Faunistic survey of pseudoscorpions (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) collected from compost heaps in Slovakia

Abstract: The present paper gives new records of pseudoscorpions collected from compost heaps. Material from 31 localities in Slovakia was investigated during four years of research. A total of 1799 pseudoscor­pions of 14 taxa from four families were examined. The most abundant were the families Chthoniidae and Chernetidae; only one cheliferid specimen was recorded during the study. The most abundant taxa were typical inhabitants of compost heaps, chernetid pseudoscorpions of the genus Lamprochernes Tömösváry, 1882 and the species Pselaphochernes scorpioides (Hermann, 1804). The taxa Chthonius carinthiacus Beier, 1951, Chthonius boldorii Beier, 1934, Mundochthonius carpaticus Rafalski, 1948, Neobisium fuscimanum (C. L. Koch, 1843), Neobisium sylvaticum (C. L. Koch, 1835) and Roncus sp. were recorded in decomposing material for the first time in Slovakia.

Key words: Central Europe, compost, decomposing material, faunistics, pseudoscorpion, Slovakia