Myrmecophilus acervorum (Panzer, 1799)

Zalutsky, Timofey M., Fomichev, Alexandr A. & Yakovlev, Roman V., 2023, Myrmecophilidae (Orthoptera) - a new family for Siberian Fauna, Ecologica Montenegrina 61, pp. 43-49 : 44-46

Myrmecophilus acervorum (Panzer, 1799)

Figs 1−4

Material examined. 4 females, Russia, South-Western Siberia, Altai Krai, Barnaul (Oktyabrsky Sadovod), 53°15ʹ07.0ʹʹ N 83°44ʹ22.5ʹʹE, in the Lasius sp. nest, 18−26 July 2022, leg. T. Zalutsky (private collection of T. Zalutsky, Barnaul) .

The current finding is in the most north-eastern locality of the family Myrmecophilidae . The analysis of publications shows not only a significant expansion of the natural habitat of the species to the north (findings of the recent years in Sweden and Denmark) ( Stalling et al. 2017), but also the appearance of very remote populations in Transcaucasia, Central Asia and south-western Siberia ( Stalling 2013; Temreshev & Kolov 2013; Childebaev et al. 2014; Lebedeva 2017; Stalling & Seropian 2022). These trends are interpreted bu the colleagues ambiguously. Stalling et al. (2017) associate the expansion of the European part of the range with the climate warming: “One reason might be an expansion because of global warming or other population effects, which is supported by the fact that there were also several newly found localities within the known distribution area in recent times (e.g. Bönsel & Möller 2008; Taszakowski et al. 2013), and there are several other orthopteran species expanding northwards because of global warming at the present time (e.g. Kočárek et al. 2008; Bakker et al. 2015). The finding locality in Copenhagen, Denmark, is located in the city centre and has a very warm local summer climate… The Swedish locality in eastern Småland is in an area known for high summer temperatures”. The colleagues confirm their conclusions by the examples of expansions of the northern borders of the habitats.

Childebaev et al. (2014) suggest an alien nature of the appearance of M. acervorum “Можно предположить, что M. acervorum является адвентивным видом для КаЗахстана. ВоЗможность его cамостоятельного расселения маловероятна. Он был найден нами только в г. Алматы и сопредельных территориях в тех местах, где проиЗрастала сосна обыкновенная и другие интродуцированные породы деревьев. Там же встречались другие ЗавоЗные виды насекомых — Ips sexdentatus (Boerner, 1776) , Ostoma ferrugineum (Linnaeus, 1758) и Uleiota planata (Linnaeus, 1761) [Темрешев, Колов, 2013]. ВоЗможно, что сверчок- муравьелюб был ЗавеЗЁн с почвой или посадочным материалом. [We may suggest that M. acervorum is an adventive species for Kazakhstan. The possibility of his self-settlement is almost improbable. It was found only in the city of Almaty and adjacent territories, in those places where Scotch pine and other introduced tree species grew. Other imported species of insects were also found there: Ips sexdentatus (Boerner, 1776) , Ostoma ferrugineum (Linnaeus, 1758) and Uleiota planata (Linnaeus, 1761) [ Temreshev, Kolov, 2013]. Probably, the ant-loving cricket was brought with soil or planting stock]”.

Lebedeva (2017) does not discuss the deep separation of the Uzbek population from the main range and indicates the need to protect this species due to its locality and rarity.

Considering that all the findings of M. acervorum in Asia ( Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and south-western Siberia) were made in disturbed habitats (forest plantations, horticulture, botanical gardens), in our opinion, these populations are invasive.

Figures

Figures 1−3. M. acervorum, adult females: 1. Dorsal view; 2. Lateral view; 3. Lateral view.

Figure 4. Distributional map of the Asian portion of M. acervorum habitat