Entomologica Austriaca 31

Functional morphology of the proboscis of the fly Prosena siberita (Diptera, Tachinidae). The flower-visiting behaviour and mouthpart morphology were studied in the long-proboscid fly Prosena siberita (Fabricius, 1775) (Tachinidae) for the first time using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Prosena siberita visits inflorescences to extract nectar. The proboscis consists of the basal rostrum and the long haustellum, which measures about half the body length. In resting position, the conspicuously thin haustellum points forward. The haustellum articulates with the extensible rostrum, where it can be folded downward for feeding. In the proximal haustellum, the u-shaped labrum-epipharynx unit forms the food canal along with the rod-shaped hypopharynx. Both components are surrounded from posterior by the laterally bent up prementum of the labium. In the distal haustellum, the prementum is tubular and forms the food canal; labrum and hypopharynx do not reach this section. At the tip, the short labella are directed forward. The labella form a gap leading to three longitudinal pseudotracheae which merge with the food canal in the prementum. Only a few other representatives of the Tachinidae have proboscises longer than the head. Some of these long-proboscid tachinid flies possess proboscises with long labella, which are foldable backwards. These findings suggest independent evolution of particularly long proboscises within Tachinidae.

The pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is a harmful insect as the urticating hairs of late-instar larvae can cause severe allergic reactions in humans and other mammals. The biology of PPM is quite unique as larvae are active in the cold season and leave their nests to feed on pine needles during night, when night temperatures rise above 0 °C and day temperatures inside the nests reach +9°C. Until recently, reports of PPM in Carinthia were very scarce. The first PPM outbreak in the area of Villach was observed in 2016/17 on the southern slope of the Dobratsch mountain; a few PPM nests were also recorded in the Gail valley (Schütt) at the same time. In this study, we performed a comprehensive survey on PPM occurrence in Carinthia and report the presence of PPM nests from Presseg- gen (near Hermagor) to Zauchen (near Villach), as well as near the Faakersee, an important recreation area. Furthermore, the overwinter survival of caterpillars in the Gail valley was investigated. Our results showed that caterpillars are able to survive winter in this part of the PPM range. Therefore, infestations are likely to increase in the upcoming years and PPM might extend its range.

The Heteroptera Collection Ernst Heiss at the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum. Part XIII: Pentatomomorpha VI: Families Cydnidae, Thyreo­ coridae, Plataspidae. The private collection of Ernst Heiss, donated to the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum (TLMF) is now deposited at its Natural History De- partment in Hall in Tirol, where the collection is digitized. To facilitate future access to the collection for scientific research, these data are consecutively published in several parts. Twelve parts are already published. Part XIII comprises data of 1,710 specimens assigned to 3 families, 5 subfamilies, 23 genera, 58 species and sub-species.

First records of two wild bee species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) for Upper Austria. Halictus seladonius (Fabricius, 1794) and Pseudoanthidium nanum (Mocsáry, 1879) are recorded for the first time for Upper Austria.

Report on the 9th Insect Camp of the Austrian Entomological Soci­ ety: species richness from steep extensive meadows to snow­covered gravel fields (Weißbach Nature Park, Salzburg, Austria). 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 con- servation 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 net- works. The study area included 13 different localities in the Weißbach Nature Park, with different habitats, from water bodies to dry grassland, from 674m to 2,040m 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 Neuro- ptera, 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.

Artificial nesting aids for wild bees. Species conservation or easing of conscience? In this article, we take a critical look at nesting aids, commonly re- ferred to as ‘wild bee hotels’. We analyze commercially available nesting aids, which often contain materials (e.g., pine cones or bricks) that are useless to bees. Utilizing sources such as Red Lists, books, the iNaturalist monitoring website and own sources, we identified 50 bee species in the German-speaking countries of Europe that nest in artificial structures. These species predominantly select bamboo and reed stems, as well as drilled hardwood, decaying wood, and walls made of loess and sand-clay mixtures for their breeding sites. Among these species were eight parasitic bees. Furthermore, 124 wild bee species in this area potentially colonize nesting aids. How- ever, comprehensive monitoring is still pending. Of the documented species, 34% are rare or somehow endangered. The highest number of species relevant to nature conservation were documented in sand-clay or loess walls, followed by decaying, white-rotten wood – structures that are currently largely absent in nesting aids. We argue that the primary benefits of nesting aids are to increase environmental aware- ness, facilitate the monitoring of nesting bees and their parasites (including bees), and increase population densities of a couple of wild bee species that are crucial pollinators in orchards. We present recommendations for the effective construction of nesting aids and propose alternative methods for providing nesting sites, especially for ground-nesting species, which make up three-quarters of wild bee species.

Sisyphus schaefferi (Linnaeus, 1758) – Austria’s contribution to the Insect of the Year 2024. Every year, the Insect of the Year is selected jointly for the German-speaking countries by the Insect of the Year Board of Trustees, consisting of representatives from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The choice for 2024 was the minotaur beetle Typhaeus typhoeus (Linnaeus, 1758) – a spectacular-looking dung beetle with a triple-horn on its pronotum that can grow up to 25mm in size. The minotaur beetle is rare in Germany, where it inhabits sandy areas such as heaths or loose pine forests. In Austria, however, this dung beetle was never native. For this reason, the Austrian Society for Nature Conservation (Naturschutzbund Ös- terreich) and the Austrian Entomological Society (Österreichische Entomologische Gesellschaft) have decided to select a representative of the dung beetles living in Austria as Austria’s contribution to the Insect of the Year 2024 – the no less fascinat- ing dung beetle Sisyphus schaefferi (Linnaeus, 1758). We want to showcase it as the last remaining ball-rolling dung beetle in Austria. Like all dung beetles, S. schaefferi is of great ecological importance as a dung remover, soil tiller and important food source for birds and bats.

The comb­footed cellar spider Nesticus cellulanus is the Spider and the Cave Animal of the Year 2024 – it’s all about staying cool and moist! Here, the European Spider of the Year and the Cave Animal of the Year 2024, Nesticus cellulanus (Clerck, 1757), is presented. The appearance and characteristics (e.g. ecology, habitat, phenology) are briefly described. The decisive criteria for the choice is given.