An interesting new record of Egyptian locust Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1764) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) for Slovenian inland 
 
Zanimiva nova najdba egipčanske kobilice Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1764) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) v notranjosti Slovenije 
 
Jan GOJZNIKAR, Migojnice 90, SI-3302 Griže;  E-mail: jan.gojznikar.pb@gmail.com 
Nejc POLJANEC, Dvor 12, SI-1210 Ljubljana-Šentvid; E-mail: harmonika.nejc@gmail.com 
Matija MLAKAR MEDVED, Ulica Hermana  Potočnika 17, SI-1000 Ljubljana;  E-mail: matko.mlakar@gmail.com 
 
The Egyptian locust (also known as the Egyptian bird grasshopper; Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1764)) is one of the largest grasshoppers of Europe (Harz 1975) and Slovenia (Gomboc 2003). It reaches the adult stage in late summer, with adult animals surviving colder months and winter till next May (Bellman 2009). It is known to occur throughout the European Mediterranean (Gomboc 2003, Bellman 2009, Hochkirch et al. 2016) as well as in North Africa and the Middle East (see Hochkirch et al. 2016). Reports from Austria also show that the species is capable of reaching inland areas by different means of human assistance, e.g. with train transport (Zuna-Kratky 2017). Considered rare in the country (Gomboc 2003), in the last three decades, the species has only been recorded in Slovenian Littoral, with the easternmost data being noted in the Vipava valley (Gomboc 2013). Only a single old inland record of A. aegyptium has been known from Slovenia so far. The species was reported by Us (1971, 1992) from Grintovec near Kočevje, where the author recorded 2 female larvae on 28. 7. 1969. 
 
On 23. 4. 2018, bat mist-netting (Kunz & Kurta 1988) was carried out as a part of the »Netopirji -skrivnostni Ljubljančani 3« project (SDPVN 2018). The nets were placed in an almost straight line of 33 metres in length and about 4 meters in height across several shallow ponds in the area of Jarše gravel pit, located in the north-eastern part of Ljubljana (46.076463° N, 14.544973° E;  287 m a. s. l.) The field work was conducted between 20:00 and approximately 22:30 hrs. The weather on that day was dry with an occasional breeze. Apart from two bat species (Pipistrellus pygmaeus and P. kuhlii), we also captured one individual of A. aegyptium. The locust was entangled in the net sometime after 22:00 and was immediately rescued. Photographs (Fig. 1) were taken and the animal was released unharmed. The species identity was suggested by initially consulting Bellman’s manual (2009) and afterwards verified by consulting three Slovenian orthopterists (D. Galjot, P. Trontelj & S. Gomboc). 
 
 

Figure 1. The caught individual of A. aegyptium, Jarše gravel pits, NE Ljubljana, 23. 4. 2018 (photo: Nejc Poljanec). 
Slika 1. Ujeti osebek A. aegyptium, betonarna Jarše,  SV Ljubljana, 23. 4. 2018 (foto: Nejc Poljanec).  
 
As confirmed by expert consultancy (D. Galjot, S. Gomboc & M. Bedjanič, pers. comm.) and browsing through available literature (e.g.  Us 1971, 1992, Gomboc 2013), this is the first recent record of the species in Slovenian inland after almost 50 years. The Egyptian locust is a keen flyer (Gomboc 2003) and the aerial distance of about 50 km from the nearest parts of the Littoral makes the find not so unusual. The caught individual, however, probably did not overwinter in the nearby area due to quite severe winter conditions between late February and early March 2018 (ARSO 2018). Another set of possible explanations for our find is related to human activity. It is possible that the caught individual was brought in by accidental transport, either by car or train, since Ljubljana is an important 
junction for main Slovenian highways and railway tracks. For example, at least a few findings of  A. aegyptium from neighbouring Austria can be attributed to trains (Zuna-Kratky 2017). This possibility is further supported by a single observation of Decticus albifrons, another Mediterranean species, found in Ljubljana in close proximity to the railway line (Trontelj 2004). Zuna-Kratky (2017), however, also comments that the majority of Austrian observations of A. aegyptium were probably due to accidental import with Mediterranean plant material, which is also an option in our case, considering the urban location of our find. Regardless of the real explanation for our find, it is perhaps reasonable to expect further individuals of the species in continental Slovenia as a result of human-mediated introduction in the future.  
 
Acknowledgements 
 
The field work (mist-netting for bats) was carried out by partial financial support from the City Municipality of Ljubljana as a part of the »Netopirji – skrivnostni Ljubljančani 3« project carried by SDPVN - Slovenian Association for Bat Research and Conservation. We are grateful to Stanislav Gomboc for confirming the species determination, providing well needed literature, advice and for helping us to improve this field note. We also wish to thank Matjaž Bedjanič, who also provided literature and gave valuable comments on the manuscript. The species identification was additionally confirmed by Peter Trontelj and Dejan Galjot, to whom our sincere gratitude is due as well. We also thank the anonymous reviewers, who improved the field note with their comments. 
 
References 
 
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