This preliminary communication presents the first record of predaceous thrips Scolothrips longicornis Priesner, 1926 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Slovakia. As a well known predator of numerous spider mites, e.g. Tetranychus urticae or Eutetranychus orientalis it has been considered as a suitable biological control agent recently. Tetranychids mites are harmful agriculture pests, causing damage ...

Jlinlo~.>:Jcal invasions of native forests by nonnative pests result from complex stochastic processes t!ut .1re diHicult to predict. Although economic optimization models describe efticient controls JcTchs the stages of an invasion, the ability to calibrate such models is constrained by lack of lllicmnation on pest population dynamics and consequent economic damages. Here we dcscril)l~ c'c'ono...

Although climate change can cause extreme alterations to ecosystems, only limited research has investigated how altered physical conditions (e.g., warming, extreme temperature events, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and altered precipitation) influence species interactions. In particular, the interplay between host and parasites in such a changing world is in need of study. Our objective i...

Edges have become prevailing habitats, mainly as a result of habitat fragmentation and agricultural expansion. The interchange of functionally relevant organisms like insects occurs through these edges and can influence ecosystem functioning in both crop and non-crop habitats. However, very few studies have focused on the directionality of insect movement through edges, and the role of crop and...

Acorn production by oaks (Quercus spp.) is an important food resource for wildlife in many deciduous forests. Its role as a hard mast crop that can be either stored or used to build fat reserves for winter survival cannot be replaced by most other potential foods. Changes in forest management, introduced pests and pathogens, and increased deer populations have resulted in significant changes in...

The forests of Central Europe play an important role in the retention of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Carbon sequestration is rarely the main objective of forest management and is often an underappreciated by-effect of practical forest management, whereas timber production and protection against natural hazards in mountain regions are the main forest functions. Climate change is expected to alte...

Tomicus species (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) are important pests of pine forest in Eurasia (Schroeder, 1987; Bouhot et al., 1988; Hui, 1991), Europe (Langström, 1983; Schroeder, 1987; Bouhot et al., 1988; Hui, 1991; Guerrero et al., 1997; Dajoz, 2000) and Mediterranean regions (Triggiani & Santini, 1987; Monleón et al., 1996; Nanni & Tiberi, 1997). Three widespread species occur in the Iberian Peni...