The tiger beetle fauna of the Maghreb region is one of the richest in the Palaearctic, including 22 species and 5 subspecies and 19% of all Palaearctic species of Cicindelinae. Assembled to their chorotypes, the Maghreb tiger beetles fall into eight different groups that include Maghreb endemics (26% of fauna), Mediterranean (7%), West Mediterranean (40%), North African (4%), Mediterranean-Westturanian (4%), West Palaearctic (4%), Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean (4%), and Saharian (11%) species. The Mediterranean Sclerophyl and Atlas Steppe are the Maghreb biogeographical provinces with the highest species richness, while the Sahara Desert has the lowest Cicindelinae diversity. Twenty-five cicindelid species and subspecies (93% of Maghreb fauna) are restricted to only one or two habitat types in lowland areas. Only Calomera littoralis littoralis and Lophyra flexuosa flexuosa are recognized as eurytopic species and occur in three types of habitat. The highest tiger beetle diversity characterizes salt marshes and river banks (in both cases 11 species and subspecies or 41% of Maghreb fauna). Approximately 85% of all Maghreb tiger beetle species and subspecies are found in habitats potentially endangered by human activity.

Background: Epipactis helleborineis an Eurasian orchid species which prefers woodland environments but it may also spontaneously and successfully colonise human-made artificial and disturbed habitats such as roadsides, town parks and gardens. It is suggested that orchids colonising anthropogenic habitats are characterised by a specific set of features (e.g., large plant size, fast flower production). However, as it is not well known how pollinator diversity and reproductive success ofE. helleborinediffers in populations in anthropogenic habitats compared to populations from natural habitats, we wanted to compare pollinator diversity and reproductive success of this orchid species between natural and anthropogenic habitat types.Methods: Pollination biology, reproductive success and autogamy in populations ofE. helleborinefrom anthropogenic (roadside) and natural (forest) habitats were compared. Eight populations (four natural and four human-disturbed ones) in two seasons were studied according to height of plants, length of inflorescences, as well as numbers of juvenile shoots, flowering shoots, flowers, and fruits. The number and diversity of insect pollinators were studied in one natural and two human-disturbed populations.Results: Reproductive success (the ratio of the number of flowers to the number of fruits) in the populations from anthropogenic habitats was significantly higher than in the natural habitats. Moreover, plants from anthropogenic habitats were larger than those from natural ones. In both types of populations, the main insect pollinators were Syrphidae, Culicidae, Vespidae, Apidae and Formicidae. With respect to the type of pollinators’ mouth-parts, chewing (39%), sponging (34%) and chewing-sucking (20%) pollinators prevailed in anthropogenic habitats. In natural habitats, pollinators with sponging (55%) and chewing mouth-parts (32%) dominated, while chewing-sucking and piercing-sucking insects accounted for 9% and 4% respectively.Discussion: We suggest that higher reproductive success ofE. helleborinein the populations from anthropogenic habitats than in the populations from natural habitats may result from a higher number of visits by pollinators and their greater species diversity, but also from the larger size of plants growing in such habitats. Moreover, our data clearly show thatE. helleborineis an opportunistic species with respect to pollinators, with a wide spectrum of pollinating insects. Summarising,E. helleborineis a rare example of orchid species whose current range is not declining. Its ability to make use of anthropogenically altered habitats has allowed its significant spatial range expansion, and even successful colonisation of North America.

The tiger beetle fauna of the Balkan Peninsula is one of the richest in Europe and includes 19 species or 41% of the European tiger beetle fauna. Assembled by t

Based on the literature and new faunistic records, the diversity and distribution of the tiger beetles in Tunisia are summarized and discussed. In total, 15 species (one with two subspecies) are reported from the country. However, the occurrence of Cicindela maroccana maroccana is questionable, and should be confirmed by newer data. Checklists of tiger beetles are also provided for each Tunisian governorate. The highest diversity was recorded in the region adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea coastline. The area is mainly up to 100 m a.s.l. with salt marshes, strands of sandy sea beaches and river banks as main types of habitats occupied by Cicindelinae (14 species or 94 % of tiger beetle fauna). Mountainous and desert regions are characterized by much lower diversity (six species or 38% of fauna and two species or 13% of fauna, respectively). Cicindelinae occurring in these areas inhabit predominantly river banks and oases. In chorotype classification, Tunisian tiger beetles fall into six different groups including West Mediterranean species (50% of fauna), Maghreb endemics (19%), Mediterranean, North-African, Mediterranean-Westturanian and Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean species (each of them 6% of fauna). According to their phenology, the Tunisian tiger beetles may be divided into three main groups: 1) spring-active species (Cicindela campestris atlantis and all Neolaphyra taxa), 2) spring-summer-active species (Calomera littoralis littoralis, C. lunulata lunulata, Cassolaia maura cupreothoracica, Lophyra flexuosa flexuosa, Myriochila melancholica melancholica, Grammognatha euphratica euphratica), and 3) summer-active species (Calomera aulica aulica, Cylindera trisignata sciliensis and Cephalota spp.).

This paper summarizes the current knowledge on winter active Carabidae in Central and Northern Europe. In total 73 winter active species are listed, based on li

The diversity and distribution of Cicindelinae in Morocco, including new unpublished data, is summarized and discussed. In total 17 species are reported from the country. Cicindela campestris campestris is excluded from the Moroccan fauna while the occurrence of Myriochila mirei is doubtful and should be confirmed by new data. The area adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean coastlines holds the highest species diversity, while mountainous regions are characterized by lower diversity but also by high level of species endemism. Grouped on the basis of their chorotypes, Moroccan Cicindelinae fall into six different groups: West Mediterranean (44% of Cicindelinae species), Maghreb endemics (22%), Mediterranean (11%), Saharian (11%), Mediterranean-Westturanian (6%) and Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean (6%). According to their phenology, the Moroccan tiger beetles can be divided into three groups: 1) spring active species, 2) spring-summer active species, and 3) summer active species.