This paper presents preliminary data on the spider fauna in the higher vegetation layers of four Belgrade river islands (adas) -Ada Ciganlija, Ada Međica, Veliko Ratno Ostrvo and Ada Huja. Most species belong to the families Araneidae and Thomisi-dae (7), followed by families Theridiidae (5), Salticidae (4), Linyphiidae (3), Tetraghnathidae (3), Philodromidae (2), Agelenidae (1), Oxyopidae (1), Pisauridae (1) and Uloboriade (1). The majority of collected individ-uals come from the Tetraghnathidae family. The PEN-insular river islands proved to be richer in terms of the number of recorded species and collected individuals than the true river islands. The observed anthropo-genic impact, present to a greater or lesser extent on all four Belgrade ada's, might have a negative impact on the spider fauna, which should be the subject of future research.

Gonopods are specialized appendages of the seventh diplosegment (where they replace anterior and/or posterior walking leg-pairs during ontogeny) in males of millipede (Diplopoda) clade Helminthomorpha. They are involved in sperm transfer; their organization is highly complex and represents the most important morphological character for millipede taxonomy. Gonopod development is unique case of morphological differentiation during an advanced phase of post-embryogenesis. This process is named non-systemic metamorphosis and it encompasses only the morphological transformation of diplosegment that bears gonopods. To our best knowledge, there are no data on non-systemic metamorphosis in diplopod order Callipodida. Only the anterior pair of walking legs of the seventh diplosegment is replaced with gonopods during post-embryogenesis in callipodidan males. For this study, we analyzed non-systemic metamorphosis in Apfelbeckia insulpta (L. Koch, 1867), an endemic Balkan callipodidan that undergoes teloanamorphic mode of post-embryonic development and reaches adulthood after nine molts. With the ninth molt, adult stadium (stadium X) is achieved and there are no additional molts. The gonopod differentiation in A. insculpta was explored utilizing scanning electron microscopy. Gonopod rudiments are firstly observed at the stadium VIII and they are simple finger-like structures. At the following stadium, gonopod precursors are enlarged and dilated at the base. With the final molt (stadium X), gonopods acquires complex morphology with fully developed branches, processes, solenomere and parasolenomere. With abrupt changes that take place only between penultimate and ultimate phase of gonopod differentiation, non-systemic metamorphosis in our study species follows the pattern observed in millipede order Polydesmida.

Covariation of multiple morphological traits and modularity have been widely studied in the field of evolutionary developmental biology. Subunits of a morphological structure can evolve separately from each other in a modular fashion. The aims of our study therefore were: i) to test the hypothesis of modularity in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium separately during late postembryogenesis in the julidan millipede Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) using geometric morphometrics; and ii) to investigate the influence of allometry on overall morphological integration in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium in the mentioned species. Individuals from different ontogenetic stadia (stadium VI - stadium XI) were included in the analyses. Significant influence of fluctuating asymmetry on the dorsal part of the head capsule shape was detected by Procrustes ANOVA. Regressions were significant for the symmetric component of both analysed morphological traits, while non-significant regression was detected for the asymmetric component of the head capsule's dorsal part. Hypotheses of modularity for the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium are rejected because our results indicate that a small proportion of alternate partitions has higher covariation between subsets of structure than between the hypothesized modules. Contrary to our expectations, results of the present study show that allometry does not increase the level of morphological integration in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium in M. unilineatum. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium are not composed of independent modules and that in the case of the capsule's dorsal part, developmental processes affect morphological integration in different ways at different levels of shape variation.

The first detailed description of early development of the recently described European geophilid Geophilus serbicus is presented. Based on specimens from a natural population from the Balkan Peninsula, new insight was gained into the reproductive and developmental biology of the group. Changes in the morphology of brooded specimens allow 15 early developmental stages obligatorily dependent on prolonged maternal care, arranged in three phases (embryonic, embryoid, and adolescent) to be distinguished. The embryonic phase includes eight stages, followed by an intermediate stage of hatching, followed in turn by five embryoid stages and one adolescens stage. Detailed morphological descriptions of all stages are provided. Adolescens I is recognized as the first stage at which species and sex identification are possible. Besides the description of the earliest stages, we provide notes on reproductive behaviour and ecological features of the species.

Here we describe in detail the late post-embryonic development of the common European scolopendromorph centipede Cryptops parisi. Canonical variate analyses of two groups of external morphological characters, viz., cephalic capsule characters (head length, length of the anterior and posterior paramedian cephalic sutures) and coxopleuron surface characters (number of pores in the coxal pore-field, number of setae on the posterior coxopleuron edge, their number on the coxal pore-field, and their number posterior to the coxal pore-field) were conducted on a large sample of specimens collected from two localities in Serbia. Ten free-living stages are recognized: three pre-adult stages (adolescens I, II, and III) and seven adult stages (one maturus junior stage, four maturus, and two maturus senior stages). The fourth late post-embryonic stage is the first mature stage in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism in the aforementioned characters was not observed. Morphological variation of coxopleuron characters was more informative for the discrimination of developmental stages in Cryptops than the morphological variation of cephalic capsule characters.

later, by Stanko Karaman in 1962 [Karaman, 1962]. Stanko and his son Gordan contributed significantly to the expansion of knowledge concerning the niphargids and described over 100 new species alone or in coauthorship. At present, the family Niphargidae is composed of 11 genera. There are approximately 30 known amphipod fossils, including several Eocene-Oligocene niphargids preserved in amber [Jazdzewski, Kupryjanowicz, 2010]. The genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 numbers close to 400 described species, which makes it one of the largest genera of freshwater amphipods in the world [Väinölö et al., 2008]. The majority of species can be found exclusively in subterranean waters [Zagmajster et al., 2014]. Higher taxonomy is still problematic, even with an annually growing species richness confirmed by molecular [Meleg et al., 2013] and morphological approaches [Ntakis et al., 2015]. Cryptic niphargid species are being detected increasingly often [Mathieu et al., 1997; Lefébure et al., 2006, 2007; Trontelj et al., 2009], which makes an integrative approach necessary. Differences between species can be minor. In contrast, differences between populations of the same species can be significant. The Balkan Peninsula is known as a hotspot of biodiversity of the genus Niphargus. The country richest in species is Croatia, inhabited by 59 species, followed by Slovenia with 50, Romania — 39, Bosnia and Herzegovina — 23, Serbia — 22, Montenegro — 21, North Macedonia — 20, Greece — 19, Bulgaria — 11 and Albania with only one recorded species (according to Horton et al. [2019]), counting 189 loci typici citations of all valid species originated from this general area. An even greater diversity is expected in some regions, but there is paucity of information about ABSTRACT. Twenty-two species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda: Niphargidae), including 14 strictly steno-endemic species, are known from the territory of Serbia. There are an additional 5 species which probably inhabit the same area, but data indicating their presence are doubtful and remain unconfirmed so far. Distinctive morphological characters of the species are listed, including all known localities and the presumed distributions. How to cite this article: Petković M., Miličić D., Tomić V., Makarov S. 2020. Checklist of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda: Niphargidae) in Serbia, with some remarks on their distributions // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.29. No.4. P.433–442, Appendix. doi: 10.15298/arthsel. 29.4.05

The occurrence of morphological abnormalities and the emergence of body defects are well-known phenomena in crustaceans and other groups of arthropods. They usually originate from genetic factors and are attributable to aberrations during the moulting process, but they can also be of exogenous origin. The aims of this study were to present the external body changes that occurred in large branchiopod crustaceans of the genus Lepidurus Leach, 1819 (Notostraca) sampled in Serbia and discuss their possible etiology. The majority of variations were identified on the carapace and limbs, followed by ones on the abdominal part of the body, telson with caudal lamina, and cercopods. As for potential causes, the observed variations can be attributed both to genetic factors and to non-genetic ones such as predatory stress and possible environmental disturbance. Certain deviations from the mean phenotype point to irregular development (or an unpatterned moulting process) and to a possible disease. Some of the body transformations observed here influenced symmetry and functional morphology of the individuals, and may have ecological and ethological implications.

Pesticides can have a lethal or sublethal effect on spiders and are able to influence their locomotion, activity, web building, reproduction and abundance. Effects of pesticides on spider morphological variations have been poorly investigated. In this study, we explored the influence of pyrethroid insecticides (Fastac (R), Talstai (R) and Tiebon (R)) on variations of linear measurements (body length. carapace and abdomen length. carapace and abdomen width) and carapace shape in Oedothorax apicatus (Blackwall, 1850) from conventional, integrated and organic oilseed rape fields. Multiple applications of various pyrethroid insecticides on the conventional field over a longer period of time influenced significantly the morphological variability in female specimens only. These females had longer bodies with longer and wider carapaces and abdomens in comparison with females from the organic and integrated fields. A wider posterior part of the carapace and less protruded frontal part were detected in female spiders from the integrated and conventional fields. We presumed that these results may be attributed to faster growth, which might be the consequence of a pyrethroid hormetic effect on female individuals. In the case of male spiders, significant morphological differences between the experimental fields were not observed probably due to their higher mobility.

It is now widely accepted that bioactive compounds of fruits and vegetables reduce oxidative stress, thus having the beneficial effect of decreasing the risk of many human diseases. The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Aronia melanocarpa (Michx) Elliott fruit extract using Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 larvae. Study was done in the year 2016, in Department of Genetics of Populations and Ecogenotoxicology at the Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade. Simultaneously with treatments, co-treatments with the same concentrations of black chokeberry fruit extract mixed with a methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) were performed. Fitness traits and morphological characters were monitored. Flies fed on undiluted fruit extract, on MMS + undiluted fruit extract and on MMS, exhibited a prolonged developmental time, lower viability and negatively-impacted wing development. Positive biological effects were observed in flies that developed on substrates with 2 and 25% A. melanocarpa extract. Only a mixture of MMS + 25% fruit extract showed positive effects on both fitness components and wing development in comparison with other MMS co-treatments, indicating the ability of this concentration to protect the cells from MMS-induced damage.

Stem weevils (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus and Ceutorhynchus napi) are significant pests of oilseed rape that farmers regularly suppress by insecticide treatments intended against Brassicogethes aeneus. Recent studies have shown that in some regions of northern Serbia C. napi is dominant, while C. pallidactylus prevails in others. Increased damage from stem weevils has elicited an exploration of the situation and a study of their phenology and effects of insecticides in three differently managed fields: conventional, organic and integrated. New findings regarding the phenology of stem weevils show that both species were sporadically present in our experimental oilseed rape fields as early as during autumn (from the end of October 2010, BBCH 17-18). The main period of stem weevil settlement is the end of winter and early spring. Maximum flight of both weevil species was recorded on March 23 at the beginning of oilseed rape (OSR) stem elongation (BBCH 22-25), and one week later in the organic field. There were no significant differences in the number of settled weevils among the three differently managed fields. The insecticide treatment against C. napi was applied two weeks earlier than the usual treatment against B. aeneus and C. pallidactylus. Thus, it is clear that insecticide treatment directed against B. aeneus and C. pallidactylus is not effective against C. napi. In this way, such a practice can contribute to an increase in OSR damage, and density of the next generation of C. napi. A new generation of C. pallidactylus emerged from OSR fields in June 2011, while the majority of C. napi emerged in March of the following year.

Sexual selection can be a major driving force that favours morphological evolution at the intraspecific level. According to the sexual selection theory, morphological variation may accompany non-random mating or fertilization. Here both variation of linear measurements and variation in the shape of certain structures can significantly influence mate choice in different organisms. In the present work, we quantified sexual behaviour of the millipede Megaphyllum bosniense (Verhoeff, 1897) as characterized by several sequences. These are: mating latency, duration of copulation, contact to copulation time, duration of contact without copulation, time from entrance (time-point when individuals were placed in boxes in which tests occurred) to contact with copulation, and time from entrance to contact without copulation. Further, we analysed the influence of morphological variation (both variation of linear measurements and variation in the shape of several structures) on mating success. Variation of body length, antennal length, length of the walking legs, trunk width, and trunk height was analysed by traditional morphometrics, while variation in size and shape of the antennae, walking legs, head, and gonopods (promeres, opisthomeres) was analysed using geometric morphometrics. More than half of all physical contacts detected among the millipedes resulted in copulation. Based on the value of sexual selection coefficients, preferences toward the previous partner were found to be prevalent in both female and male choice tests. Individuals with different mating status significantly differed in some morphological traits (body mass, head centroid size, head shape, and promere shape). Our study yielded new information about the sexual behaviour of millipedes and variation of morphological traits as a potential basis for mate preferences.

Ground beetle assemblages were compared in two oilseed rape fields with different management practices, in fallow and in succeeding winter wheat crop. A total of 11,615 specimens representing 52 species were collected over two years of sampling using epigeic pitfall and funnel traps. The ten most common species, represented 91% of the total number of specimens in oilseed rape, were Amara aenea (De Geer, 1774), Amara similata (Gyllenhal, 1810), Harpalus distinguendus (Duftschmid, 1812), Brachinus explodens Duftschmid, 1812, Poecilus cupreus (L., 1758), Calathus fuscipes (Goeze, 1777), Calathus ambiguus (Paykull, 1790), Poecilus punctulatus (Schaller, 1783), Poecilus sericeus Fischer von Waldheim, 1824 and Anchomenus dorsalis (Pontoppidan, 1763). Eight carabid species showed a clear preference for integrated oilseed rape management practice. Trapped beetles were three times more numerous in oilseed rape in integrated than in the field under organic management practice. Canonical Variate Analysis revealed that management practices applied on both fields in oilseed rape had a significant effect on carabid assemblages. Redundancy Analyses (RDA) showed that in the following year, in succeeding winter wheat crop, management practices applied in oilseed rape had a significant effect on carabid assemblages. Ground beetle activity on plants was registered in both oilseed rape management systems, but not on winter wheat plants. The most active carabids in crop canopy included A. similata, C. fuscipes, Calathus erratus (Sahlberg, 1827), A. aenea, C. ambiguus, Calathus melanocephalus (L., 1758) and H. distinguendus. In oilseed rape both management practices had a significant effect on carabid assemblages in crop canopy.

In recent years, it is widely accepted that bioactive compounds of fruits and vegetables are related to reduction of oxidative stress, thus having the beneficial effect of decreasing the risk of many human diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract. This in vivo study was conducted using fruit fly (Drosphila melanogaster) larvae. Simultaneously with treatments, co-treatments with the same concentrations of aronia fruit extract mixed with a strong mutagen, methyl methanesulphonate (MMS), were performed. Fitness traits and morphological characters were monitored. Positive biological effects were observed in flies that developed on substrates with 2% and 25% A. melanocarpa extract. Only a mixture of MMS+25% fruit extract showed preferable effects both on fitness components and on wing development in comparison with other MMS co-treatments, indicating the ability of this concentration to protect the cells from MMS-induced damage.

Lepidurus couesii PACKARD, 1875, a new large branchiopod species for Serbian fauna was reported. Specimens of both sexes were collected on the periphery of the city of Belgrade in northern Serbia, in the flooded area of the Sava River. The finding is based on the analysis of mature individuals of both sexes. The evidence of new taxon has derived from a level of development of the main body parts which are considered as diagnostic for this species. Present results will expand the knowledge of distribution of this species in Europe to the area of Western Balkans. Since the bisexual population is recognized as highly female-biased, there is a need for further detailed information about the mode of reproduction in Serbian population of L. couesii.

Although millipedes (Diplopoda) represent one of the most diverse classes of arthropods, data concerning details of their mating behaviour are very scarce. In this work, we explored mating behaviour of the European millipede Pachyiulus hungaricus under laboratory conditions, and its relationship with the size and shape of certain morphological traits. We conducted 3 types of behavioural tests: a mating arena test, a female choice test, and a male choice test. Premating behaviour was "sequenced" in 5 behavioural steps and, together with the duration of copulation, scored in all mating assays. Males were the more active sex in searching for mates, while females were the "choosier" sex. Furthermore, in the choice tests, previous mating partners had significantly more copulations than new ones, thus raising questions about postcopulatory sexual selection in this species. On the other hand, our results indicate that size and/or shape of the tested morphological traits, except for the shape of the male walking legs, were not subject to precopulatory sexual selection. Other sensory domains known to influence courtship behaviour need to be investigated in this regard in P. hungaricus.

The effects of insecticides that are commonly used for conventional and integrated oilseed rape (OSR) management on ground beetles were studied. Monitoring of harmful species showed that only insecticides intended against Ceutorhynchus napi should be applied. There were no differences in beetle numbers and phenology of settling of C. napi in the OSR fields that received different management practices. The type of OSR management has a primary and significant impact on ground beetles abundance. Early in the spring, ground beetles settled more massively on the non-tilled OSR field with abundant weed cover and mulch on soil surface. However, there were no significant differences in species richness between the OSR fields managed differently. A total of 22 species were recorded. Early in the spring, the granivorous ground beetles Amara aenea (47.3%) and Harpalus distinguendus (32.5%) were dominant. When insecticides were applied, immigration of ground beetles began, so that their adverse effect was minimal. In both management systems the number of ground beetles and their diversity increased after spraying. In conclusion, no significant harmful effects of the insecticides on ground beetles were detected in OSR fields managed in two different ways.

Cave animals live under highly constant ecological conditions and in permanent darkness, and many evolutionary adaptations of cave-dwellers have been triggered by their specific environment. A similar "cave effect" leading to pronounced chemical interactions under such conditions may be assumed, but the chemoecology of troglobionts is mostly unknown. We investigated the defensive chemistry of a largely cave-dwelling julid group, the controversial tribe "Typhloiulini", and we included some cave-dwelling and some endogean representatives. While chemical defense in juliform diplopods is known to be highly uniform, and mainly based on methyl- and methoxy-substituted benzoquinones, the defensive secretions of typhloiulines contained ethyl-benzoquinones and related compounds. Interestingly, ethyl-benzoquinones were found in some, but not all cave-dwelling typhloiulines, and some non-cave dwellers also contained these compounds. On the other hand, ethyl-benzoquinones were not detected in troglobiont nor in endogean typhloiuline outgroups. In order to explain the taxonomic pattern of ethyl-benzoquinone occurrence, and to unravel whether a cave-effect triggered ethyl-benzoquinone evolution, we classed the "Typhloiulini" investigated here within a phylogenetic framework of julid taxa, and traced the evolutionary history of ethyl-benzoquinones in typhloiulines in relation to cave-dwelling. The results indicated a cave-independent evolution of ethyl-substituted benzoquinones, indicating the absence of a "cave effect" on the secretions of troglobiont Typhloiulini. Ethyl-benzoquinones probably evolved early in an epi- or endogean ancestor of a clade including several, but not all Typhloiulus (basically comprising a taxonomic entity known as "Typhloiulus sensu stricto") and Serboiulus. Ethyl-benzoquinones are proposed as novel and valuable chemical characters for julid systematics.

Ten specimens of Oxidus gracilis (C.L. Koch, 1847) were collected in the hothouse of Botanical Garden "Jevremovac" in Belgrade.This is the first finding of an alien millipede species in Serbia.