Roman Borovsky’s scientific contributions

The 9th Insect Camp of the Austrian Entomological Society took place in the Nature Park Weißbach from 16th to 19th June 2023. A high number of taxonomic specialists and students of various entomological and arachnological groups attended the camp and/or supported the post-processing of the specimens. The participants of the camp had the opportunity to learn field research, different trapping, identification and preparation methods. Building a network between specialists on taxonomy, biodiversity and nature conservation and newcomers is essential for any work in biology. The camp provides the chance to gather knowledge on scientific work and become part of these networks. The study area included 13 different localities in the Weißbach Nature Park, with different habitats, from water bodies to dry grassland, from 674 m to 2,040 m a.s.l. In total, 1,194 species from 16 orders were recorded: 2 species of Dermaptera, 2 of Blattodea, 9 of Odonata, 64 of Heteroptera, 57 of Auchenorrhyncha, 7 of Neuroptera, 3 of Rhaphidioptera, 5 of Mecoptera, 112 of Diptera, 45 of Trichoptera, 418 of Lepidoptera, 133 of Hymenoptera, 271 of Coleoptera, 8 of Diplopoda, 39 of Oribatida and 19 of Pulmonata. In addition, 350 plant species were documented. 68 species from eight orders were recorded from Salzburg for the first time.

The eighth Insect Camp of the Austrian Entomological Society took place in the Nature Park Leiser Berge from 23 to 26 June 2022. A large number of taxonomic specialists and entomological and arachnological students attended the camp and/or supported the post-processing of samples. During the camp, the participants had the opportunity to expierence field research, different trapping, identification and preparation methods. A network of specialist and people of nature conservation and biodiversity is important for biological work. The camp offers the chance to enter this network and gather knowledge on how to conduct scientific work. The study area included 28 different localities in the Nature Park Leiser Berge with different habitats, from water bodies to dry grassland. In total, 1,497 species of 23 orders were recorded: 1 species of Dermaptera, 2 of Blattodea, 7 of Odonata, 17 of Orthoptera, 127 of Heteroptera, 138 of Auchenorrhyncha, 8 of Sternorryncha, 23 of Neuroptera, 3 of Rhaphidioptera, 3 of Mecoptera, 75 of Diptera, 27 of Trichoptera, 507 of Lepidoptera, 171 of Hymenoptera, 311 of Coleoptera, 1 of Geophilomorpha, 1 of Entomobryomorpha, 1 of Glomerida, 2 of Archaeognatha, 3 of Isopoda, 48 of Araneae, 9 of Opiliones and 12 of Pulmonata. In addition, 179 plant species were documented. Worth mentioning are six new records of five different orders for Lower Austria, and two new records for Austria, a tenebrionid Cynaeus angustus and a syrphid fly Platycheirus sticticus.

The seventh Insect Camp of the Austrian Entomological Society took place in the National Park Thayatal from 18 to 21 June 2021. 24 specialists of entomology, malacology and arachnology and 21 students attended the Insect Camp and/or supported the post-processing of specimens. During the camp time, the participants gained hands-on experience in field research, different trapping, identification and preparation methods. The Insect Camp also provided opportunities to network with specialist entomologists and gather knowledge on scientific work. The study area included 16 different localities in the National Park with different habitats, from water bodies to dry grassland. In total, 1429 species of 19 orders were recorded: 3 species of Dermaptera, 4 of Blattodea, 6 of Odonata, 96 of Heteroptera, 99 of Auchenorrhyncha, 11 of Neuroptera, 3 of Rhaphidioptera, 1 of Megaloptera 3 of Mecoptera, 67 of Diptera, 26 of Trichoptera, 412 of Lepidoptera, 133 of Hymenoptera, 489 of Coleo- ptera, 40 of Araneae, 6 of Opiliones, 8 of Pseudoscorpiones, 21 of Pulmonata and 1 of Venerida. In addition, 147 plant species were documented. Worth mentioning are nine new records of different orders for Lower Austria, like Mallota cimbiciformis and Stenus oscillator, and one new carabid record for Austria, Parophonus hirsutulus

Report on the sixth “insect camp” of the Austrian Entomological Society: invertebrate diversity all around Güssing (Southern Burgenland, Austria) The sixth insect camp of the Austrian Entomological Society took place in the vicinity of Güssing in Southern Burgenland (Austria) from May 16th to May 19th, 2019. In total, 24 participants from Tyrol, Vienna, and Styria attended the field course and were accompanied and supported by 23 specialists for various taxonomic groups during the camp and/or at the postprocessing. During those four days, the participants studied and applied different trapping and preparation approaches, trained determination, gathered knowledge on various groups of arthropods and gastropods and were able to network with taxonomists. Five localities were investigated and in total 788 species were detected: 11 Odonata, 48 Hetero ptera, 60 Auchenorrhyncha, 321 Coleo ptera, 2 Pleco ptera, 1 Meco ptera, 1 Megalo ptera, 47 Di ptera, 90 Hymeno ptera, 10 Tricho ptera, 105 Lepido ptera, 68 Araneae, 5 Opiliones, 6 Pseudoscorpiones, and 16 Gastropoda species. 27 species records are new for Burgenland: 12 Auchenorrhyncha, 3 Coleo ptera, 4 Di ptera, 7 Hymeno ptera and 1 Araneae species.

The fifth insect camp of the Entomological Society of Austria (ESA) was conducted from April 27 to May 2, 2018. Many of the 39 participants were recognized experts on different arthropod groups. Fifty-seven localities within and nearby the Donau-Auen National Park were investigated, and a total of 1265 invertebrate species identified: 8 Collembola, 1 Zygentoma, 19 Odonata, 2 Blattodea, 1 Derma ptera, 9 Ortho ptera, 66 Hetero ptera, 52 Hemi ptera, 2 Neuro ptera, 443 Coleo ptera, 1 Meco ptera, 76 Di ptera, 190 Hymeno ptera, 35 Tricho ptera, 259 Lepidoptera, 11 Diplopoda, 10 Chilopoda, 10 Isopoda, 3 Araneae, 10 Pseudoscorpiones, 2 Opiliones, 5 Acari, 6 Oligochaeta, 3 Bivalvia, and 41 Gastropoda. New to Vienna and Lower Austria were 9 and 7 species, respectively. The rare hoverfly Epistrophe cryptica Doczkal & Schmid, 1994 (Di ptera: Syrphidae) was found in Austria for the first time. One ♀ and one ♂ of the yet undescribed leafhopper Doratura sp. near paludosa (Hemi ptera: Cicadellidae) were collected.

Bienen- und Ameisenfunde vom GEO-Tag der Artenvielfalt 2016 im Nationalpark Gesäuse.

Report on the fourth insect camp of the ESA: Parasitic ants, endemic beetles, and many further invertebrates from the Biosphere Reserve Nockberge (Carinthia): The fourth insect camp was organized by the Entomological Society of Austria (ESA) from 20th to 25th of July 2017. 25 people with sincere interest in zoology participated. Many of those are recognized experts specialized on different arthropod groups. 25 localities in the Biosphere Reserve Nockberge were investigated for its invertebrate fauna. A total of 401 species were identified and are listed as follows: Insecta: 10 Auchenorrhyncha, 12 Heteroptera, 10 Orthoptera, 1 Blattodea, 176 Coleoptera, 23 Lepidoptera, 16 Trichoptera, 1 Mecoptera, 38 Diptera, 48 Hymenoptera; Crustacea: 2 Isopoda; Arachnida: 14 Opiliones, 31 Araneae, 3 Pseudoscorpiones; Annelida: 4 Oligochaeta; Mollusca: 12 Pulmonata species. 22 endemic or subendemic taxa of Coleoptera, Opiliones, Aranaea, and Pseudoscorpiones were collected. The social parasitic ant Leptothorax goesswaldi Kutter, 1967 was found in Austria for the first time.

In the “Nature Park Southern Styria” the first Day of Biodiversity took place on an organic farm in Unterfahrenbach from the 12th to the 13th of May 2017. In the framework of the event, twelve zoologists specialized on different animal groups, recorded 390 species. The Heteroptera Berytinus geniculatus, Hypseloecus visci are recorded for the first time for Styria. The Heteroptera Megalonotus praetextatus is endangered and Brachycoleus pilicornis is critically endangered in Styria. The carabid species, Sinechostictus effluviorum, is critically endangered in Austria. One species, namely Carbus variolosus nodulosus, is listed in the Annex II and IV of the Habitats Directive.