Arachnologische Mitteilungen 57

Arachnologische Mitteilungen / Arachnology Letters 57: 65-68 Karlsruhe, April 2019 Phoresy is the most common method of passive dispersal among arachnids. Pseudoscorpions have the ability to attach themselves to a wide variety of other, more mobile, arthro- pods and after that disperse into new habitats (White et al. 2017). Many authors consider that phoresy in pseudoscorpi- ons evolved from predatory behaviour towards the host (Beier 1948, Cuthbertson 1984), or that it is behaviour functioning specifically for dispersal (Weygoldt 1969, Zeh & Zeh 1992). Generally, pseudoscorpions do not reduce the viability of their hosts. However, this depends on many factors such as: frequency of phoretic episodes, phoront and host specificity, number of individuals on the host and distance that hosts tra- vel with their phoronts.These factors play a major role in the evolution of phoresy and might have some costs for the hosts. Pseudoscorpions can cause additional load and movement blocking (Athias-Binche 1994, Szymkowiak et al. 2007). Carl (1994) observed that pressure from the palpal teeth can cause low damage to the exoskeleton of the host. Pseudoscorpions have developed two strategies to avoid being dislodged by the host’s movement, flight or being brushed off ( Jones 1978, Carl 1994). In the first strategy, species typically hide under the elytra, or among the feathers or fur, where they can feed on mites or where even mating takes place during dispersal (Zeh & Zeh 1992). In the second strategy, pseudoscorpions grasp the extremities, sternites or other body parts of the hosts ( Jones 1978, Carl 1994). Phoretic associations in Europe were documented by Poi- nar et al. (1998) between three families of Pseudoscorpiones and 21 families of Insecta, as well as two families of Opilio- nes. In Europe, the most frequent phoretic pseudoscorpions are known from the families Chernetidae and Cheliferidae (e.g. Beier 1948, Legg & Jones 1988, Poinar et al. 1998). Poinar et al. (1998) observed just one case of phoresy from the family Neobisiidae, between Neobisium sylvaticum (C. L. Koch, 1835) and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera, Muscidae). Beyond Europe, phoresy was also recorded from many other families such as Chthoniidae, Geogarypidae, Atemnidae, Cheiridiidae and Withiidae in Brazilian Amazo- nia (Aguiar & Bührnheim 1998). In Slovakia, ten cases of phoretic associations have been observed. Three chernetid and one cheliferid species were phoretic on four dipteran and one lepidopteran species. All recorded phoretic associations in Slovakia were summarised by Christophoryová et al. (2018). In Austria, most records of phoresy are represented by the species Lamprochernes nodosus (Schrank, 1803). Beier (1948) summarised previously published data about phoresy between L . nodosus and dipteran species Physiphora alceae (Preyssler, 1791) (as Chloria demandata ) (Diptera, Ulidiidae) and M . do- mestica . Multiple phoresy was observed by Ressl (1965), whe- re 124 specimens of L . nodosus were phoretic on 32 house-flies ( M . domestica ). At most, 11 pseudoscorpions were attached to one single house-fly. In addition, Ressl (1965) mentioned phoresy between one female of L . nodosus and Physiphora de- mandata (Fabricius, 1798) (Diptera, Ulidiidae) and between one female of Dinocheirus panzeri (C. L. Koch, 1837) and M . domestica . Later, Ressl (1970) documented another phoresy between three specimens of L . nodosus and P . demandata . New records of phoresy near a compost heap were added by Ressl (1983), in which 268 specimens of L . nodosus were phoretic on 111 Muscidae flies. The first record of phoresy by Meso- chelifer ressli Mahnert, 1981 was noticed by Hauser (1990); one female was found phoretic on tactile seta of the leg of a nun moth Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidopte- ra, Erebidae). Summarizing all published data, four pseudoscorpion species in Slovakia and three species in Austria have been re- corded as phoretic, mainly on dipterans. In the present study, new records of phoresy in chernetids are documented from both of the studied countries. Material and methods All pseudoscorpions were studied as temporary slide mounts using lactic acid and then rinsed in the water and returned to 70 % alcohol. The pseudoscorpion specimens were identified using the key in Christophoryová et al. (2011). Details about collecting the specimens are given in the results. Hosts were identified by specialists, also mentioned in the results. When Phoretic chernetid species newly recorded from Slovakia and Austria (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) Martina Červená, Gabriel Kirchmair & Jana Christophoryová doi: 10.30963/aramit5712 Abstract. New cases of phoresy by chernetids (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) are documented from Slovakia and Austria. Pseudoscor- pion phoresy involving Heteroptera as a host is documented for the first time in Slovakia, as well as a case of phoresy by the genus Pselaphochernes Beier, 1932. Three chernetid species were observed for the first time as phoretic in Austria on Mecoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera. Keywords: Central Europe, host, phoretic association, phoront, pseudoscorpion Zusammenfassung. Phoretische Chernetiden-Arten neu für die Slowakei und für Österreich (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae). Neue Fälle von Phoresie durch (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae) werden aus der Slowakei und aus Österreich dokumentiert. Phoresie von Pseudoskorpionen an Wanzen (Heteroptera) wird aus der Slowakei berichtet sowie ein Fall von Phoresie durch die Gattung Psela- phochernes Beier, 1932. Drei Chernetiden-Arten wurden das erste Mal in Österreich phoretisch an Mecoptera, Diptera und Hymenoptera beobachtet. MARTINA ČERVENÁ, JANA CHRISTOPHORYOVÁ, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, SK 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; E-mail: martinacervena.lr@gmail.com , E-mail: jana.christophoryova@gmail.com GABRIEL KIRCHMAIR, Institute of Biology, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, AT 8010 Graz, Austria; E-mail: gabriel.kirchmair@uni-graz.at submitted 24.1.2019, accepted 21.2.2019, online 25.3.2019