Publication details
“Cave-crickets“ Troglophilus neglectus (Krauss, 1879) (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in the Czech Republic
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | “Cave-crickets” of the genus Troglophilus were discovered in the Czech Republic for the first time ten years ago (Holuša et al., 1999). Described population is distributed on the small area in the central part of Moravia. At the first, the crickets were misidentified as Troglophilus cavicola (Kollar, 1833) although their external identification characters corresponded with those of T. neglectus. Next year, another population was discovered and correctly identified (Chládek et al., 2000) in the north-western part of Bohemia very close to the border with Germany. In the same year, “cave-crickets” T. neglectus were also discovered for the first time in Germany (Zinke, 2000) in the area neighbouring localities distributed on the Czech side of the border. It means, there are two isolated populations of T. neglectus in Czechia, both situated very far away from the northest edge of the continual area of distribution in southern Austria (Carinthia and Styria). By the way, T. cavicola is distributed more northwards, the northest population is widespread in many recent localities near south-western suburbs of Vienna. Both mentioned Czech populations of T. neglectus, as well as three other central-european populations discovered in different parts of Germany (published 2000-2001), have some interesting characteristics: (1) they are very isolated, (2) they are parthenogenetic, (3) they do not inhabit karstic areas, but landscapes built of different grounds, e.g. slates or sandstones, with lack of larger underground cavities. The current author’s project, based on the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (16S rDNA and COI markers), should issue in resolving of origin and taxonomical status of these populations. They could represent relict cryptic species (or subspecies) as well as descendants of some individuals introduced there from southern parts of Europe. |