in ecosystems as food source for higher trop...
Article
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The external genital appendages of Noctuidae represent correlated–coevolved elements of a complex structure. The pathways of changes are delimited by some constraints, and they are parallelly evolved in different phyletic lines. Asymmetrical male external genitalia were found in Hadenini, in Polia and its closely related genera, but also in Anarta...
Article
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The aim of this study was to analyse the level and structure of genetic and morphometric variation in the East-Central European populations of Phengaris (Maculinea) nausithous . On the basis of the life cycle of the species, we expected a low level of variation within the populations coupled with a relatively high level of differentiation among the...
Article
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We studied the types of sensilla on the pectinated antennae of Ctenoceratoda species (Noctuinae, Hadenini) using scanning electron microscopy. These ultrastructures are described, illustrated and analysed in four distinct species groups of the genus. The group features distinguishing the four lineages of the genus and their taxonomic importance are...
Article
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The forficula species group of the Holarctic genus Dichagyris is revised based on the survey of type specimens and relevant materials of state and private collections. D. turana (Staudinger, [1892]) stat. rev. and D. furiosa (Bang-Haas, 1912) stat. rev. are elevated to specific status and lectotypes are designated, D. forficula devota (Christoph, 1...
Article
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The white-line dart, Euxoa tritici L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous pest of many field crops in Europe. The cutworms feed on various crops (e.g., alfalfa, lettuce, potato , beet, and other row crops (see: https://www.gov. mb.ca/agric ultur e/crops/ insec ts/cutwo rms-field-crops. html) and also attack a wide range of low-growing plants...
Article
Full-text available
We studied the types of sensilla on the pectinated antennae of Ctenoceratoda species (Noctuinae, Hadenini) using scanning electron microscopy. These ultrastructures are described, illustrated and analysed in four distinct species groups of the genus. The group features distinguishing the four lineages of the genus and their taxonomic importance are...
Chapter
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The taxa of the Actebia Stephens, 1829 (s. str.) species complex is surveyed, a new species, A. redeidavidi sp. n. (Taiwan), and three new subspecies, A. praecurrens iurettighi ssp. n. (China, Shaanxi), A. praecox szollathi ssp. n. (Russia, Chechnya) and A. praecox lokoslaci ssp. n. (Korea) are described. With 3 colour plates and 15 genitalia figur...
Article
Full-text available
The taxa of the Actebia Stephens, 1829 (s. str.) species complex is surveyed, a new species, A. redeidavidi sp. n. (Taiwan), and three new subspecies, A. praecurrens iurettighi ssp. n. (China, Shaanxi), A. praecox szollathi ssp. n. (Russia, Chechnya) and A. praecox lokoslaci ssp. n. (Korea) are described. With 3 colour plates and 15 genitalia figur...
Article
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The identity of "Polia" scotochlora Kollar, 1849 is clarified and the species is placed into the genus Calamia, in the newly described subgenus Scotocalamia. The type species of Kollariana Hacker, 1996 is changed to Polia stevensii Guenée, 1852 in order to preserve the former taxonomic placement of Kollariana in Mamestrina, following the Code 70.3....
Article
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The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most important invasive noctuid pests. Its appearance and rapid spread can be monitored with sex pheromone traps, but the catches can be confused by catches of non‐target similar species. Here we present non‐target catches of commercial pheromone traps of S. f...
Article
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The addition of synthetic eugenol and benzyl acetate to the known floral chemical and moth attractant phenylacetaldehyde synergized the attraction of Amata phegea (Lepidoptera: Amatidae). Traps baited with the ternary blend caught ca. four times more A. phegea moths than traps baited with phenylacetaldehyde alone. Both female and male moths were at...
Article
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The artificial light sources are useful tools for sampling night active insects, however, they also possess potential environmental risks in their habitats. To test their applicability and evaluate environmental risk for caddisflies (Trichoptera), the attractivity of different portable light traps working with LED, UV and mixed-white light sources...
Article
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The oreal fauna is connected with orographically limited non-arboreal habitats. Its chorological centres can be recognised by the high species-diversity of numerous typical genera, and by the accumulated occurrence of endemic species and/or subspecies of disjunct species. The oreal fauna is partitioned to the alpine type, as the faunal type of humi...
Article
Full-text available
The oreal fauna is connected with orographically limited non-arboreal habitats. Its chorological centres can be recognised by the high species-diversity of numerous typical genera, and by the accumulated occurrence of endemic species and/or subspecies of disjunct species. The oreal fauna is partitioned to the alpine type, as the faunal type of humi...
Article
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Two bisexual lures have been developed using iso‐amyl alcohol plus acetic acid combined with red wine extract (semisynthetic bisexual lure, SBL), or synthetic floral compounds (FLO) for trapping of noctuid moths with early spring activity of adults. Orthosia species were attracted by the tested semi‐synthetic and synthetic lures indicating the poss...
Article
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Several morphological and mitochondrial lineages of the alpine ringlet butterfly species Erebia pronoe have been described, indicating a complex phylogenetic structure. However, the existing data were insufficient and allow neither a reconstruction of the biogeographic history, nor an assessment of the genetic lineages. Therefore, we analysed mitoc...
Article
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The Eurasian Steppe belt is one of the largest biomes in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide here a range-wide phylogeography of the flightless steppe beetle Lethrus apterus that inhabits the western part of the Steppe belt through the study of population-level variance of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences and nuclear microsatellites. We...
Article
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Traditional and extensively used agricultural lands maintain and protect high levels of biological diversity. This diversity is in decline due to land use intensification and abandonment. Natural and semi-natural grasslands of the Carpathian lowlands have become endangered over the 19th century. However, some remains of former wetlands have survive...
Article
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The taxonomically important characters and subgeneric subdivision of Dichagyris are presented with several historical and nomenclatural considerations. Subdivision of D. vallesiaca is revised based on the type material of the known subspecies. The D. psammochroa group is revised, with description of a new species, D. kurbatskyi from Kazakhstan, and...
Article
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The phylogeography and molecular taxonomy of the Alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris, has been intensively studied in the past. However, previous studies did not include a comprehensive sampling from the Carpathian Basin, possibly a key region in the evolution of the species. We used a 1251 bp long fragment of the mitochondrial genome to infer the...
Article
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Orthoptera assemblages were sampled between 2012 and 2014 on six grasslands in marginal part of the former Szernye Marsh (Bereg Lowland, Transcarpathia, West Ukraine). 24 species in 1306 individuals were observed which is about the half of the Orthoptera species known from the Bereg Lowland. The bulk of the assemblages is formed by generalist chort...
Chapter
Description of a new species of Agrotis Ochsenheimer, 1816, A. fratercula sp. n. from Armenia, Gerhard.
Chapter
Description of a new species of Agrotis Ochsenheimer, 1816, A. philippelopesi sp.n. from Pakistan, Kashmir, Himalaya Mts.
Article
Frequency of flower visitations of six bumble bee (Bombus) species was surveyed in Transcarpathia (Ukraine). In four areas of the Game Reserve of Nagydobrony and surroundings five-five sampling quadrates were designated. The frequency of flower visitations of 16 dominant plant species (7 spp. in Fabaceae, 3 spp. in Asteraceae, 3 spp. in Lamiaceae,...
Article
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The performance of a semisynthetic bisexual lure (SBL, containing isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid and red wine) previously found attractive for a number of noctuids was compared with that of the respective synthetic sex attractants of Orthosia cerasi (=stabilis), O. cruda, O. gothica, O. incerta, A. munda and Conistra vaccini. The respective sex attr...
Article
The unique biota of the Nyírség region is known mainly on basis of its flora, however, its fauna is poorly studied especially in case of insects, for the Lepidoptera fauna we have only more than 20-years old data collected by light traps. In 2014 and 2015 we carried out samplings with volatile traps near Debrecen-Nagycsere, in the southern part of...
Article
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Land use intensification is a general threat to biodiversity, but many species depend on low‐intensity agricultural ecosystems. One example is European mountain meadow ecosystems, traditionally managed by hay harvesting or livestock grazing. Abandoning management often causes population declines, local extinctions and biotic homogenisation in these...
Article
In this study we analysed for the first time the phylogenetic relationships among the European Lethrus species based on mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (H3, wingless) markers. The phylogenetic inference based on these genes indicated that the European Lethrus species form a monophyletic group with two main lineages. One of them is distributed...
Article
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Although the biogeographic history of thrushes (Turdidae) has been extensively studied, a concise discussion of this topic is still lacking. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate: (1) the evolutionary origin of the migratory behaviour of the Turdus thrushes in a biogeographic context including (2) trans-Atlantic dispersal events, (3) pos...
Data
Citation: Nagy, J., Végvári, Z. & Varga, Z. (2019) Phylogeny, migration and life history: filling the gaps in the origin and biogeography of the Turdus thrushes. Journal of Ornithology 160(2): 529–543. // Full list of supplementary material: Additional information for the comparison of phylogenies Figure S0 Biogeographic realms/regions and the p...
Article
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The range of hosts exploited by a parasite is determined by several factors, including host availability, infectivity and exploitability. Each of these can be the target of natural selection on both host and parasite, which will determine the local outcome of interactions, and potentially lead to coevolution. However, geographical variation in host...
Article
The cover image is based on the Original Article Surprising diversity in the Pannonian populations of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia, Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Morphometric and molecular aspects, by Katalin Pecsenye et al., DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12227. Photo credit: Zoltán Varga.
Article
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In eastern Central Europe the abandonment of traditional land use represents a major threat for biodiversity. Evidence on species loss and shifts in assemblages is often based on butterfly surveys since these are known as sensitive indicators of habitat changes. Butterfly assemblages were studied in meadows of the Transcarpathian lowland in three c...
Poster
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Noctuoidea, one of the most species rich Lepidoptera groups in the Palearctic region, has great importance for both plant protection and nature conservation. Monitoring and detection of these pest species are routinely performed by traps baited with sex pheromones, while in faunistical surveys light traps are widely used. The attractivity of di...
Article
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Since genetic variation is the basis of evolutionary potential of a species, its structure needs to be understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze and contrast the structure of genetic and phenotypic variation in the Euphydryas aurinia populations of southeastern central Europe. Genetic variation was studied by two types of molecular gen...
Book
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The book is the fourth (last) part of the series of the Vartian Catalogue, containing the Geometridae material of the Vartian collection preserved in the Natural History Museum Vienna. The Geometridae section of this collection is supposedly the richest western and Central Asiatic reference material of this very diverse and yet insufficiently studi...
Article
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The taxonomic position of the genus Ctenoceratoda Varga, 1992 is discussed; the different species groups of it are reconsidered, their diagnoses and the revised taxonomic content of all species groups is given. Four new species and one new subspecies are described; their external morphology and genital structures are illustrated.
Article
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A new subgenus of Polia, Metallopolia subgen. n., two new species (Polia (Metallopolia) dysgnorima sp. n. and P. (M.) metagnorima sp. n.) from China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu), and a new subspecies, P. (M.) subviolacea kanchenjunga ssp. n. from Nepal and SE Tibet (Sikkim) are described. Habitus, antennae, male and female genitalia of all Metallopolia...
Article
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The revised checklist of the subtribe Poliina Hampson, 1902 is presented; one new genus, Multisigna gen. n., three new subgenera (Atropolia, Leuconephropolia and Protopolia subgen. n.) and a new species (Polia (Atropolia) posterodiluta sp. n.) are described. The taxonomic position of the recently described subgenus Metallopolia is discussed. The su...
Article
The main goal of our research was to complete the previous studies on the taxonomy of the Phengaris-Maculinea complex applying a geometric morphometric approach on male genitalia. Strong phylogenetic signal was detected in the shape of valva. Phengaris s.str. and Maculinea s.str. could not been separated perfectly owing to the intermediate position...
Article
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The main goal of our research was to carry out a comprehensive study on the obligatorily myrmecophilous Maculinea alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller) whose taxonomy has remained highly debated despite the fact that Maculinea Van Eecke species are some of the most intensively studied insects in Europe. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between the d...
Article
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Nearly all of the known populations of Scarce Fritillary, Euphydryas maturna (Linnaeus, 1758), are declining in Western and Central Europe. In order to identify the possible reasons for its vulnerability we surveyed the population genetics of this butterfly species using multi-locus genotype data. Females of our target species lay lots of eggs in o...
Article
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The aim of this study was to delineate functional conservation units (FCUs) in Scarce Fritillary Euphydryas maturna (Linnaeus, 1758) populations in eastern Central Europe. We analyzed the level and structure of genetic variation using allozymes as markers in 26 Scarce Fritillary populations originating from nine geographic regions. Considering the...
Article
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We allocated some new types of bait traps using different volatile aromatic compounds in the Velyka Dobron’ Game Reserve (Ukraine, Transcarpathian region) where light trap surveys on Macroheterocera were already carried out since 2009. The phenylacetaldehyde based traps were especially effective for the species of subfamilies Plusiinae and Heliothi...
Article
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Craniophora ligustri is the most widely distributed species within the genus Craniophora. We used geometric morphometry to assess the shape variation of male valvae in the Western Palaearctic and Russian Far East populations of C. ligustri including the subspecies C. l. carbolucana and C. l. hyrcanica. Outlines were transformed using Hangle Fourier...
Article
Periodical changes of glacial and interglacial conditions have influenced the distribution of most living organisms and shape the separation of different genetic lineages significantly. We investigated the phylogeography of a nymphalid butterfly Melitaea ornata. Our main aim was to explore the existence, the origin, and the variability of different...
Data
Citation: Nagy, J., Végvári, Zs. & Varga, Z. (2017) Life history traits, bio-climate and migratory systems of accipitrid birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 121(1): 63-71. // Appendix S1. Detailed summary of the maximum entropy modelling for 110 raptor species.
Article
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Although migration is a widespread phenomenon across a range of taxa, the evolution of migratory behaviour remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationships between migratory behaviour and life history traits of diurnal birds of prey (Accipitriformes) in a phylogenetic context and also to investiga...
Article
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The phylogeography of species associated with European steppes and extrazonal xeric grasslands is poorly understood. This paper summarizes the results of recent studies on the phylogeography and conservation genetics of animals (20 taxa of beetles, butterflies, reptiles and rodents) and flowering plants (18 taxa) of such, "steppic" habitats in East...
Article
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We compared the macro-moth assemblages of four forests from which one is extended on the Ukrainian and three on the Hungarian side of the Bereg lowland, and additionally one in the adjacent part of the Hungarian plain (NE of Carpathian Basin). The data were collected by light trapping during at least in five years in all sites. Numerous faunistical...
Article
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Disjunct distribution patterns regularly resulted in the separation of different genetic lineages in glacial refugia. Recent patterns of survival and expansion have been often revealed by climatic niche modelling. We used the combination of genetic markers, geometric morphometry and climatic niche modelling to clear up the taxonomy and reconstruct...
Article
The pattern of genetic variation in a butterfly species depends on the past history of the given species and also on recent evolutionary processes affecting its populations. The aim of the present study was (i) to analyse the enzyme polymorphism in the Clouded Apollo populations of the Carpathian Basin to reveal the contemporary pattern of their ge...
Article
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The Orthoptera fauna of the Bereg Plain was only partly known since Hungarian part of the area was intensively studied while the investigations in the Ukrainian part started only in 2010. On the basis of published data and results of our samplings made between 2010 and 2014 here we present distribution data of 52 Orthoptera (24 Ensifera and 28 Ceal...
Article
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The Game Reserve of Nagydobrony extends on a marginal area of a former peatland and is covered with extended hardwood gallery forests and oak-hornbeam forests and is surrounded by a mosaic-like agricultural landscape. Due to its richness of nature-like and semi-natural habitats it supports a diverse insect assemblage. By light and bait trapping 383...
Article
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Noctuidae are one of the most important Lepidoptera groups containing dangerous pest species. Monitoring and detection of these pest species is routinely performed by traps baited with sex-pheromones. Baits that attract both males and females were developed for improved pest management. First the effectiveness of different synthetic compounds was e...
Conference Paper
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Results of investigations of fauna, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, ethology and practical importance of insects are published at the proceedings. There are materials by entomologists from different scientific, educational and natural protection institutions of Europe, Asia and North America presented.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Results of investigations of fauna, taxonomy, evolution, ecology, ethology and practical importance of insects are published at the proceedings. There are materials by entomologists from different scientific, educational and natural protection institutions of Europe, Asia and North America presented.
Article
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Butterfly assemblages of meadows in the Transcarpathian part of the Bereg plain were studied in three consecutive years (2012-2014) with standard transect walks in 6 different sites (14 transects). In different types of dry, semi-dry and humid meadows more than 6500 individuals of 66 species were observed. The mostly disturbed dry pasture has shown...
Article
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In Europe, both Maculinea alcon and M. teleius frequently co-occur inhabiting humid meadows. Although their parasitic life cycle is similar, ecological differences have been demonstrated between them: (i) spatial distribution of their eggs is different, and (ii) M. alcon is a cuckoo species, while M. teleius is predatory. The aim of the present stu...
Article
Wolbachia is a common group of intracellular bacteria found in arthropods and filarial nematodes. Since the past decade, they have attracted considerable interest owing to their various effects on hosts, which range from reproductive manipulation to mutualism. Moreover, they can influence the mitochondrial DNA pattern which do not reflect the real...