Abstract. From 2000 to 2006 a total of 52 CPUE samples of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) were collected in the mosaic landscape of the Kampinos National Park (Poland), which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The hypothesis tested was that both pompilid species richness and abundance is positively associated with spatial heterogeneity. The patterns in spider wasp assemblages were identified using a Kohonen artificial neural network (i.e., self-organizing map). The highest numbers and greatest species richness of pompilids were recorded at sites in open habitats, especially those located on dry soils that are the preferred nesting sites of ground nesting (endogeic) spider wasps. However, pompilid distribution depended not only on the character of a sampling site, but also its location in a mosaic of habitats. The highest values of pompilid abundance and species richness were also recorded at sites surrounded by several different habitats. Both parameters were lower at sites in more homogenous areas, where there were fewer habitats within the flight ranges of spider wasps. A group of three "cultural species" (Agenioideus cinctellus, A. sericeus and Auplopus carbonarius) was identified that is significantly associated with wooden buildings. The results of this study are thus consistent with the concept that habitat heterogeneity enhances faunal diversity, as each type of habitat, including anthropogenic ones, potentially contributes to a wider range of available resources.

In the Kampinos National Park (Poland), which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, 47 caught per unit effort samples of Chrysididae were collected in 2000–2006. The aim of the study was to identify the factors promoting the diversity of this rarely studied group of parasitic wasps. A total of 722 specimens belonging to 37 species were recorded, including 18 threatened species and six others recently described as new to the Polish fauna. No chrysidids were recorded in forests, instead they were most abundant on fallow land (i.e. in open habitats), of which those located on dry soils were preferred over humid ones, just as by their endogeic (nesting in the ground) hosts. Many chrysidids that are parasites of hypergeic (nesting above the ground) species were significantly associated with old abandoned wooden buildings, where their hosts use holes in wood for nesting. In addition to the characteristics of the habitat sampled, its position in the land mosaic also determined the diversity of chrysidids. Their lowest abundance and species diversity were recorded in samples from different types of habitat, all located in a uniform environment (i.e. with few other habitats nearby), which limited the diversity of resources available within the flight ranges of chrysidids and their hosts. Our study, thus consistent with the concept that habitat heterogeneity enhances faunal diversity, brings important conclusions for the management of park landscapes: afforestation of open areas (both intentional and resulting from natural succession of plant communities) and removal of old abandoned wooden buildings may limit the land mosaicity and thus faunal diversity.

the landscape of the Kampinos national park (Kpn), a UneSco Biosphere Reserve in poland, is a mosaic of habitats created by natural processes and human activities. However, ongoing abandonment of traditional management has led to the development of forest communities in formerly open areas. the aim of the study was to identify the local habitat conditions promoting the abundance and diversity of wasp species (Vespidae) in the post-agricultural landscape of KPN. A total of 52 samples of Vespidae caught per unit effort (CPUE) were collected across various habitats with different levels of soil humidity, bare ground and mosaicity. the highest numbers and greatest species richness of vespids were recorded in open habitats on semihydrogenic and dry soil, which provided nesting sites for hypergeic (nesting above the ground) and endogeic (ground nesting) wasps. Many solitary species that are hypergeic were significantly associated with old, abandoned wooden buildings. As vespids need resources to build and provision the nest, their communities were shaped not only by the nature of the habitat sampled but also by the mosaicity of the surrounding area. the highest abundance and species richness were recorded in samples from a heterogenous landscape, which provided a wider range of available resources in the vicinity of the nest. Our findings have significant implications for the management of park landscapes: afforestation of open habitats, both human-induced and resulting from natural succession, and the removal of old abandoned wooden buildings may limit landscape mosaicity and thus decrease hymenopteran diversity. Wasps of the family Vespidae are distributed worldwide, but most of the species are known from tropical regions. With ca. 4,700 species described in the world's fauna, the family is divided into six subfamilies 1. In Poland, only members of three subfamilies are known: the Eumeninae, Polistinae and Vespinae 2. The Eumeninae wasps, also called potter wasps, belong to solitary species, and most of them are rather rarely collected. The wasps of the Polistinae and Vespinae are eusocial and include socially parasitic and workerless species which use closely related taxa as hosts 3,4. The social species of Vespidae are usually favoured in studies as they are very common and possess ecological and economic importance. They kill, and thus control, many pest species in order to feed their larvae. Also, they pollinate flowers that they visit to feed on their nectar 5. Vespinae wasps pose a threat to people through their ability to sting, which can sometimes result in fatal allergic reactions to the venom 1,6. They are also vectors of disease-causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. Wasps are sometimes responsible for losses of fruit crops, particularly plums, pears and grapes 1. Ecological studies concern mostly descriptions of vespid assemblages in various plant communities and ecosystems, and they lack analyses of the environmental factors determining Vespidae diversity. In addition, solitary

Development of prey-specific predatory behavior in a jumping spider (Araneaei Salticidae)

K a ta r z y n a SZCZEPKO*, T a d e u s z P a w l ik o w s k i** a n d J a n K. K o w a l c z y k *** A p o id e a (H y m e n o p te r a) in h a b ita ts o f fo rm e r a g ric u ltu re a re a in a r e n a tu r iz a tio n sta g e o f K a m p in o s N a tio n a l P a rk (P o lan d) A b str a c t: W ild bee com m u n ity in h abitats of a b an d o n e d village in forest territo ry of K am pinos N a tio n a l P ark w as stu d ied. From 1998 to 1999, 77 species of Apoidea w ere registered, in clu d in g 21 not recorded so far from the K am pinos N ational P ark a n d 11 for M azovian L ow land. Bees in the stu d ie d h abitats re p re se n ted 8 zoogeographical elem ents, of w hich the w idely d istrib u te d species: palearctic, eu ro p ean , eurosiberian an d holarctic a ccounting for a b o u t 95%. A s reg ard in g the n u m b er of species, the m o st attractive h abitats w e re the area of the Field C entre (anthropogenic p la n t com m unities) a n d the xerotherm ic g rassland w ith an a d m ix tu re of sy n an th ro p ic p lants, 44 an d 31 respectively. The low est n u m b er of species w as reg istered in the m oist m ead o w. The values of M arczew skiS teinhaus' index (0,05< MS <0,33) indicated on con sid erab le qu alitative differences in bee species com position betw een all stu d ie d habitats. K ey w o r d s : Apoidea, Hymenoptera, form er agricu ltu re area, a b an d o n e d village A u th o r s ' a d d r e s s e s : ^D epartm ent of D idactics in Biology a n d B iodiversity Studies,