The habitat requirements of Poecilimon brunneri Frivaldszky, 1867 (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) and its Hungarian occurrence

Abstract

Poecilimon brunneri Frivaldszky, 1867, a bushcricket species about to be declared protected, has been known only from one place in the hilly area of Gödöllő from within the Carpathian Basin. The present study was conducted on this population in Hungary in order to gain knowledge of the species´ habitat requirements, as well as to discover more occurrences within the area. Looking at the habitat´s vegetation structure and species composition at different scales, it proved to be rather patchy, especially on a finer scale. We found patches of lower (cca. 10 cm), sparser vegetation alternating with patches of denser and higher vegetation. The distribution of P. brunneri between these two patch types changed during the season and with the larval development of the bush crickets. First instar larvae and females prefer more open soil surfaces (the latter for laying their eggs), whereas for older larvae and imagines it is the more densely and higher covered areas that play a leading role. For assessing the situation of the species in Hungary, it is necessary to know the extent of the populated area. In the course of exploring the terrain further around the already known place near Pécel we found the species on several smaller, more or less seperated habitat patches on the surrounding hills as well as on the Mountain of Küdő, lying somewhat further.

Keywords

• Poecilimon brunneri
• habitat requirements
• vegetation structure
• distribution