ZLV Online

Abstract

Using a beating sheet method, Chilopoda individuals were collected from branches and stems of forest trees in the area of the Krušné hory Mts. (the Ore Mts.) and the Děčínská vrchovina Highland (Czech Republic). The survey confirmed arboricolous character of the Chilopoda representatives – Lithobius pelidnus (Haase, 1880), L. borealis (Meinert, 1868), L. cyrtopus (Latzel, 1880), facultative occurrence on stems of forest trees L. forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758), L. mutabilis (Koch, 1862), L. microps (Meinert, 1868), L. lapidicola (Meinert, 1872). In individual tree species, dominating Chilopoda species were identified: Fagus (L. borealis, L. cyrtopus), Picea (L. pelidnus), Pinus (L. cyrtopus), Larix (L. pelidnus, L. borealis). Occurrence on stems and branches throughout the whole vegetation season was determined in species Lithobius pelidnus, L. borealis, L. cyrtopus, L. forficatus, L. microps. For the analysis of variance at a significance level α = 0.05, non-parametric one-way ANOVA – Kruskal-Wallis test was used. Representation of the Lithobius genus in all studied Scots pine stands was equable with no statistically significant differences as a natural constituent of the fauna on Scots pine trunks with bark of medium thickness reaching up to a half of the trunk. As the most favorable to the occurrence of the genus Lithobius seems larch trunks formed with rough bark (Kruskal-Wallis test), a numerical representation decreases with altitude.